Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is a good place to get free software?
ANSWER: The Internet has become inundated with sites offering free programs. Many of these sites are relatively safe and offer great software. Other so-called freeware sites are nothing but a distribution point for malware, spyware, and sometimes even viruses. Care must be taken anytime you download software from the Internet. Considering the following tips while looking for free software can possibly save you from disaster.
Watch out for a deal that seems too good to be true. It often is.
High-priced proprietary software that is offered for free is usually illegal and therefore you must consider whether the site that is offering it may have ulterior motives.
Learn from other people that have downloaded the software.
Look for sites which allow people to rate and to write comments about their experience with the software that they have downloaded. Taking the time to read the comments may save you a lot of hassles.
Create a new Windows System Restore point before browsing for software and just prior to installing a new program.
Because you may come across a bad web site while attempting to find a good freeware program, it's a great idea to create a new System Restore point just prior to a hunt for freeware. In addition, creating a new System Restore point just prior to installing a new program will often help if the program you install turns out to be malicious or just poorly written.
BOTTOM LINE: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
