Got a Nokia phone? Then make sure you've got Nokia PC Suite. The software is a package of Windows-based apps that help you get more from your mobile phone. Depending on your phone model, Nokia PC Suite lets you edit, synchronize and back up many of your phone's files on a compatible PC through a cable or wireless connection.

If you need something more than the standard Windows Task Manager, you've come to the right place. System Explorer Portable is a full featured task manager and system analyzing tool with which you can take complete control over your PC: check active processes, manage startup items and track system resources, all from a single interface. This portable version can be saved in your USB memory stick and run on any PC.

Decided to try your luck at Las Vegas? If so then you should first practice with Poker Academy for Mac. Filled with tutorials and statistics it will let you improve your game, analyze your hand and see what you can improve. What's more you won't have to bet a penny as you'll only be pitted against virtual players, before you decided to take on more seasoned poker players.

Having a full-time job and a proper personal life at the same time is not easy. This is why you should rely on Note Mania, an excellent information manager that enables you to keep up to date with all your upcoming dates, events, appointments and tasks. Notes are fully customizable and feature a powerful scheduling system so that you don't forget anything important again.

Mac users aren't generally worried by malware. If you want to be on the safe side though, you can install an antivirus and regularly scan your Mac. ClamXav is a free virus checker which can perform full system scans or analyze specific folders. Although it does take quite some time to look through your system, ClamXav is really thorough. You can even schedule scans regularly. A good choice if you're really worried about your security.

Want to know what the weather is going to be like in the next hours and days? You don't need to stay glued to the TV or the Internet in order to find out. Simply install PocketWeather on yout Pocket PC and you can see what's in store in the skies. The plug-in automatically monitors the weather in your region and sends the results directly to your Today screen.

There was once a time when phishing was all about sitting on the banks of a river with a bag of maggots waiting for something to bite. Then the internet came along and suddenly phishing became one of the biggest threats to our online security. If you don't already know, phishing basically involves websites and popups masquerading as something else, usually to fool you into entering private or confidential data.

Personally, I've never suffered an attack yet which may be testament to Firefox's excellent anti-phishing filter or the fact that I'm not surfing enough dodgy websites. Indeed, Firefox's anti-phishing filter has been widely praised as being better than Internet Explorer's so these tools will probably mainly interest you if you're using the latter. Phishing Zapper - Constantly updated with the latest phishing scams to keep you safe

Phishing Blaster - Highly customisable and powerful phishing monitor Geek Superhero - Surely the most orignal anti-phishing "superhero" style monitor

BullGuard Internet Security - Excellent and easy to use anti-phishing filter and firewall

Scam Sensor for Outlook - Don't let Outlook get caught out by dodgy e-mails

If there's one thing it's hard to keep private nowadays, it's online chatting. With so many loopholes, chat clients and key loggers out there, it's very easy for anyone wanting to track your conversations to do so with a little know-how. Of course, most of us don't have anything to hide but when it comes to work or confidential matters, and if you suspect something fishy is going on during your conversations, then there's no reason to take risks.

There are several highly secure chat clients that make a much better alternative than mainstream offerings such as Windows Live Messenger and Google Talk. One example I rather like is Eyeball Chat because it's very simple, it's not bloated with emoticons and it allows video conferencing all over an SSL server. ScatterChat meanwhile takes things to a slightly higher level offering you even greater levels of SSL protection and best of all, anonymous chatting so that if anyone did ever trace your conversation, there would be no way of proving it was you.

BitWise Chat meanwhile claims to be even stronger offering incredible 448-bit and 2048-bit RSA encryption to make sure that about the only people that will be eavesdropping on you are the CIA or NASA. Khadira Chat Client offers you the added bonus of allowing you to send FTP files securely via SSL during your chats while X-Chat may look simple, but it supports unlimited group conversations and is available in almost 40 languages.

Before the internet came along, cookies were what we Brits knew as American biscuits and the weakness of that distinguished member of Sesame Street, the Cookie Monster. Then Netscape began, invented one of the world's first web browsers and eventually, invented the concept of HTTP cookies that are now an essential part of virtually all browsers. From the very start, cookies were controversial because they raised some of the first serious invasion of privacy issues for internet users. Should any website be able to leave behind data on your PC that a website can recognise at a later date, even if it facilitates your user experience? Of course, most people don't mind this as long as there is nothing malicious involved.

It's when the cookies that are left behind are of a more devious or harmful nature that the problems begin. There are still a lot of misconceptions about what cookies are and are not. This useful FAQ delves into the issue in a lot more detail but if you're the kind of person who doesn't want to risk any breach of your privacy, no matter what the cookies are for, then you may need to use one of these dedicated cookie cleaners: Powerful Cookies - Deletes and destroy all cookies including typed URL's Cookie Viewer - Allows you to pick and choose which cookies to delete

Expired Cookie Cleaner - Gets rid of those long-term cookies that others leave behind

Delete Cookies - Designed especially to get rid of those cookies that target Internet Explorer

Cookie Monster - Manage cookies stored across multiple browsers on your system

If you're experiencing startup errors, programs not working properly or general crashes and freezes of your machine, then the likelihood is that you've got some errors in your registry. Your registry contains some of Window's most important components which form the backbone of many programs. If any of these entries get corrupted or damaged, Windows can start to malfunction in all kinds of erratic ways. Fortunately there are several tools out there designed to search and destroy such errors, or at least repair those registry values that have become damaged. Here are 5 of the best:

Registry Mechanic - One of the best all-round registry optimisers and cleaners RegCleaner - Simple but fast and effective registry cleaner

RegCure - One of the first truly effective registry cleaners and optimisers

RegSeeker - Shows in detail what's wrong or infected in your registry Free Window Registry Repair - A simple but solid starting point for registry problems

In light of Kaspersky's recent announcement that they have developed a Mac anti-virus application "in case" any big Mac viruses break-out in the near future, the debate has been ignited again over whether Macs really need anti-virus software. Kaspersky made the announcement at the CBit technology exhibition currently taking place in Hannover, Germany. Conspiracy theorists may suggest that if any major Mac viruses do "suddenly" emerge, Kaspersky's announcement would be viewed with extreme suspicion although the company say:

We see that Mac OS is taking a bigger and bigger share of the market. We made the prototype to be ready just in case.

For most people who use Macs, the reason for their choice is based mainly on its functionality and all round design although the fact that they are largely immune from the viruses that plague Windows has also attracted many converts. However, this doesn't mean that they are bullet proof to attacks. As Infoworld point out:

There have been no attacks on the scale that affects Windows machines, such as the Storm Worm. But Apple's software is far from perfect: In December, Apple issued 31 updates for Mac OS X. Its QuickTime multimedia player has also been patched several times.

Nevertheless, if you ask Mac users whether they use an anti-virus software, the answer will usually be "No" since attacks are so infrequent. Conspiracies aside, vendors such as Kaspersky and F.Secure are basically saying, "The more people who start to use Macs, the more chance there is that viruses will be developed for them." Operating system monitors Net Applications estimate that, at present time, only 7.6% of home internet users use a Mac although this figure is growing all the time.

The Mac virus debate has even been highlighted by the BBC which attracted a glut of comments from Mac users, the majority of which stated that they do not use a virus checker. Nevertheless, a common theme throughout the comments is "Better to be safe than sorry" and although there are very few antivirus options available on the Mac, you might like to try McAfee VirusScan for Mac or VirusBarrier X5.

Worried about losing that data stored on your Palm device? Then install BackUp Lite, which protects your data by keeping an up-to-date copy of everything on a memory card. It does this in a very efficient manner and is extremely fast. BackUp Lite even also allows for unattended automatic backups at a pre-determined time of the day, for extra peace of mind.

Feeling unsafe when browsing the Internet? Then you need a powerful security app like PC Tools Firewall Plus to monitor your connection and prevent unauthorized users from accessing the system. Its latest version (3.0.1.9) features new application rules, stealth protection and two user modes: Normal and Expert.

AdiumBook is a smart, single windowed application that lets you sync your contacts between Adium and your Address Book. On one side you see all your Adium contacts, on the other hand your Address Book entries. Simply Sync them by dragging and dropping. All this, plus contact searches, make it one of the best ways to make sure you're always in synch with your Adium Address Book.

Bookmarks are one of those little things in life we don't pay attention to, but which we certainly miss when we don't have them around. Our bookmark collection should be taken as seriously as backup copies or password managers: someday it can save your life – or at least save you the pain of recovering all those links one by one.

So if you've decided to take care of your bookmarks, the first thing you should probably do is grab hold of a bookmark manager, like URLBase. Yes, web browsers do have embedded bookmark managers, but third-party ones usually include more features and extended functionality. You may also need a tool to clean your bookmark database a bit, that is, scanning it for dead links and duplicate entries. AM-DeadLink is a good choice for this task.

Now, once your bookmark collection is perfectly organized, it's time to backup it. MozBackup is probably the best option for Firefox users, while IE supporters may turn to myFavorites, an all-in-one management and backup tool for Internet Explorer.

Finally, for those of us who use different computers in different locations (home desktop PC, office desktop PC, laptop while commuting) a bookmark synchronizing app is almost a must. You can use BookmarkSync for general syncing needs or the more specific Foxmark extension just for the Firefox browser.

"I'd love to say that Safari was a safer browser, but at this point it isn't." That's what PayPal's Chief Information Security Officer, Michael Barrett, had to say in an interview reported by Macworld. Apple's Safari browser, which runs on Macs, PCs and iPhones, was heavily criticized by Barrett for lacking many security features which other browsers like Firefox, IE7 or Opera already include.

For one, Barrett states, Safari lacks a proper in-built anti-phishing feature to detect online scams. This sort of malicious behavior has quickly become one of the most common and effective ways of stealing private information from users. Phishing scams usually lead you to a fake website, which looks like the one you want to access. It's commonly used on banking sites, in an attempt to get you to reveal your account information

Another security point where Safari lags, according to Barrett, is certificates. Safari does handle and read certificates, which guarantee the authenticity of a website. However you have to click on the discreet little lock at the top right of the browser to view them. One thing pointed out by Barrett is that Safari doesn't yet include Extended Validation (EV), which requires more extensive investigation to prove that the website you are visiting is authentic. EV is known to turn the address bar green when the site is proven to be genuine.

PayPal's security doubts on Safari are illustrated in their Security Center FAQ, where they omit Safari in their list of safe browsers.

You may not know it – I didn't myself - but Microsoft features a free online storage service that's been up and running since August 2007. When it first launched as a beta version, Microsoft Live SkyDrive offered 500MB of online storage, a tiny amount according to today's standards. But just a few days ago, SkyDrive users saw their online drive upgraded to a far more generous 5GB of free storage that you can use with you Live ID account.

So, what's the point of subscribing to an online storage service? There may be several reasons: it's definitely a handy way to share large-sized files with your friends over the Internet; it also comes in very handy for collaborative tasks such as school papers and work team projects; what's more, you can also use your online drive to store files that you need to access from different computers in different locations; and finally, they're also useful for backup copies, though I'd advise you to keep those copies on offline support too – just in case.

Besides Microsoft Live SkyDrive, there are other software tools that, working together with online services, offer you free online storage for your files. Check them out:

• Gspace - a Firefox extension that lets you use your Gmail account mailbox as a free online storage drive.
• Gmail Drive - this Windows Explorer plug-in creates a virtual folder structure in your Gmail account to use it as an storage service.
• IDrive - Get 2GB of free online storage with an intuitive interface, very similar to that of Windows Explorer.
• Omemo - have a universal virtual online drive shared with users from all over the world.
• VMN Storage - a 1GB free online drive for all your files and backup copies.
• Mozy Remote Backup - 2GB of free storage space, protected with encryption and with scheduled backups.
• Wuala - P2P online storage system where you get as much online space as you share from your hard drive.

There's not much we can say about TuneUp Utilities that we haven't already said. This excellent suite is probably the best option among maintenance tools to optimize system performance, erase unwanted items, customize Windows and keep your PC in perfect shape at all times. Its latest version, TuneUp 2008, features new exciting tools and a revamped interface that makes it even easier to use.

Looking to quickly make great looking slideshows? PulpMotion for Mac is the program you should turn to. This application lets you add any video, image or sound, choose a visual themes and then export and share your animation. The friendly interface, similar to that of iMovie, lets anybody with little technical knowledge easily create slideshows. It's really fun too!

On the hunt for an interesting game to fix your boredom? Then get hold of XFlib, a very interesting puzzler for Pocket PC devices. The object of the game is to create squares by matching coloured blocks. It's a highly original twist on the block matching game formula andone that will keep you amused for a very long time!

Believe it or not, Peter Norton, the guru behind Norton utilities, was a Buddhist Monk for a while. In the 1980's however, he turned his focus away from Buddha and meditated on PC security and data recovery. He then sold his company to Symantec in the early 1990's but Norton's name (and face) was to adorn security packages for much of the decade. During this time, most Windows PCs came bundled with Norton utilities which I remember as a complete and utter pain to uninstall. Nevertheless, the Norton name lives on under the Symantec brand and there's no doubting that Norton has produced some of the most successful and widely used security and backup applications in the world of home computing. Here are 5 of the most popular: Norton Antivirus - Fully comprehensive antivirus package featuring rootkit and worm detection

Norton Ghost - One of the best and most efficient ways of backing up your entire system

Norton Internet Security - Complete protection against spyware, spam and phishing via firewall

Norton Partition Magic - Divide your drive into two separate sections in a flash

Norton 360 - The best of Norton, all-in-one - antivirus, firewall, and tuneup utilities

Just when you thought Vista's teething problems couldn't get worse, Microsoft have warned of yet more mayhem for users. If you use BitDefender Antivirus, Trend Micro Internet Security and several other minor security applications, then you may find they don't work when the next Vista service pack prompts you that it's time for an update. Microsoft have taken the unusual step of warning such users that the forthcoming SP1 update for Vista may actually stop certain security programs from working properly.

The update will be available in mid-March and will affect the programs in one of three ways either blocking them completely, disabling certain parts or not allowing them to run properly. Whatsmore, Microsoft are warning that there could be many other programs affected and the full casualty list will not be known for some time. Most of the applications that are expected to be hit are either niche Asian market products or specialist security packages that most English home users won't have. However, Softonic users that have installed BitDefender Antivirus and Trend Micro Internet Security will be affected. If you want to be on the safe side, there are many other alternatives available of which I would recommend Kaspersky Antivirus, Panda Antivirus or Avast!.

When the update is released, let us know if any of your programs are affected and we will do our best to suggest some useful or equivalent alternatives.

Unless you're completely braindead, the chances are that you have an antivirus solution installed on your home computer. But have you got one running on your phone? Probably not. Yet, these days all phones are Internet and network-enabled, and virus writers are starting to exploit this by creating nasties to screw up your phone. There are plenty of effective tools for blocking these kind of attacks though, so there's no excuse for not protecting yourself. Here are some of the best:

• Airscanner Mobile Antivirus (Windows Mobile) - Virus scanner for total security
• Antivirus BullGuard (Windows Mobile) - Protect all your communication methods
• Kaspersky Anti-Virus Mobile (Symbian) - The security giant's mobile solution
• F-Secure Mobile Antivirus (WM/Symbian) - Wireless antivirus system
• Mobile Disinfector (Symbian) - Guard yourself from worms, viruses and malware