Number 318 - November 2009

Nasty-Ware Free Software - Not!!
by Joel Schwartz, ASCIi Society for Computer Information, Inc Arizona
The deceivers are at it again. It's not quite deceptive advertising but it sure makes me angry.    I frequently search for utilities that are freeware by doing a generic search, for instance, a file manager and, because I don't want to pay for the utility, my search argument is something like "file manager free." The results for something like this will be somewhat voluminous and it is a chore to find something to match my criteria. I have noticed that my results are being peppered with tons of stuff that is definitely not free. How do these unwanted hits creep into my search? With a new twist: The vendors post them with a prominent "Free Download." Well, duh, most downloads are free, including freeware, shareware and payware. So, putting "free download" in the software's description is nothing less than deception akin to "bait-and-switch;" You are lured in with the promise of merchandise (free) and the vendor then tries to switch you to another kind of merchandise (not free).    One surprising aspect of this unsavory practice is that the major download sites have all quietly gone along with this and permit their users to be inconvenienced if not outright deceived.	Another objectionable practice is a vendor's blurb singing the praises of his product and, in fact, the product delivers as promised. But there are various "Gotchas." So you download and install the free or trial version of the product and you go to the trouble of installing and learning its use and you get to an advanced option that you need and then discover that this option is only available to registered users (read: "Cash Customers").    Or you install a program from a CD that came with a purchase of a laptop or DVD drive, again going to the trouble of installing and learning its use. You plug along, happily using your fine new product, happy as can be. Then, one day, the denouement: You fire up the program to perform the chores for which you now depend on it and you are greeted with the information that ".....your trial period has expired....." and you must fork over your money to continue to use the program. These nasty critters deserve a new category name for thier nasty behavior: Perhaps Guerilla-ware or Sneaky-ware or Beware-ware. Have you got a better name?    Joel Schwartz (joel.schwartz@asciigroup.org) is a long time ASCIi member who has served in many capacities including Moderator.
Number 318 - November 2009