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Important Software Terminologies – Freeware, Shareware, Adware and Spyware
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We all live in the age of computers. In fact, you are reading this article through your PC and I have written it through mine. Computers are simply amazing, aren’t they? They process information at mind-boggling speeds. You get your desired output almost instantly. However, computers are “dumb” devices. They are just able enough to process long strings of instructions written by intelligent programmers. The attributes that make computers so special to humans are the accuracy, tirelessness, and speed with which it performs. In this article, we will explore certain terminologies related to the world of computers.

Freeware

Freeware is a kind of computer software that is available to users at either no cost at all or for an optional fee. Freeware is not open source public software. It is available in proprietary form and the source code is not available for modification by the users. Proprietary freeware allows its author to contribute something fruitful for the benefit of the community, while at the same time retaining control of the source code.   

The term freeware was originally coined by Andrew Fluegelman. Fluegelman was planning to sell a communications software named PC-Talk. He did not want to go for the traditional methods of software distribution due to the cost involved. Instead, he branded his product as a freeware.

There is an established criterion for software to be classified as a freeware. It should be fully functional for an unlimited time without cost involvement on the part of the user - monetary or otherwise. The software may come with certain license restrictions. A freeware may be free for personal and non-commercial use, academic use or even commercial use. There are umpteen freeware utilities available for download covering various disciplines – from download accelerator programs to HTML editors.

Shareware

Shareware is another classification of computer software. It is usually offered as a trial version with certain features only available after the software license is purchased. After the end of the trial period, the software may not run unless a license is purchased. Shareware programs often come without the desired support and updates. Certain features might remain deactivated initially. These features are activated once the license is purchased. If you come across any of the terms – “free trial” or “trial version”, the associated software can be considered as a shareware.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, shareware programs used to be distributed through bulletin board systems globally. Diskettes and CD-ROMs were also used as distribution media. Commercial shareware distributors like Public Software Library (PSL) became highly popular. With increased Internet usage globally, people started downloading shareware directly into their computer systems. Popularity of the Internet spelled doom for bulletin board systems and commercial shareware distributors.

Shareware is available on all computer platforms – Windows, Linux, UNIX, and Macintosh. It spans several areas catering to the home and commercial segments. Shareware developers bypass the normal distribution channel and can market directly to the end-users. Users can obtain shareware at a much lesser rate. Users are often encouraged to distribute copies to their friends and peers. If these new users find the software helpful, they might intend to pay and register it, thereby increasing monetary returns for the author.

Adware

Adware is a specific type of computer program that is supportive to advertisements. Adware automatically displays advertisements or downloads them after it is installed in a computer.  Advertisement features are integral to adware. Adware tracks the user’s Internet usage pattern and presents relevant advertisements on the user’s screen.  Bundling adware with a software and offering them as free downloads allow developers to recover some cost by way of the advertisements displayed on the user’s screen. Most users consider adware as a sort of distraction or interruption while they are concentrating on a particular task at hand.

Spyware

Spyware is considered to be a malware (malicious software). Spyware is installed in your system clandestinely. Once installed, a spyware can take partial or total control of your interactivity with your computer. In most cases, you may not get the slightest hint. Spyware is also classified under privacy-invasive software.

A spyware does not simply monitor your computer usage; it can extract sensitive information too. A spyware can track your Internet surfing preferences (often the techie term cyber-stalking is used) and the sites that have been visited in the recent past. The malicious functioning of spyware can trigger automatic installation of additional software and redirection of your web browser to an unintended site with potential viruses. The more harmful ones can change your computer settings and result in slower connectivity. To your utter surprise, you might discover that you are directed to a completely new home page. Your programs might be erased all of a sudden and the speed of your system might become abruptly slow.  

To control the malicious effect of spyware and recognizing that as a sizable business opportunity, a small industry has started dealing in anti-spyware products, very much in the manner of anti-virus software. Security conscious Windows and Macintosh users consider periodic anti-spyware runs as a means of safeguarding their hardware and privacy. Globally, jurisdictions have been passed, making spyware unlawful.
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