Regular readers of this blog know that I’m a huge fan of free software.
In fact, I download, test and write about free programs and apps all the time.
That being said, installing free software can sometimes causes problems. [Read more…]
Q&A: Can you still get Malwarebytes for free?
Question from Phyllis: Hi, Rick. I’ve been following your blog for a while now and I love the info you provide. Thank you!
In several of your posts you recommend running periodic malware scans with the free version of Malwarebytes.
I clicked the link you provided and downloaded it, but after the program was installed it said I have 14 days left in my free trial?
I know for a fact that I clicked the link to download the free version. Why did it install a trial version? [Read more…]
Great news: SourceForge has abandoned the ‘Sneakware’ business
For many years SourceForge was my favorite site for downloading free software because they didn’t bundle third-party add-on programs (aka sneakware) with their installation files.
Well, that all changed in July 2013 when the folks at SourceForge decided to follow in the footsteps of their competitors by joining the widely-despised DevShare program.
In a nutshell, the DevShare program allows download sites to earn extra cash by bundling additional software with the programs that users download from the site.
The problem is the “extra” (and almost always unwanted) software will usually be installed by default along with the downloaded program unless the user unchecks one or boxes to “unbundle” the add-on programs. And those check boxes are typically pretty hard to notice, or even find. [Read more…]