The best free downloads of 2010

If you're looking for high-quality free software then here are some of 2010's best reviewed and most popular programs.

Avast Free Antivirus

The speedy and simple-to-use Avast Free Antivirus provides good all-around malware protection.

Black Jack

No, not the card game. This stylish font with a Mad Men-era feel is perfect for party invitations.

Calibre

If you're overwhelmed by all the titles you've acquired for your e-reader, turn to this full-featured e-book organiser.

Cloudmark DesktopOne

Even if you have a spam filter set up in your e-mail program, you'll find this antispam tool useful for stopping junk before it clutters your inbox.

FlashCookiesView

Flash cookies, unlike ordinary cookies, are not normally viewable or deletable but this tool helps you find and delete any Flash cookies that might be threatening your privacy.

Freemake Video Downloader

Want to grab an online video for offline viewing? This utility downloads and converts Flash video from assorted web sources.

Hotspot Shield

A longtime favorite for guarding against snoops on public Wi-Fi networks, this utility entered the limelight as an option for fending off Firesheep session hijacking.

JonDo

Using JonDo, you can anonymise your Web surfing via a proxy, keeping your online trail hidden.

Kodak EasyShare Software

Though designed to complement Kodak products, this simple-to-use photo organiser and editor will work with any camera or printer.

Process Tamer

Want to speed up a sluggish PC? For starters, try this utility, which limits CPU-resource hogs and prioritizes processes.

Right-Click Extender

This convenient utility makes Windows' right-click context menus far more useful.

Soluto

Currently in beta, Soluto reduces Windows' boot time by analyzing which applications should load at startup.

3D Desktop

This Windows 7 themepack of 63 wallpapers offers gorgeous images ranging from interesting abstract works to stunning landscapes.