Freeware、Free software、Open source、Shareware、Trialware、Adware、Nagware等术语通常用于定义程序。是否真的知道免费软件和自由软件之间的区别——尽管两者的使用松散且可互换？我想大多数计算机用户都没有！因此，在这篇文章中，我们将尝试澄清与这些术语相关的微妙问题，并解释其他“商品”术语。
免费软件(Freeware)、自由软件(Free Software)、开源(Open Source)等之间的区别
免费软件
免费(Freeware)软件是无需支付使用费即可分发的软件。这些程序可以作为全功能软件无限期使用。
任何免费软件的所有权归其开发者所有。如果他愿意，开发人员可以将未来的版本从免费软件更改为付费产品（免费软件）。此外，免费软件通常在没有源代码(source code)的情况下分发。这样做是为了防止其用户进行任何形式的修改。另外，分发免费程序的许可证可能允许软件被自由复制但不能出售。在某些情况下，甚至可能不允许分发软件。
瘸子
一些软件作为免费软件提供——但功能非常有限——或者缺少主要功能。这些被称为Crippleware。提供全功能版本的版本已启用所有功能，并且大部分可作为商业程序或共享软件使用。在大多数情况下，免费程序会宣传商业产品。
捐赠软件
有时，免费软件会定期分发给用户，并定期提醒或请求(regular reminder or request)向作者或某些第三方（例如慈善机构）捐款。在这种情况下，免费软件被称为捐赠软件。
免费软件
许多计算机用户并没有完全意识到这个有些新的和无关的概念。好吧(Well)，自由软件是让用户自由运行、复制、分发、学习、更改和改进软件的软件。准确地说，自由软件是自由的问题，而不是价格！
它本质上意味着用户可以自由使用、修改和分发程序，但必须满足一个条件：任何重新分发的软件版本必须按照免费使用、修改和分发的原始条款（称为 copyleft）分发。与免费软件不同的是，免费软件可以付费分发。
请(Please)注意，要修改程序，您需要访问免费软件提供的源代码，而免费软件不提供。此外，自由软件提供了重新分发副本的自由，但要做到这一点，用户必须包含程序的二进制或可执行形式以及源代码，用于修改和未修改的版本。
尤其值得注意的是，有时政府出口管制法规和贸易制裁也限制了在国际上分发节目副本的自由。在这种情况下，拒绝并且不遵守任何出口法规作为任何基本自由的条件，因为软件开发人员无权推翻这些限制。您可以在FSF.org网站上获得更多详细信息。
开源
“开源”一词非常接近“自由软件”，但并不完全相同。我们这样说是因为，开源软件的源代码对用户 2 来说很容易获得，但受版权保护，并且可以自由地重新分发该软件。
开源程序的概念依赖于这样一个事实，即用户可以查看源代码以消除其中可能存在的错误。这是我们在商业开发和打包的程序中没有观察到的。互联网上的程序员通过消除可能的错误来阅读和修改源代码。因此，通过这种方式，程序员有助于为每个人提供更有用和无错误的产品。更多细节可以在OpenSource.org获得。
阅读：(Read:) 微软现在喜欢 Linux 和开源。为什么？
共享软件
共享(Shareware)软件是免费分发的演示软件，但仅限特定评估期，例如 15-30 天（试用软件(Trialware)）。评估期过后，程序将过期，用户无法再访问该程序。只有当您有兴趣进一步使用该程序时，共享软件提供商才会要求您购买该软件的许可证。
因此，基本上它是在试用的基础上分发的，并且了解一段时间后用户可能有兴趣为其付费。此外，一些共享软件以“ Liteware ”的形式提供。在这些程序（即“Liteware”）中，某些功能被禁用。只有购买或升级到完整版本的程序才能访问完整的功能。因此(Thus)，共享软件被用于营销目的。
广告软件
广告软件(Adware)，更广为人知的广告软件是自动呈现广告的软件。大多数这些广告都以烦人的弹出窗口的形式出现。但是，可以通过购买注册码来禁用广告。它甚至可以更改您的主页、默认搜索或安装工具栏。与免费软件一样，广告软件也(Adware too)可供计算机用户免费使用。
捆绑软件
Bundleware得名于人们将不同的程序“捆绑”到一个安装程序中。捆绑软件的一次安装会安装您想要的主程序以及您不想要的一些其他程序。
间谍软件
间谍软件(Spyware)更进一步，偷偷地在您的计算机上安装另一个软件。间谍软件可能包含一个代码，该代码在用户连接到Internet(Internet)时将有关用户计算机的信息发送给开发人员或其他位置。这样做是为了在Web浏览器中显示广告。
纳格韦尔
这是一个程序，它会在试用期到期之前定期向用户发出购买应用程序或产品的提醒。该术语的名称来源于提醒（通常称为“NAGS”）不断出现在用户的计算机屏幕上，直到他激活所需的应用程序或强行退出它。虽然您可以使用该程序，但它会不断地催促您购买完整版或升级。简而言之，如果任何程序不断唠叨您升级到其完全付费版本或捐赠，它被称为Nagware。
恶意软件
恶意软件通常被称为“恶意软件”，是指任何具有恶意(Malware)的程序，并且未经用户同意就利用计算机的数据。一旦在计算机硬盘驱动器上，它可以劫持您的浏览器并跟踪您访问的网站 - 并造成更严重的损害。
除此之外，它还可以隐藏在Windows深处，甚至在完全删除后重新安装，使其成为最难删除或清理的程序。病毒、木马(Trojans)等都可能被视为恶意软件。
恐吓软件
旨在诱骗用户下载和购买无功能或危险软件的恶意软件称为Scareware或Rogue Software。它是如何做到的？很简单(Simple)，它通过使用户错误地认为他的计算机被潜在有害病毒感染来警告用户。
下载并安装后，该程序会显示虚假病毒警报并指示他购买“完整版”以消除感染（虚构）。最终，用户购买了软件并浪费了他辛苦赚来的钱。简而言之，捕食用户恐惧的恶意软件称为(Malware)Scareware。
废弃软件
当软件的开发被作者(Author)放弃并且没有可用的支持时，它被称为Abandonware。废弃(Abandonware)软件还可能包括版权不明确或存在争议的软件。
在评论部分添加Jsg：不提供支持、更新等。购买不再具有任何意义，并且在许多情况下，注册码可在Internet上公开获得。使用Internet(Internet)上提供的注册码用于废弃软件的合法性值得怀疑，但通常要求作者主动采取任何措施。
我错过了任何“-ware”术语吗？你对这些定义有什么意见吗？或者，也许某些定义需要细化。请(Please)在评论部分分享。
Difference: Freeware, Free Software, Open Source, Shareware, Trialware, etc
Terms such аs Freewаre, Free software, Open source, Ѕhareware, Trialware, Adware, Nаgware, etc are often used to define programs. Does one really know the difference between freeware аnd free software – although both are used loosely аnd interchangeably? I guess most computer users don’t! So, in this pоst, we will try to clarify subtle issues related to these terms, and explain the other “ware” terms.
Difference between Freeware, Free Software, Open Source, etc.
Freeware
Freeware is software that is distributed without demanding a fee for its usage. These programs are available either as fully functional software for an unlimited period.
Ownership of any freeware is retained by its developer. The developer can change future releases from freeware to a paid product (freeware) if he wishes so. Also, a freeware is typically distributed without its source code. This is done to prevent any sort of modification by its users. Plus, the license with which a free program is distributed may permit the software to be freely copied but not sold. In some cases, one may not be allowed to even distribute the software.
Crippleware
Some software are offered as freeware – but with very limited features – or with the major feature missing. These are referred to as Crippleware. The ones that provide fully functional version has all the functions enabled and is mostly available either as a commercial program or as shareware. In most cases, the free programs promote a commercial offering.
Donationware
Sometimes, freeware is distributed to users with a regular reminder or request to make a donation to the author or to some third-party such as a charity. In such cases, freeware is referred to as a Donationware.
Free Software
Many computer users aren’t fully aware of this somewhat new and unrelated concept. Well, free software is software that gives a user freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change, and improve the software. To be precise, free software is a matter of liberty, not the price!
It essentially means a user can freely use, modify, and distribute a program stipulated to one condition: any redistributed version of the software must be distributed with the original terms of free use, modification, and distribution (known as copyleft). And unlike freeware, free software may be distributed for a fee.
Please note, to modify a program you need to access its source code which free software offers whereas a freeware does not. Also, free software gives freedom to redistribute copies however to do this, a user must include binary or executable forms of the program, as well as source code, for both modified and unmodified versions.
It is particularly noteworthy to mention here that sometimes government export control regulations and trade sanctions too limit the freedom to distribute copies of programs internationally. In such cases, refuse and do not obey any export regulations as a condition of any of the essential freedoms since software developers do not have the power to override these restrictions. You can more details on the FSF.org website.
Open Source
The term ‘Open Source’ is very close to ‘free software’ but not identical to it. We say this because, the source code of open-source software is readily available to users 2 but under copyright, and one is freely allowed to redistribute the software.
The concept of the open-source programs relies on the fact that a user can review a source-code for eliminating possible bugs in it. This is something that we do not observe in commercially developed and packaged programs. Programmers on the internet read and modify the source-code by eliminating the possible bugs. Thus, in this way programmers helps in providing more useful and bug-free product for everyone to use. More details can be had at OpenSource.org.
Read: Microsoft loves Linux & Open Source now. Why?
Shareware
Shareware is demonstration software that is distributed for free but for a specific evaluation period only, say, 15-30 days (Trialware). After the evaluation period, the program gets expired and a user can no longer access the program. Only if you are interested in using the program further, the shareware provider may require you to purchase a license for the software.
So, basically it is distributed on trial basis and with an understanding that sometime later a user may be interested in paying for it. Also, some shareware are offered as ‘Liteware’. In these programs i.e. ‘Liteware’ certain capabilities are disabled. One can access complete functions only after buying or upgrading to the complete version of the program. Thus, shareware software are used for marketing purposes.
Adware
Adware, better known as advertising software is software that automatically renders advertisements. Most of these advertisements appear in the form of annoying pop-ups. However, one can disable the ads by purchasing a registration key. It can even change your home page, default search, or install a toolbar. Like freeware, Adware too is available for computer users at no cost.
Bundleware
Bundleware gets its name from people ‘bundling’ different programs into one single installation program. The one installation for bundleware installs the main program that you want along with some other programs that you do not want.
Spyware
Spyware goes a few steps further and surreptitiously installs another software on your computer. The spyware may contain a code that sends information about the user’s computer to the developer or to some other location whenever the user is connected to the Internet. This is done in order to display advertisements in the Web browser.
Nagware
This is a program that routinely issues a reminder to a user to purchase an application or by a product before its trial period gets expired. The term derives its name from the idea that reminders, commonly referred to as ‘NAGS’ keep on appearing on a user’s computer screen until he activates the desired application or quits it forcefully. While you would be able to use the program, it will continuously nag you to buy its full version or upgrade. In short, ff any program nags you constantly to upgrade to its full paid version or to donate, it is referred to as Nagware.
Malware
Typically referred to as ‘Malicious Software’, Malware is any program with malafide intentions and which exploits data of a computer without its user’s consent. Once on a computer hard drive, it can hijack your browser and track the websites you visit – and cause even worse damage.
In addition to this, it can hide deep within Windows and even reinstall itself after being removed completely, making it the most difficult program to be removed or cleaned. Viruses, Trojans, etc may all be considered as malware.
Scareware
Malware that is designed to trick users into downloading and buying non-functional or dangerous software is referred to as Scareware or Rogue Software. How does it do this? Simple, it alarms scares a user by making him falsely believe that his computer is infected by potentially harmful viruses.
Once downloaded and installed, the program displays false virus alerts and instructs him to buy the ‘full version’ to remove the infections (fictional). Ultimately, a user buys the software and wastes his hard-earned money. In short, Malware that preys on a user’s fear is called Scareware.
Abandonware
When the development of a software is abandoned by the Author and for whom no support is available, it is referred to as Abandonware. Abandonware could also include software whose copyright is unclear or in dispute.
Adds Jsg in the comments section: No support, updates, etc offered. Purchases no longer have any bearing and, in many cases, registration codes are openly available on the Internet. The legality of using a registration code available on the Internet for abandonware is questionable but generally requires the author to become active to do anything about it.
Have I missed any “-ware” term? Have you any comment to make on the definitions? Or maybe some definition needs to be refined. Please do share it in the comments section.
