Featured article by Saad Shafiq, Independent Technology Author
People start wanting free software more after the licensing prices increase and become unbearable. Although there are plenty of free software products available online, there are risks of incomplete versions, viruses, and other factors. With so many accounting, word processing, and spyware available, you may find yourself in a dilemma that which of these programs are genuine. One way to ensure it is through PGP Digital Signature.
Having their pros and cons, free software products can be extremely useful but can also be disrupting for PCs. As these are free products, the developers do not bother much about the bugs involved and do not consider it feasible to spend time fixing them. So, how can we ensure their reliability?
Ensuring Reliability
One good way to ensure the reliability of products is to have a knowhow of reliable and secure download sites. Sites like Cnet and ZD Net Downloads offer free downloading of different software products. They provide a good interface and reviews of the products. You can get the idea of an unreliable or fake product from its website’s look and feel. If the website is created like a rundown neighborhood, the quality of their products is definitely suspicious. Reviews and feedback can help a lot in this process.
Since the developer of free software products does not want to spend much time on bug fixing, even downloading them from a reliable source cannot ensure their quality. Some of the most polished software can cause damage to PCs as well. Usually, people have their PCs cluttered with many unnecessary products. They destroy many directories and drivers due to this practice and end up getting their computers fixed by paying double charges.
Removing the Unwanted Software
– If you have installed a software that you feel suspicious about, it is wise to uninstall it and restart the computer. An efficient anti-virus can also help in removing suspicious files from the software. Anti-viruses can scan the applications for malware. Sometimes, this can lead to application instability, but at least it will not create problems for your computer.
– Uninstalling applications can be a pain for many because sometimes uninstallation becomes difficult. Manually removing the installation from the directory can also help if you know how to handle the directory files. This can help perform a cleanup process as well, as the information will be stored in the registry. Registry cleaners are sometimes suitable to remove unnecessary software from computers.
-If an application creates a problem, removing it and then installing it from another source could very well work. Some widely known and demanded applications have platforms where users communicate with the developers to report bug issues. These are helpful for developers allowing them to improve their software.
– For Windows users, Windows System Restore can help in rolling back changes that have been applied to the computer from a particular time and date. This is a good way to protect the computer without affecting the data files. Microsoft has also provided details of the System Restore usage on their website.
Therefore, it is good to keep track of what you are downloading, from where you are downloading, and how to get rid of it. Free software products can be useful but you have to be cautious while using them.
 About the Author
Saad is a journalist who loves everything about technology and related niches. He keeps a keen eye on the latest developments in tech and software industry and shares the news as it breaks.
