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You are viewing the "Software types" page.
Software types
Confusing isn’t the word for software (or programs, same thing to all intents and purposes) and how you can use it. Read on to learn about the world of software and some unorthodox names.
Paid for Software.
Exactly what it says on the tin. You pay some money, install the software and use it. Mostly it is licensed only for one computer but can be for more. Microsoft Office 2007 Home and Office Edition is for three computers (or users) for example.
Some paid for software is licensed for one person to use on one computer and if you sell the computer then the license (and any right to use it) lapse. The Windows you use on your computer is one such case.
Paying for software is not a guarantee of quality. Like all other types of software there is good, bad and indifferent out there.
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Shareware.
Confusingly there are two types of Shareware (SHAREed softWARE), ones which only work for a trial period and ones which have some functions disabled.
Either version is aimed at giving the user a taste of what a program can do. If you like it then pay the money to use it as a “normal” program.
Again, the quality of the software can be good, bad or indifferent. Beware though, shareware can often cause damage to computers either due to bad writing or malicious intent!
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Freeware.
Freeware (FREE softWARE) comes from a number of sources.
It can be commercially written but part of a suite of programs. One part of this suite is given away (usually with some usage restrictions such as only for private use) in the hope that users like it so much they buy the entire suite of programs.
It can be published as an integral part of a service which is necessary for the service. For example, the BBC publish the iPlayer program so that people can download programs to watch later.
Finally Freeware can be written, developed and published by individuals who, for altruistic reasons, want to publish software for the “good of everyone”. A little program called “tclockex” which modified the clock in pre-Vista versions of Windows is one example which was written and published by a South African called Dale Nurden. In his own words this is why he published this very useful offering.
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I've benefited from other people's work which they have been nice enough to give away, so I figure it's only right to give something back to the world community. |
A fantastic attitude which shows the Internet can be a nice place!
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Open Source.
Perhaps the most confusing concepts to understand. Simply put, Open Source software is available for the general public to use and/or modify free of charge. Note the “free of charge” not "free", there is still a license to agree to and possibly breach.
Don’t worry though, if you wanted to do anything other than just use Open Source software you wouldn't need to read this page, so you are very unlikely to have to worry about the conditions.
This concept of an almost natural growth or development of a piece of software, where anyone can “have a go” sounds a recipe for chaotic disaster! Surprisingly it isn't. For example while “surfing the net” you will be using Open Source software. According to netcraft.com in August 2009 over 46% of web sites used a program called “Apache” to put their web pages on the Internet. Apache is Open Source software and can be downloaded by anyone - for nothing! Microsoft came next with a mere 22%, less than half as many sites as Apache.
Open Source can be mind numbingly technical software but also sophisticated, highly developed and easy to use by novices, see the Bertha Guide to Open Office.
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Spyware.
Finally the first of the three software evils! SPY softWARE, not surprisingly, spies on people who have installed it. As such it is not something you would install knowingly.
Always beware of software which you come across on the Internet which sounds too good to be true. Most of the time it will be too good and at best will be Spyware which records such things as what you type on your keyboard for later transmission to Cyber criminals.
Spyware software is always bad.
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Malware.
MALicious softWARE is exactly what it sounds like. Heard of computer viruses, or Trojans, or Worms? Then you have heard of Malware.
This type of software is why you need anti virus software which is up to date on your computer. Modern Malware is unlikely to damage your computer. Instead Cyber criminals use it to make money, Spam for example is sent from computers infected with Malware.
Malware can be installed without the user knowing (hence the need for automatic anti virus programs) but some can trick you into installing it by masquerading as useful software, even as an anti virus program! See this BBC report.
Malware is always very bad.
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C**pware (or C**plets).
This final type of software is one which is, erm, “not very good” - fill in the blanks yourself! This is software which is installed by computer suppliers to “help” you. You know the type, it’s there the first time you ever fire the computer up and, years later what it does, why it’s there or even how to use it is still a mystery. And you never missed it anyway. All it does is clutter your computer up.
C**pware is one of life's inconveniences which has to be put up with.
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