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Software programmers can be a community-minded bunch, tinkering away on a new computer program in their spare time and then offering it up for free or for a small fee as freeware or shareware for homes and businesses.
Most get satisfaction from seeing their creations become useful and popular, and while there are risks, most freeware and shareware available from reputable download sites is developed with good intentions.
Freeware, as the name suggests, is software developed for use by anyone and can be copied or used for free without infringing the copyright of the software developer.
However, freeware licenses do have restrictions; the most common is that the user is not allowed to change, repackage or sell the software. Some freeware is also only free for home use; businesses and public sector agencies are supposed to pay.
Freeware can also be released to boost the use of a commercial software application because it works in the best interests of the software developer - a good example is the common Adobe Acrobat PDF reader software, which is free so people can easily read a file created using Adobe's Acrobat PDF software.
Shareware is different to freeware in that it tends to be provided free only for a trial period or indefinitely for a small one-off payment. If it is available as a trial, the business is expected to purchase the program at the end of the trial period. Like any unique creation, shareware is protected by copyright laws, and like freeware, it may have conditions attached to its use.
One Auckland export business employing 20 staff uses freeware and shareware products as well as 'open source' applications developed for the Linux operating system (which is itself freeware.)
Among other programs, the business is using OpenOffice.org, a multiplatform, multilingual office software suite compatible with Microsoft office software and free to download, use, and distribute. The business also uses Virtual Network Computing (VNC) shareware to remotely manage office systems by viewing its business server via any internet-connected computer and simple 'viewer' software.
"The two computers don't even have to be the same type, so for example you can use VNC to view an office Linux machine on your Windows PC at home. VNC is freely and publicly available and is in widespread active use by millions throughout industry, academia and privately," says the business director.
He says the company benefits from using WinRar freeware, an archive manager used to back up data and reduce the size of email attachments. Files can be decompressed, compressed into ZIP file format, or archived.
Other internationally popular freeware and shareware includes tools for backup, spam-busting, spyware removal, hardware tune ups, and file converters - and, for those cruisy Friday afternoons, games galore.
File converters are particularly useful as they convert one type of file into another. One of these conversion programs is currently available as shareware from tucows.com for $29.50.
There is even shareware designed to improve the performance of mobile phones. MemMaid tidies up fragmented files that build up in the cache of a smart phone as a result of web browsing. It also removes browser cache files, history, cookies, bookmarks, shortcuts and email attachments and will let you change the amount of memory available for storage and the amount used for running programs.
The risks of using freeware and shareware are lessened once a business understands these programs are developed on an 'as is' basis - there are typically no manuals or technical support and no promises that the software won't come loaded with a virus or other form of malware. That said, some popular freeware programs come with a built-in manual, and web sites with FAQs and newsgroups develop around good freeware and shareware as its popularity grows.
If you want to guard against unsafe downloads, ensure security software and firewalls are up to date and running.
Some freeware requires users to view ads while using the program - as such, this is not 'no-strings' freeware and is known as 'Adware'. Adware does not necessarily pose a risk to businesses, however compulsory ad-viewing is a distraction.
Carefully read the license that comes with shareware and freeware. This appears during the installation process and if properly read, allows the business to avoid copyright infringements and inappropriate use of the software.
Each license also indicates the risk the business accepts in using the software and may name the author of the software for future communications over use and usefulness.
