software I use and recommend

Security

Audio / Video

Graphics

Internet

Mozilla Firefox Web Browser
Mozilla Thunderbird Email client
FileZilla FTP Client or Server
Dropbox cloud storage

Office

Scribus Desktop Publishing
LibreOffice

Windows Utilities

CCleaner
SyncBack
Defraggler
CDBurnerXP

Web Dev

CoffeeCup HTML Editor
HTML-Kit HTML Editor

Other

AlternativeTo (alternate software)
PortableApps.com
PStart Portable Menu

RSS/Atom News Readers

Feedly
RSSOwl

Read It Later