Slashdot Mirror
Free Windows Software Without Spyware/Adware
Jem Berkes writes "This week I launched CleanSoftware.org, a resource site with a unique goal: listing free, daily-use software that is free from spyware, adware, and other malicious/intrusive components. With Windows users increasingly believing that free software invariably means adware or spyware, I set out to promote good, clean, free software. Perhaps geeks helping family and friends set up their new computers this holiday can make use of this resource; sticking to clean software is much easier than struggling with never-ending cleanups. To expand my listing, I am also looking for input from the Slashdot readership: what other free, clean desktop software do you regularly use that Windows users should know about?"
Nice idea. I suggest you put a special icon next to open source software. I'm not saying you should be an open source evangelical, but I do think that *some* people who browse your site might prefer open source (and especially GNU) to propietary software, if they are given a clear choice. [For the record, I often choose propietery "clean" software myself. And sometimes I even (gasp!) pay for it. I'm very, very happy with Trillian 3 Pro, and am unsatisfied with the open source offerings.]
Note that there is a huge difference between "freeware" (gratis pieces of proprietary software, often spyware-laden) and "free software" (no need to explain this here, I hope).
Of course, this distinction won't help the ordinary user, but for you, it's a good rule of thumb: basically everything that comes with source is safe (except some "open source" scams -- if you're paranoid, just check if they use some weird fancy license instead of known-good ones). Of course, it's possible to conceal malicious code, but with the freedom to review and modify, it just doesn't make any sense.
On the other hand, gratis pieces of software that don't include the source usually tend to have some strings attached. It may be spyware, may be ads, or perhaps just annoying nag screens -- you shouldn't install anything like this unless you have a reason to think it's ok.
The creatures outside looked from Alt-Right to Antifa; but already it was impossible to say which was which.
Are links really that difficult?
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/tools /default.mspx
http://www.tucows.com/preview/299014.html
The space in the first link isn't your fault, the /. lameness filter breaks words from being too long; it prevents morons from making the page's layout fubar
listing free, daily-use software that is free from spyware, adware, and other malicious/intrusive components.
You can only be sure of that by having the source of the program. I see that you have many pieces of non-free software there in the same list as free. What makes you so sure that a non-free program which you use doesn't have a secret mode in which it obeys its coder, not you.
I gather his goal is to be a bit more inclusive than pricelessware - only a handpicked best-of-breed selection gets listed on the latter, and has to be voted in anew every year. People who have no problem with linux distros including seven different text editors should welcome the new site :)
I have installed a personal firewall on my system which notifies me about every incoming and outgoing connection. You will be amazed to see how many of those programs try do connect to their home site often. I block their incoming and outgoing internet connection for once and all.
Now I can choose any program that I want. I'm quite happy with this solution for a time being. Though it's not possible for those programs which meant for internet only.
Just be wary of where the links come from. Some freeware aggregators will wrap the regular installers in one that will include spyware.
Easiest way to avoid this is to code in a way for people to flag entries as questionable, to be verified manually by you or a trusted compatriot.
Think about it some.
-transiit
Perhaps geeks helping family and friends set up their new computers this holiday can make use of this resource
Or perhaps geeks helping family and friends will set up linux distros instead and head over to sourceforge, just to name one good place for solid gpl stuff.
Not trying flame here, but I got tired of being the windoze adming for the family and friends and for some time now I've been saying something along the lines "sorry, it's been years since I touched Microsoft and thesedays I wouldn't know where to begin to sort your problems. Let me set up a linux for ya and I'll promise I'll help you with as much as is needed."
1 Earth is warming, 2 It's us, 3 it's royally bad, 4 we need to take action NOW
For some software, there are multiple distributions on Windows, or merely multiple distributors (check all those Ebay auctions seeling the "MS Office replacements" etc...).
What happens if one of these includes spyware? Will the whole program be delisted, or will the offending ditros be identified individually?
Everything you just said was wrong.
1. There are many different versions of programs on Pricelessware. At least six text editors, for example. Basically if it comes up to an acceptable level of usability and isn't spyware/shareware/nagware/adware, it will get in. Not just one text editor they think is best.
2. The whole list is up for review each year, but the list is updated throughout the year. In most cases programs aren't voted off, only new programs are voted in.
3. Linux is in fact included on Pricelessware.
(longtime user of Pricelessware since back when it was just a newsgroup)
Yeah because Linux can really run ALL the software on the market that the average user is looking for...
:p
Sorry propeller head but until Linux will run all the software that the mass public enjoys using (i.e. people not living in Mom and Dad's basement... that actually see daylight sometimes...) it will NOT be accepted.
Yes, you are uber because you use Linux but not everyone can be as cool as you unfortunately.
from time to time one must replay to a troll.
[u]until Linux will run all the software that the mass public enjoys using[/u]
To be accepted GNU/Linux must be able to preform all the tasks required by its users, induvidually programs matters little.
Freedom or George Bush
If you don't allow submissions, or even suggestions of any kind, the site will simply not grow. I know of LOTS of software that isn't on that list which I can say is completely spyware free, yet I cannot share that information since you will likely ignore me. I'm sorry, but I can't see this website of being any use. People would have more luck just looking for stuff via sourceforge. Theres more there, and everything is free of spyware. I could see this idea working if it was more of a community project, with submission forms and a group of volunteers who test the software and read the licenses to see if they are suitable for inclusion. As is though, with a single person, the website will fizzle out in no time.
It doesn't install anything, and it's the lightest image viewer that I have ever seen.
It has a function to enable bmp preview chaning the icon on windows explorer. If this function is enabled, looking at a folder full of bmp files will involve reading them all and resizing lots of image, so it might be quite slow. I recommend disabling that.
Yes it is. Split hairs all you like, but you are supposed to pay for the software if you decide to keep it:
http://www.textpad.com/download/index.html:
Spine World
How do you know what someone tells you really is free of this crap? I would imagine unscrupulous code writers would be happy to tell you they are clean.
Information that is deemed for the public good should not have restrictive copyrights in place. You should consider switching to a Creative Commons license that allows for others to cite, copy, and otherwise distribute the useful information you've collected. Doing otherwise would be counterproductive.
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