Field Tested

Tech Field Kit

A personal curated index of trusted software for IT professionals and power users — network tools, security utilities, system diagnostics, dev tooling, and more. No trials, no paywalls.

— Tools NetworkSecurity SystemDev Tools PrivacyUtilities

—

Total Tools

6

Categories

✓

Field Tested

Curated

Hand-Picked

Section 01 · Repository Index

Software Catalog

Browse or search all tools across 6 categories. Grid view shows cards with descriptions; tree view shows folder structure.

No tools match your search.

📁 free-software/

▶ net scanning · analysis · monitoring · remote —

◈WiresharkFREEGold standard for capturing and analyzing network traffic. Essential for diagnosing connectivity issues. ◈Advanced IP ScannerFREEFast LAN discovery — IP, MAC, open ports, manufacturer, WOL support, and remote access. ◈Angry IP ScannerFREECross-platform IP and port scanner. Lightweight, no install required, extensible with plugins. ◈NmapFREEIndustry-standard network mapper. OS detection, service version scanning, scripting engine. ◈Fing DesktopPAID TIERNetwork discovery and device identification with vendor lookup. Clean UI, great for quick audits. ◈SoftPerfect Network ScannerPAID TIERFast multi-threaded LAN scanner with shared resource detection, remote WMI, and Wake-on-LAN. ◈Slitheris Network DiscoveryPAID TIERPassive agentless LAN discovery — finds devices without pinging them. Great for stealthy audits. ◈NETworkManagerFREEWindows GUI for network connections, IP config, WiFi, VPN, ping, and traceroute in one place. ◈NetworkMinerPAID TIERNetwork forensics tool. Reconstructs files, credentials, and sessions from captured PCAP files. ◈PingPlotter (Free)PAID TIERVisualizes every hop between you and a destination with latency graphs over time. ◈The Dude (MikroTik)FREEFree network monitoring and topology mapper. Auto-discovers devices and draws your network map. ◈SNMPBFREESNMP browser and MIB walker. Query and browse SNMP-enabled devices graphically. ◈PuTTYFREEClassic SSH, Telnet, and serial terminal client for Windows. Rock-solid and universally trusted. ◈mRemoteNGFREEMulti-protocol remote connection manager. RDP, VNC, SSH, Telnet — all in one tabbed window. ◈GlassWire (Free)PAID TIERVisual network monitor showing per-app bandwidth. Alerts on new or suspicious connections. ◈Fiddler ClassicFREEHTTP/HTTPS web debugging proxy. Inspect, modify, and replay web traffic. Great for API work. ◈WifiInfoView (NirSoft)FREEDetailed info on all nearby wireless networks — channel, signal, security type, vendor. ◈Speedtest by OoklaFREEFast and reliable internet speed, latency, and jitter testing. Desktop app version.

▶ sec malware · forensics · passwords · encryption —

◈Malwarebytes FreePAID TIEROn-demand malware scanner and remover. Excellent at catching threats traditional AV misses. ◈VirusTotal (web)FREEUpload any file or URL and scan against 70+ antivirus engines simultaneously. No install needed. ◈AutorunsFREEThe most comprehensive Windows startup manager available. Spot malware persistence instantly. ◈Process ExplorerFREESee exactly which files, registry keys, and DLLs every process uses. Task Manager on steroids. ◈ESET SysInspectorFREEDeep system snapshot — processes, registry, drivers, network connections — for forensic comparison. ◈KeePassFREEOffline, open-source password manager. AES-256 encrypted local database — no cloud, no fees. ◈BitwardenPAID TIEROpen-source password manager with free cloud sync. Best free tier in the category, fully audited. ◈VeraCryptFREEFull-disk and container encryption. TrueCrypt successor — actively maintained and independently audited. ◈BrowsingHistoryView (NirSoft)FREEReads browser history from Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and IE into a unified timeline. Great for forensics. ◈LastActivityView (NirSoft)FREEReconstructs a timeline of user activity from event logs, prefetch, MRU lists, and shell bags. ◈RegistryChangesView (NirSoft)FREECompare before/after registry snapshots to see exactly what an installer or malware changed. ◈Product Key Scanner (NirSoft)FREEScan and recover Windows and software license keys from local and remote machines. ◈ClamAVFREEOpen-source antivirus engine. Ideal for scripted/automated scanning pipelines and server environments.

▶ sys diagnostics · disk · hardware · imaging —

◈WinDirStatFREEDisk usage visualizer with treemap — instantly see what is consuming your storage space. ◈RufusFREECreate bootable USB drives from ISO images. Fast, reliable, supports Windows and Linux ISOs. ◈VentoyFREECreate a multi-boot USB — just copy ISOs to the drive and pick one at boot. No reflashing needed. ◈CrystalDiskInfoFREEMonitor drive health via S.M.A.R.T. Get early warning of impending disk failure. ◈CPU-ZFREEDetailed CPU, RAM, motherboard, and GPU information. The go-to hardware identification tool. ◈HWMonitorPAID TIERReal-time temperature, fan speed, and voltage readings from every sensor in your system. ◈PowerToysFREEMicrosoft power-user toolkit — FancyZones, PowerRename, Run launcher, Color Picker, and more. ◈BGInfoFREEDisplay hostname, IP, OS version on the desktop wallpaper. Essential for server rooms and labs. ◈MemTest86PAID TIERBootable RAM diagnostic tool. Essential for diagnosing memory errors and system instability. ◈DevManView (NirSoft)FREEAlternative device manager with full driver version details and remote machine support. ◈WinCrashReport (NirSoft)FREEAnalyze Windows crash dumps and BSOD reports in a readable format — no debugger skills needed. ◈FolderChangesView (NirSoft)FREEWatch any folder in real-time and see every file created, modified, or deleted. ◈FileActivityWatch (NirSoft)FREEShows which processes are reading and writing which files in real-time. Useful for I/O diagnostics. ◈WinUpdatesView (NirSoft)FREEView the full history of installed Windows updates with date, KB number, and status.

▶ pri cleanup · VPN · secure delete · telemetry —

◈BleachBitFREEOpen-source disk cleaner that shreds junk, frees space, and guards privacy. Great CCleaner alternative. ◈EraserFREESecurely delete files using DoD-grade multi-pass wiping so they cannot be forensically recovered. ◈CCleaner (Free)PAID TIERBrowser cache, temp files, and registry cleaner. Fast one-click cleanup for everyday system junk. ◈ProtonVPN (Free)PAID TIERTruly unlimited free VPN — no data caps, no logs, Switzerland-based privacy laws. ◈O&O ShutUp10++FREEDisable Windows telemetry, ad tracking, and privacy settings with one click. No install required. ◈SimpleWallFREELightweight per-application Windows firewall — block any app from accessing the internet. ◈Tor BrowserFREEBrowse anonymously via the Tor network. Blocks trackers and fingerprinting by default.

▶ dev editors · version control · API · database —

◈VS CodeFREEMicrosoft free code editor. Best-in-class extensions, debugger, terminal, and Git integration. ◈Notepad++FREEFast, lightweight Windows text editor with syntax highlighting for dozens of languages. ◈GitFREEThe distributed version control standard. Includes Git Bash on Windows for a Unix-like environment. ◈Postman (Free)PAID TIERDesign, test, and document APIs. Industry-standard HTTP client with full collection support. ◈DBeaver CommunityPAID TIERUniversal database client — MySQL, Postgres, SQLite, MSSQL, MongoDB, and dozens more. ◈Docker Desktop (Free)PAID TIERLocal container runtime for developers. Free for personal use and small teams. ◈FileZillaFREEReliable FTP, SFTP, and FTPS client. Drag-and-drop transfers, site manager, large file support. ◈WinMergeFREEVisual diff and merge tool for files and folders. Great for code review and config comparison. ◈DLL Export Viewer (NirSoft)FREEList all exported functions from any DLL file. Useful for reverse engineering and dependency analysis.

▶ uti media · archive · notes · productivity —

◈7-ZipFREEFree, open-source archiver with excellent compression ratios. Handles ZIP, 7z, RAR, ISO and more. ◈VLCFREEPlays literally every video and audio format. No codecs needed. Lightweight, fast, zero bloat. ◈LibreOfficeFREEFull-featured free office suite — Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw. Open-source Microsoft Office alternative. ◈ShareXFREEPowerful screenshot, annotation, and screen recording tool. Dozens of capture modes and upload workflows. ◈EverythingFREEInstant file search across your entire drive. Finds anything in milliseconds — no indexing wait. ◈OBS StudioFREEFree, open-source screen recording and live streaming. Used by professionals worldwide. ◈AutoHotkeyFREEWindows automation scripting. Remap keys, create macros, automate repetitive UI tasks. ◈GIMPFREEGNU Image Manipulation Program — full-featured free image editor for photo retouching and graphics. ◈Obsidian (Free)PAID TIERLocal-first Markdown notes app. Build a personal knowledge base with backlinks and graph view. ◈CherryTreeFREEHierarchical note-taking app with rich text, syntax-highlighted code nodes, and SQLite storage. ◈AudacityFREEFree multi-track audio editor. Record, edit, apply effects, and export to any format. ◈Sumatra PDFFREEBlazing-fast, minimal PDF and ebook reader. No toolbars, no nonsense — just fast rendering.

🌐Network—

Gold standard for capturing and analyzing network traffic. Essential for diagnosing connectivity issues.

Advanced IP Scanner

advanced-ip-scanner.com

Fast LAN discovery — IP, MAC, open ports, manufacturer, WOL support, and remote access.

Angry IP Scanner

Cross-platform IP and port scanner. Lightweight, no install required, extensible with plugins.

Industry-standard network mapper. OS detection, service version scanning, scripting engine.

Network discovery and device identification with vendor lookup. Clean UI, great for quick audits.

SoftPerfect Network Scanner

softperfect.com

Fast multi-threaded LAN scanner with shared resource detection, remote WMI, and Wake-on-LAN.

Slitheris Network Discovery

Passive agentless LAN discovery — finds devices without pinging them. Great for stealthy audits.

networkmanager.dev

Windows GUI for network connections, IP config, WiFi, VPN, ping, and traceroute in one place.

Network forensics tool. Reconstructs files, credentials, and sessions from captured PCAP files.

PingPlotter (Free)

pingplotter.com

Visualizes every hop between you and a destination with latency graphs over time.

The Dude (MikroTik)

Free network monitoring and topology mapper. Auto-discovers devices and draws your network map.

sourceforge.net

SNMP browser and MIB walker. Query and browse SNMP-enabled devices graphically.

Classic SSH, Telnet, and serial terminal client for Windows. Rock-solid and universally trusted.

Multi-protocol remote connection manager. RDP, VNC, SSH, Telnet — all in one tabbed window.

GlassWire (Free)

Visual network monitor showing per-app bandwidth. Alerts on new or suspicious connections.

Fiddler Classic

HTTP/HTTPS web debugging proxy. Inspect, modify, and replay web traffic. Great for API work.

WifiInfoView (NirSoft)

Detailed info on all nearby wireless networks — channel, signal, security type, vendor.

Speedtest by Ookla

Fast and reliable internet speed, latency, and jitter testing. Desktop app version.

→

🛡️Security—

Malwarebytes Free

malwarebytes.com

On-demand malware scanner and remover. Excellent at catching threats traditional AV misses.

VirusTotal (web)

Upload any file or URL and scan against 70+ antivirus engines simultaneously. No install needed.

sysinternals / microsoft

The most comprehensive Windows startup manager available. Spot malware persistence instantly.

Process Explorer

sysinternals / microsoft

See exactly which files, registry keys, and DLLs every process uses. Task Manager on steroids.

ESET SysInspector

Deep system snapshot — processes, registry, drivers, network connections — for forensic comparison.

Offline, open-source password manager. AES-256 encrypted local database — no cloud, no fees.

Open-source password manager with free cloud sync. Best free tier in the category, fully audited.

Full-disk and container encryption. TrueCrypt successor — actively maintained and independently audited.

BrowsingHistoryView (NirSoft)

Reads browser history from Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and IE into a unified timeline. Great for forensics.

LastActivityView (NirSoft)

Reconstructs a timeline of user activity from event logs, prefetch, MRU lists, and shell bags.

RegistryChangesView (NirSoft)

Compare before/after registry snapshots to see exactly what an installer or malware changed.

Product Key Scanner (NirSoft)

Scan and recover Windows and software license keys from local and remote machines.

Open-source antivirus engine. Ideal for scripted/automated scanning pipelines and server environments.

→

🖥️System—

Disk usage visualizer with treemap — instantly see what is consuming your storage space.

Create bootable USB drives from ISO images. Fast, reliable, supports Windows and Linux ISOs.

Create a multi-boot USB — just copy ISOs to the drive and pick one at boot. No reflashing needed.

CrystalDiskInfo

crystalmark.info

Monitor drive health via S.M.A.R.T. Get early warning of impending disk failure.

Detailed CPU, RAM, motherboard, and GPU information. The go-to hardware identification tool.

Real-time temperature, fan speed, and voltage readings from every sensor in your system.

github.com / microsoft

Microsoft power-user toolkit — FancyZones, PowerRename, Run launcher, Color Picker, and more.

sysinternals / microsoft

Display hostname, IP, OS version on the desktop wallpaper. Essential for server rooms and labs.

Bootable RAM diagnostic tool. Essential for diagnosing memory errors and system instability.

DevManView (NirSoft)

Alternative device manager with full driver version details and remote machine support.

WinCrashReport (NirSoft)

Analyze Windows crash dumps and BSOD reports in a readable format — no debugger skills needed.

FolderChangesView (NirSoft)

Watch any folder in real-time and see every file created, modified, or deleted.

FileActivityWatch (NirSoft)

Shows which processes are reading and writing which files in real-time. Useful for I/O diagnostics.

WinUpdatesView (NirSoft)

View the full history of installed Windows updates with date, KB number, and status.

→

🔒Privacy—

Open-source disk cleaner that shreds junk, frees space, and guards privacy. Great CCleaner alternative.

eraser.heidi.ie

Securely delete files using DoD-grade multi-pass wiping so they cannot be forensically recovered.

CCleaner (Free)

Browser cache, temp files, and registry cleaner. Fast one-click cleanup for everyday system junk.

ProtonVPN (Free)

Truly unlimited free VPN — no data caps, no logs, Switzerland-based privacy laws.

oo-software.com

Disable Windows telemetry, ad tracking, and privacy settings with one click. No install required.

simplewall.itroublve.com

Lightweight per-application Windows firewall — block any app from accessing the internet.

Browse anonymously via the Tor network. Blocks trackers and fingerprinting by default.

→

⚙️Dev Tools—

code.visualstudio.com

Microsoft free code editor. Best-in-class extensions, debugger, terminal, and Git integration.

notepad-plus-plus.org

Fast, lightweight Windows text editor with syntax highlighting for dozens of languages.

The distributed version control standard. Includes Git Bash on Windows for a Unix-like environment.

Design, test, and document APIs. Industry-standard HTTP client with full collection support.

DBeaver Community

Universal database client — MySQL, Postgres, SQLite, MSSQL, MongoDB, and dozens more.

Docker Desktop (Free)

Local container runtime for developers. Free for personal use and small teams.

filezilla-project.org

Reliable FTP, SFTP, and FTPS client. Drag-and-drop transfers, site manager, large file support.

Visual diff and merge tool for files and folders. Great for code review and config comparison.

DLL Export Viewer (NirSoft)

List all exported functions from any DLL file. Useful for reverse engineering and dependency analysis.

→

🧰Utilities—

Free, open-source archiver with excellent compression ratios. Handles ZIP, 7z, RAR, ISO and more.

Plays literally every video and audio format. No codecs needed. Lightweight, fast, zero bloat.

libreoffice.org

Full-featured free office suite — Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw. Open-source Microsoft Office alternative.

Powerful screenshot, annotation, and screen recording tool. Dozens of capture modes and upload workflows.

everything-search.com

Instant file search across your entire drive. Finds anything in milliseconds — no indexing wait.

Free, open-source screen recording and live streaming. Used by professionals worldwide.

Windows automation scripting. Remap keys, create macros, automate repetitive UI tasks.

GNU Image Manipulation Program — full-featured free image editor for photo retouching and graphics.

Obsidian (Free)

Local-first Markdown notes app. Build a personal knowledge base with backlinks and graph view.

Hierarchical note-taking app with rich text, syntax-highlighted code nodes, and SQLite storage.

audacityteam.org

Free multi-track audio editor. Record, edit, apply effects, and export to any format.

sumatrapdfreader.org

Blazing-fast, minimal PDF and ebook reader. No toolbars, no nonsense — just fast rendering.

→