Freeware definition
From CastleCopsWiki
| Caution | The article below is currently in beta and has not been reviewed for factual errors. |
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[edit] The definition of freeware used on this list
There has being many definitions wars waged over the right to define the term freeware and the associated term free software. A good starting point is one as stated at http://www.pricelesswarehome.org/ by consensus of the participants of alt.comp.freeware.
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| Freeware: Legally obtainable software that you may use at no cost, monetary or otherwise, for as long as you wish. |
This common sense definition will no doubt be accepted by the vast majority of ordinary users. From the point of view of ordinary users, the right to modify, distribute software is of lesser importance, as long as they can be used, so GNU freeware and similar conceptions are not important. Such entries will be listed and marked open source though.
If you are happy with this, you can skip the rest of the page.
However if you want to get all legalese about it, there are several problems in defining freeware. Here this list will part company from alt.comp.freeware which arguably uses an overly strict definition on several issues.
[edit] What will be listed
Besides freeware, the following will be listed (all definitions from http://www.pricelesswarehome.org/acf/WareGlossary.php):-
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| Abandonware: software that the original owner no longer offers to the public. Abandonware refers to a product that is no longer marketed or distributed by the author/company that published it. Orphanware is used when the author cannot be located or the company is no longer in existence. Copyright laws apply to Orphanware and Abandonware. The programs are freeware only if they were released as freeware (or given freeware status by the owner at a later date). |
Abandonware here as the definition above indicates is not quite the same as used by many people. The application has to be freeware first before it qualifies to be listed. Often freeware authors lose net access or interest and disappear but their products are still around on various third party sites. The exception to this rule is if the author indicates that the freeware be withdrawn.
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Betaware: a preliminary but usable version of what will be the final version of a program. Beta versions are intended for testing by users (alpha versions are test versions for the developers). |
Betaware will be listed, preferably if there is a commitment towards producing a free version.
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| Liteware: free version of a commercial program. A useful program that is more limited in features and functionality than the commercial product. Liteware is not time-limited. |
There is much debate over the difference between Liteware (as defined above) and crippleware which is free version of a commercial program. More limited in features and functionality than the commercial product. Crippleware has severe limitations. Functionality that is important to the average user has been disabled. . By definition this site will list useful security software which means functionality exists so it can't be crippleware. Because a large number of security products are liteware, such entries will not be indicated.
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Nagware: has a popup (nag) screen, asking you to purchase the software. You must press a button to get past the nag screen. |
Nagware is sometimes viewed with suspicion on alt.comp.freeware because it is seen as being close to adware and hence it is not acceptable on the pricelessware list. Unfortunately, this means that many top quality otherwise free security products like Antivir or Sandboxie are not eligible. Antivir for example is considered nagware merely because during updates it will display a prompt generated by the interface describing the advantages of the paid version. This is a far cry from adware though and most users will probably tolerate this.
On this site, we will list nagware products, though this will be clearly stated and the nature of such nags will be described to help you make your decision. Adware and spyware products won't be tolerated of course.
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Registerware: you must provide personal information via registration in order to download and/or use the program |
Registerware is a common type of security freeware, many require that you register online to get a serial number. Most people will not find such licenses overly restrictive. Others require an online activation , this might limit the longevity of the software because once the company goes out of business , the life of the freeware becomes numbered since you cannot reinstall.
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Requestware: you are asked to do something. Examples: send a postcard or email to the software author, perform a good deed, make a contribution to charity |
Not much to say here.
[edit] Other issues
[edit] Time limited software
Time limited software that stops working after a period of time if not registered, is naturally not considered freeware. However, many antiviruses like AVAST give users only one year licenses, and require that users re-register (for free) every year. A strict view of freeware would throw them out because we can never be sure when such an offer will be withdrawn.
Arguably for antiviruses this is a threat that occurs regardless of whether you are forced to register once a year or not. While freeware Scanners that do not force regular registrations will always remain functional, there is nothing stopping the security vendor from stopping signature updates at anytime making the functioning of the scanner moot.
However, this listing will still not include software with a time limited subscription offer with the understanding that the offer will not be renewed after this period. An example would be the one year only offer by Etrust. AVAST! is exempt because it implicitly promises to provide free renewable licenses into the foreseeable future. Sometimes it not 100% clear though whether the offer can be renewed for free, in such cases, they will still be listed with accompanying notes (AOL ActiveShield used to be in this position until a representative clarified).
[edit] Adware
Adware is evil. Still the line is sometimes a bit thin. Is it adware if the product prompts you to upgrade to a product in the same line (advertising of it's licensed product), or if it the product prompts you about other products by the same company (advertising of company products), or if it advertises about other products? Most people would say the last one is, so something like SystemBodyGuard or CyberDefender or eScorcher is out.
[edit] Bundleware
At the time of writing Year end 2006, there is a debate at Alt.comp.freeware about the place of bundleware. This is the practice of bundling unnecessary components (often third party applications) with the desired program. There are two issues at stake here.
- Does the act of allowing the user to opt out at the point of installation make the bundleware acceptable? What if you can uninstall or merely disable that component after installation?
- If the bundleware installs adware or borderline spyware, does the ability to opt out make it still acceptable?
Fortunately for security software, instances where malware is bundled together with security products is rare, leaving aside rogue security products of course which will definitely not be listed. Unnecessary components have being bundled in the past though in some products like Commodo Firewall which installed a Commodo tray that promoted other commodo products. Then there is CCleaner that bundles Yahoo toolbar (which probably doesn't count as spyware or adware but is certainly unnecessary) though you can opt out at the point of installation.
On this list, bundleware that allows opting out at the point of installation will be listed, and notes will be made when this occurs.
[edit] Unique cases
It seems that no matter how we define things, software makers delight in coming up with new types of licensing agreements that confounds our rules. Here's one example, the old license of Prevx for example works exactly like the full version with no time limitations until it "detects, and protects you against, a malicious file, then a count-down begins. This count-down gives you another 30 days of the full product for free."
If you choose not to pay , after 30 days, "Prevx 2.0 switches into detection mode. This gives you the same visibility of what's happening on your machine and will tell you if you've been infected, allowing you to clean up an infection either by paying for Prevx 2.0 at that point, or by using another product or a manual clean-up method." Is this freeware? Crippleware? Registerware?
Such cases will be judged on individual merit.
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Freeware Anti-Viruses | Freeware Anti-Spyware | Freeware Anti-Trojans | Freeware Anti-Keyloggers | Freeware Anti-Rootkits | Freeware Firewalls | Freeware Behavior blockers | Freeware Sandboxes | Freeware Virtualization | Freeware Security analysis tools | Freeware Hardening tools | Freeware Blocklists | Freeware security services (excluding virus scanners) | Freeware Anti-Phishing | Freeware URL scanners | freeware security suites | List of unclassified tools Related : Lists of online scanners |
| While reasonable attempts have been made to avoid the listing of any malicious or ineffective software, an entry listed here should not be taken as a mark of approval from CastleCops. The selection of freeware (see definition) here is more inclusive, to provide more experienced users scope for experimentation and not just the usual half dozen or so freeware security software that are often mentioned. While there are many gems in the list, some are in beta and unstable or require fair amounts of skill to use. Less experienced users should probably refer to Roll your own Free Security Suite for a shorter list of popular and safer freeware. |
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Freeware Encryption software | Freeware Proxy software | Freeware Browser specific tools | Freeware Cleaners | Freeware Spam filters |
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