The Cost of Freedom

You need to read the fine print.

Dan Tynan

Getting your software for free generally means giving up something in return. Here's what to watch out for.

Support: Don't expect much hand holding. If you're lucky you might get a few FAQs and a user forum. So expect to spend time troubleshooting if things go wrong.

Features: Some freeware programs are fully functional, but many are simply crippled versions of the real deal, designed to whet your appetite. If a program's tools are grayed out or don't seem to work, that's probably why.

Regular Updates: As with support, freeware generally doesn't qualify for automatic upgrades. That's fine for programs that don't change much, like word processors, but not good for things like antivirus software that rely on regular updates to maintain their effectiveness.

Ads: In some cases you'll have to put up with flashing banner ads inside the app, as in the free versions of the Opera Web browser and Qualcomm's Eudora e-mail program.

Spam: Sometimes accepting free stuff means agreeing to receive e-mail marketing messages--like when you sign up for a free Internet fax number from EFax. Technically it's not spam, because you agreed to receive the e-mail, but it sure feels like it. Read the end-user license carefully before you sign up.

Spyware/stealthware: Some freeware installs a little extra something along with the software you downloaded--a piece of spyware that tracks your movements across the Web and delivers pop-up ads. Before you install freeware, visit sites like Spychecker and Counterexploitation's adware info page to keep the app from pulling one over on you.