|
Computer Software available for download and use, which is free of cost, is free software or simply freeware. As a word ‘freeware’ contains the word free and ware from software to make it freeware. On the contrary payware or commercial software is the software available for a nominal amount.
Freeware can be software of many types and themes; household, business, hobby, entertainment and education. Each segregation offers ready to use software at no cost to help the user in more ways than one depending on its use. This type of software is sometimes offered free at the outset to promote and popularize its basic merits or for a trial run during a specified trial period. Later a charge may be applied when downloading the same program.
Thanks to the Internet, freeware like its cousin’s free music and free game downloads has slowly reached the stage where more and more people having understood the convenience of them are beginning to download more freeware. This not only crams up your desktop but it can also invite an army of bugs and viruses which are potentially hazardous for your computer. With this in mind freeware should be chosen with a clear understanding and from a safe site.
Freeware typically contains Trojans, adware, back doors, bots, spyware, viruses and key loggers to name a few of the destructive elements that take a free ride with freeware into your computers system. So if you want to be a smart freeware downloader do your research first and download later.
Websites that screen software before posting and sharing online are your best bet to find something relatively safe and hassle free. To do this effectively, read the “about us’ or the “about the author’ before downloading. Additionally, find and download a reliable spyware or adware blocker program from a reputable company to help block these elements.
File size is another concern while finding cool downloads. Most websites offer freeware of just a few MB, so anything larger should be scrutinized before downloading. Especially on files whose size seems large as it could contain Trojans that are likely to harm your computer. File extensions pose equal threats, a file that comes with .exe or double extensions such as img.exe etc are again known to carry Trojans. A good antivirus system is likely to nip it in the bud, but in the event that you don’t have one choose another freeware. Also use a firewall for added safety.
|
