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Save £100s on...computer software

There are plenty of places the savvy computer user can go and legally grab as much free software as their hard drives will let them. With a little time, you can save £100s, make your PC safer, more reliable and enjoyable to use, writes Teena Lyons

Step one: Get informed. Always be careful to check any software you put on your computer is from a reliable source and suitable for your system. Be careful when typing web addresses – unscrupulous people register similar-sounding names to legitimate sites to catch out the unwary.

Step two: Get with the programme. Many software programmes cost £100 plus. Work out what you want your computer to do and then consider the following options for legitimate free software:

- Word processing - www.abisource.com
- Office programmes including spreadsheets - www.openoffice.org or docs.google.com
- Receive fax – www.efax.com (note – people faxing you will bear the cost of the 0870 number you are given – typically 8p per minute during the day).
- Organise photos – picasa.google.com or www.irfanview.com
- Be creative - www.freeserifsoftware.com or www.thebest3d.com/dogwaffle/free
- And for the ambitious – www.snapfiles.com or www.filehippo.com for programmes on virtually anything.
- Try before you buy – demos, freeware and shareware at www.download.com

Step three: Get rid of the junk. Those infuriating pop-ups are generated from adware software that sneaks on to your system. Lavasoftusa.com offers home users an adware scanner for free or to stop the pop-ups themselves, use the downloadable toolbars from Google or MSN, although sometimes they can block legitimate windows too.

Step four: Get protected. A great many of the problems PC users suffer are caused by malicious code and programs innocently downloaded while surfing the web. The first way to protect yourself is always turn your PC off when you are not using it – not only does it save power – but after browsing is a prime time for hackers to strike.

Anti-virus software costs around £50, but decent freeware is available from freegrisoft.com or www.avast.com

With both, make sure that you regularly download the free updates, as these inform the software about new bugs and without it you are not protected. You should also utilise the free security upgrades provided by Microsoft and Apple.

For peace of mind and an added level of protection, there are also some free anti-virus check-up programmes at www.pandasoftware.com or housecall.trendmicro.com

* Teena Lyons is the former consumer editor of the Sunday Mirror. Teena's views represent her own opinions and are for general information only. Always seek independent financial advice.

This article was created: 11 May 2007.
This article was last edited: 28 June 2007.

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