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 only a distribution center for viruses, spyware, and other types of malware.

Be especially careful anytime you download software. Considering the following tips while looking for free software might help save you from disaster.

• Watch out for deals that seem too good to be true. They often are. High-priced proprietary software that is offered for free or at a greatly reduced price is often illegal. Therefore, you must consider whether the site that is offering it may have ulterior motives.
• Look for sites that allow people to rate and to write comments about their experience with the software they have downloaded (one of my personal favorites is nonags.com.)
• Regardless of which freeware site you choose, always watch out for advertising for junk software or for pai. If you are unsure of a program, it is better to ask others about it rather than risk ruining your computer.
• Create new “System Restore” points before browsing for software and just prior to installing each new program.

Bottom line: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.