Despite the nightmare of system crashes and uncontrollable adware, some attractive free and shareware programs are hard to resist. Follow these general guidelines after downloading software. If you are lucky enough to find the right place, even some free and shareware programs can help you solve problems.
Carefully choose your download site. Not all sites offer virus, spyware, stability, and usability checks for the software. You should opt for large, reputable download sites. The software listed in the Download section of PCWorld.com has been thoroughly vetted and is reliable.
Before downloading, read user reviews and comments. The best download sites provide editorial reviews and allow users to share their opinions on the software’s strengths and weaknesses.
Check if the author or software company offers technical support. Usually, you can find a website address, email address, or phone number.
Carefully read the software license agreement and review the installation screens. These are the best ways to check if the free program comes bundled with spyware. If you don’t understand the agreement, check out Spychecker.com, which provides a database of download programs that include adware and spyware.
If you have accidentally downloaded adware or spyware, and now want to remove it, check if the software has an uninstall function. For example, you can uninstall Radiate’s software using a program downloaded from this company’s website.
If you want to scan your computer for spyware, try using Lavasoft’s free Ad-aware program (which can be easily found via Google search); this program can find and remove most stealthy software. Remember to update to the latest version.
Once you encounter a problem with the software, do not hesitate to remove it. If the program lacks an uninstall function, try using Windows’ Add/Remove Programs or other similar software.
Be sure to delete any junk DLL files and registry entries related to the uninstalled software. Knowledgeable users can confidently perform this manually, but it’s better to use a reliable program to do so.
