I recently wrote an article about the
best free anti-malware software for 2013,
and mentioned that I load my own computers, tablets, smartphones, etc.,
with all the software I use, other than the operating system my device
comes with.
This raised so many questions, it has become important to write a
followup article that answers the when, what, why, where and how of
downloading and installing software on your device from the internet.
The first question, then, is “
When should you use free software?”
The simple answer is that it’s always a good idea to use free software
if it does what you need it to do, reliably. The money you save by not
spending it on expensive software can be used for other things. That’s
as good as making money!
What kinds of software are available?
The chances are that if you need software, you can get almost anything
you need legitimately and free. This is not the so-called kind of free
where you have to do something else, take a poll, sign up for a trial,
etc., etc., that some companies advertise as free. Those are NOT free.
You are paying for them with your labour, whether or not you recognize
it.
