1. Use only trusted sites. The following steps are based on the website www.download.com
2. Browse through the categories to find the one that covers what you want. This could take some browsing as the category names aren’t always descriptive of what software is included in the category.
3. Read the titles and descriptions of each program carefully to determine if the software is what you need. Click on each one to read the full description.
4. Check to make sure that the software is FREE. Some software programs are SHAREWARE - they have a limited time usage before you have to pay. On this website, there is a filter located at the bottom of the page that can eliminate all programs on the list that are not considered free. However, “free” software may include ads, additional software that you may not want, or have other catches.
5. Check that the software program is suitable for your version of Windows – 98, ME, or XP.
6. Note how many times the software program has been downloaded. The more popular a program, the more likely it is to be useful and a safe download.
7. Read the reviews written by Download.com and also those written by other users. The user reviews are sometimes more helpful and descriptive than the professional reviews and will include any glitches that the average user might run into.
8. Once you have decided on a program, click on “Download Now”. Follow the usual steps for downloading and installing a software program.
   
   
   
   
   Some Favorite Free Software Downloads:
   
   EPrompter – automatically and simultaneously checks and receives E-mail from up to 16 accounts.
   AdAware – finds and removes adware and spyware.
   Spybot Search & Destroy – detects and removes adware.
   CutePDF Writer – enables Windows applications to create PDF documents.
   Zip Reader – allows users to open files that have been compressed with ZIP software.
   Legacy Family Tree – genealogy software.