Free Software: How Not To Get More Than You Bargained For!

I completed an experiment recently. I wanted to find out exactly what software I could get free on the Internet. My main focus was for software to include utilities and useful home business applications.

I completed various searches for free software and related keywords on the leading search engines.

What I found were thousands of web sites, proclaiming for you to be able to download software for free. Or at least a "try before you buy" basis.

What I found was stunning.

It seems once I downloaded a few of these free programs, my focus quickly changed from what I could get free to "How do I rid myself of the new problems that came with those free programs."

WELCOME TO THE SPYWARE AGE!

Once I downloaded some of these free programs. I noticed strange things happening to my computer. Pop-up windows were appearing out of nowhere. My browser was running slower than usual. And applications seemed to open and close a little slower than usual.

Now when I would go to google to do a simple search, a popup window appeared advertising free minutes when I switch to Verizon Mobile.

WERE THESE SCUMWARE SITES?

Keep in mind that most of these places that I went to download free software programs were reputable, relatively safe places on the Internet. I say "safe" because they were not your typical borderline porn site or trashy site. You know, the kind of site where you would expect to be punished for visiting. A site where it's obvious that your computer will be inundated with spyware or a virus. Well, you get the picture.

I WAS A VICTIM

Even though I was careful about what I downloaded, I still got burned.

I tried to only visit what looked like safe, reputable sites. I only downloaded programs that had legitimate reviews and a past user history. However, by the third free program that I downloaded, there were pop-up windows and programs automatically installing onto my computer. Some of them were from trashy sites.

This resulted in me having to spend several hours scouring the Internet for Adware and Spyware removal programs. I managed to download several free spyware programs. I installed them onto my computer, and ran them in safe mode.

When it was all said and done. I had spent four and a half hours using these spyware programs to scour my computer for spyware. It took me a half a day to finally rid myself of these pesky little programs.

The purpose of this article is to help you from making this same mistake. Please exercise caution when you go to sites and begin downloading free software.

Is the site reputable? Can you uninstall the program easily?

I would suggest deciding if you really need a program before you download freeware or free software. Not all of them threaten your "computer well-being." But many do.

It's kind of sad to have to think in those terms. However, in this day and age one can never be too careful.

About The Author:
William Riopelle is an online computer consultant. His popular e-course provides a lot more information on free software resources: => http://www.freesoftwarecenter.com

---

20 Extra Hours Per Week: What Would You Do?

While I was in college, if you would have asked... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains Inventory Control ? Overview For Consultant

Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains is marketed for mid-size companies... Read More

Recent Studies Show that 9 out of 10 PCs Are Infected with Spyware

Spyware and malware are large problems for Internet users today... Read More

Software Companies: Generate New Revenue Streams and Decrease Costs with Custom e-Learning Content

It's no secret that software companies operate in a very... Read More

ERP Remote Support: Microsoft Great Plains Analysis ? Pluses & Minuses

Former Great Plains Software Dynamics/eEnterprise and currently Microsoft Business Solutions... Read More

Business Planning Software

Once a business idea is selected, it is highly recommended... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains - Payroll & HR Inexpensive Solution? Not Any More

Microsoft Great Plains is main Microsoft Business Solutions accounting package... Read More

How the Firefox: How to... Manual Helped Me

A few months back I really got sick of my... Read More

MultiNational Corporation ERP Implementation ? Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains

If you look back to the history, you will see... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains SOP: Sales Order Processing

Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains is marketed for mid-size companies... Read More

Rapid Application Development - Is it Really a Need of Today?

Rapid Application Development (RAD) is a software development methodology. In... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains Reporting ? Overview for Developer

Looks like Microsoft Great Plains becomes more and more... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains Food Processing ? Implementation & Customization Highlights

Microsoft Great Plains might be considered as ERP platform to... Read More

C++ Tutorial 1, Introduction to C++

Introduction to C++Why Learn C++?C++ may at first seem like... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains Oil & Gas ? Implementation & Customization Highlights

Microsoft Great Plains serves the wide spectrum of horizontal markets.... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains Implementation: Collection Management ? Overview For Consultant

Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains is very good fit for... Read More

Lotus Domino Implementation and Development: Infrastructure ? Present and Future

Domino server is a buffer between the operation system and... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains Upgrade ? Version 8.0 Overview for IT Director/Controller

If you have Microsoft Great Plains as main accounting and... Read More

Constructionalist Parsing - Deciphering Natural Language

The research in the field of Natural Language Processing usually... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains Implementation ? Overview for IT Director/Controller

What is installation in the language of technology? Installation... Read More

Razzle Dazzle Them

Once upon a time not so long ago, there was... Read More

Microsoft CRM ? Consulting in the Post-Recession Time

New post-recession era has new features, which didn't exist in... Read More

The Truth: Netzero 3G

We've all seen the ads on TV for Netzero 3G.... Read More

Microsoft CRM Implementation & Customization: MS CRM Fax Gateway

With this small article we are continuing Microsoft Business Solutions... Read More

Causes of ERP Failures

ERP is the acronym of Enterprise Resource Planning. Multi-module ERP... Read More

The End of Spyware?

The US House of Representatives has recently passed the "Spy... Read More

Save Your Resources - Combine Your IM Clients

There are so many different programs that clutter up your... Read More

Mapping Software: Putting Data Visualization on the Map

Mapping Software Improves Data VisualizationFrom the outset, it is important... Read More

Fast Car Knoppix

Small can be beautiful! Working with Knoppix for the past... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains Nationwide Remote Support

ERP Consulting industry is on the way to serve clients... Read More

An Easy Way to Deal with Email Viruses and Worms

If you feel intimidated when someone tries to teach you... Read More

New SQL Delta Version 3.1

COMMAND LINE FUNCTIONA powerful command line script processor has been... Read More

Bridging the Gap between Paper and Data

The cornerstone of successful automated office systems is the ability... Read More