The world of free software can be practical and insecure. Freeware from a trusted provider does not pose a risk to your PC, however there are a lot of malware to choose from. It could be malware (which collects information without your permission) as well as adware (which sends you pop-ups), or spyware (which can corrupt data on your PC).

Avoiding sites that host pirated or copyrighted software is one of the best ways to avoid being infected by these dangerous programs. Also, you should keep your anti-virus programs and anti-malware up to date.

FileHippo: A list of the most current versions http://www.isohuntpro.org/virtual-data-room-for-perspectives of popular apps and games and installation guides and opinion pieces. The site also has comprehensive back catalogs of the older versions of the apps.

PortableAppz: A collection of apps you can run from the cloud drive or on your desktop. The website offers everything from games to photo editing and office software.

Cleanup is a freeware program that lets you clean Windows and browser histories, as well as the history of third-party applications. It can help you empty recycle bin, clear system log files clean typed URLs erase search history, clean the clipboard and temp files, and much more.

Open-source software: You can find some of the most reliable open source software on community-driven websites such as Github and SourceForge. Linux and LibreOffice are two well-known examples. The software you use isn’t always free, but it’s often cheaper than proprietary programs and allows you to make modifications or enhancements to the code if you’d like.