Good Practice

[Bif]

I've noticed on many of the threads on here that suggestions for software downloads for various ailments is a common practice, and although offered with good intentions, more often than not download links are included that are from third party vendors/sites.
If I can suggest that if anyone would like to post a certain software link download to help a member on this forum that they post it for the authors site, this way we are not exacerbating any issues that already exists with possible malware,unwanted toolbars and lord knows what else.

 

[Norton]

Bif What you say is so true. One can find easily find software from third party vendors for any PC problem.
Most of this software brings more problems or hijacks your PC until you pay a ransom. If you are downloading software stay with the original developers sites.

 

[Trouble]

A good suggestion and always a "best practice" to use the author's site as the primary source when downloading software and stay away from sources that may or are likely to, bundle crapware like toolbars and such.
HowToGeek, did an article about this a while back
http://www.howtogeek.com/207692/yes...oad-site-is-serving-crapware-heres-the-proof/
And a few subsequent articles
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/5619/avoid-crapware-when-installing-free-apps/
http://www.howtogeek.com/218764/warning-don’t-download-software-from-sourceforge-if-you-can-help-it/
http://www.howtogeek.com/189176/why-we-hate-recommending-software-downloads-to-our-readers/

Some you may recognize and some suggestions as to what to watch for and avoid getting "extras" you don't want or need.

 

[Bif]

In the early days for me, I downloaded everything from everywhere and learned the hard way.
BUT I got really good at reloading Windows!..glass half full..

 

[Grizzly]

even if one gets the option of additional software one does not need (like toolbars), one can most of the time uncheck the check marks instead of clicking on [next] constantly....

 

[davehc]

I, on occasions, find Windows a little boring. I love to experiment with "free" software. It is done on a computer which I use for that purpose. Mostly, my interest is in software that boasts to do something useful, but not, so far, obtainable without paying the price. Through these experiments, I have found some useful stuff. Through this method, it is often possible (not always) to extract the original installation, crap free program. If I am satisfied that it is clean, and worth the bother, I may then use it on a main machine.
I back the process of downloading, by an automatic clean up of browsing history adware, etc.

One caution though, as "howtogeek" points out, downloading freeware from the authors site, (if you can find it), does not ensure immunity. Freeware authors themselves, often include so-called crapware, for which they receive revenue, in order to pay their bills.

P.S. I don't know of the experience of other readers of this thread, but, amusingly, I got two spam popups on the geeks site. These were Scandinavian related, (where I live) so others may have different experiences.