Everyone has heard a story about an individual who downloaded a free program only to have his computer system crash. While this may keep some consumers tied to paid products, others understand that even commercial products can encounter issues. Take Windows for example. It’s one of the most attacked operating systems because it’s the most popular system.
Since price doesn’t really affect whether a program contains malicious codes that can destroy your hard drive, you need to base your downloading decisions on other factors. These can include the following things:
1. The reputation of the developer or development team.
The length of time a project has been available has a direct correlation to the developer’s reputation. Programs with bugs and harmful codes, such as viruses, may have a huge run before users discover the problem; however, if the issue is not resolved, then the developer is going to have a major black mark against his name.
2. The access or exclusion of the product’s source code.
Open source programs are often available free, as part of the Open Source Initiative. Programs, such as PuTTY, which can create a secure SSH connection, provide you with access to the source code. Not only can you modify the code to customize the program, but you can also check the code for lurking issues like malware or spyware. Most malicious hackers leave open source products alone because they want to hide their code for as long as possible, and open code makes that difficult.
3. The issues other users may have with the program.
Editor and user reviews can help you determine whether to download a product. If the reviews stink, look for better products.
Free software can be a benefit to you, if you find a reputable program to download. Do a little research before you make your selection, and you’ll soon become a fan of free products.
