STOP USING SOFTWARE

Why download hefty programs when you can run everything in your browser instead? Wayne Williams reveals the best free online alternatives to desktop software

We all love free software – the joy of discovering a great new program, the satisfaction of a successful installation, the excitement of turning to the Best Free Software section in every issue of Web User – but that doesn’t mean we have to rely on it completely.

Thanks to ever-faster broadband connections and cross-platform web technology such as HTML5, it’s now possible to perform an increasing number of previously PC-based tasks without needing to download and install bloated and slow desktop programs. Not only does this save you time and storage space, but it also means you can avoid bundled junk and potential malware threats.

In this feature, we look at the latest free web-based alternatives to traditional software that let you do everything in the cloud. From security scanners and office tools to image editors and messaging clients – with our recommendations, you can run everything in your browser from any device and it won’t cost you a penny!

System & Security

REMOVE JUNK AND FREE UP SPACE

CCleaner (www.ccleaner.com) is an excellent if controversial (since it was purchased by Avast) system-cleaning tool, but you don’t need to install and download the program. CCleaner Cloud Free (www .ccleanercloud.com) offers the same functionality, but runs in your web browser, which means you can completely avoid the bundled junk that plagues the desktop software.

This cloud service lets you manage and maintain up to three PCs remotely (including systems belonging to friends and family), and it can also clean every user profile on your PC, making it more thorough than the desktop version. Other features include the ability to remove junk files, disable unnecessary startup programs, repair Registry issues and defrag hard drives.