我们有时会写关于可以很好地完成某件事的最好的免费应用程序或最好的游戏的文章。我们在编写此类内容时学到的一件事是，在研究和安装新软件时不能太小心，尤其是免费应用程序和游戏(apps and games)。在本文中，我们将利用这一经验来了解新的未知软件可能对您的系统造成哪些风险，以及您可以使用哪些方法来将风险降到最低。我们发现驾驭这些风险令人大开眼界，并希望我们的经验将有助于您冒险寻找最适合您的应用和游戏(apps and games)：
为了帮助您了解与从 Internet 下载的免费软件相关的风险，我们使用Windows 10创建了一个虚拟机，然后我们开始从任何人都可以在网上找到的合法来源下载和安装各种免费应用程序。如果您不注意，以下是免费软件可以捆绑的内容以及如何保持安全：
1、谨慎安装浏览器工具栏和扩展程序；即使是好的也可能对你有害
阴暗的工具栏和扩展程序可以窃取您的信息，如果您不小心，即使是好的工具栏和扩展程序也会迅速堆积并弄乱您的网络浏览器。(web browser)如果它用于您已经经常使用的搜索引擎，例如(search engine)Google 或 Bing(Google or Bing)，或者如果它是由安全套件(security suite)提供给您的，那么拥有一两个工具栏和几个浏览器扩展可能会很有用。但是，如果不止一些，您的屏幕、处理器和内存将不再是他们过去的样子。通常(Often)，免费应用程序会尝试(apps attempt)从您很少使用的网站或执行您不需要的操作的浏览器扩展安装工具栏。最终，您可能会遇到网络浏览器(web browser)需要几分钟而不是几秒钟来加载您喜欢的网站，或者您看到的工具栏比实际网站更多的情况。在下面的屏幕截图中，您可以看到我们安装了一堆工具栏和扩展程序后Google Chrome的样子。猜猜看：我们直接从Chrome Web Store下载并安装了所有这些。
如果这不是我们许多人在拜访亲戚和朋友时必须解决的常见问题，那将会很有趣。
其他免费软件，如屏幕保护程序，可以强制或诱使(force or trick)您接受安装不需要的工具栏和扩展程序。通常(Often)，软件是免费的，因为用户通过在安装过程中加入(installation process)工具栏或购物扩展(toolbar or shopping extension)来获利。阅读您所了解的内容，并确保取消选中或拒绝任何工具栏或浏览器附加组件的报价。通常，接受工具栏或扩展(toolbar or extension)是安装过程(installation process)中的默认选择(default choice)，因此您必须小心并取消选中您不需要的所有内容。
一些免费应用程序会彻底迫使您接受工具栏。确保(Make)在接受之前需要整个包，因为有时这些工具栏和扩展在安装后很难摆脱。
2. 对不需要的软件、从未听说过的应用程序以及捆绑在一起的特别优惠说不
除了工具栏外，还有其他类型的软件在安装免费应用程序和游戏(apps and games)时交替提供或强制使用。一种常见的形式是软件“伙伴”，就像我们下面的朋友一样，旨在帮助您使用计算机……但比其他任何东西都更具侵入性和分散注意力。虽然臭名昭著的BonziBUDDY本身已经消失，但模仿仍然存在，并且同样令人分心。通常(Often)，这些将采取有吸引力和衣着暴露的女孩或男孩(girl or guy)的形式。与BonziBUDDY一样，这些程序很可能包含恶意软件。
另一种不需要的软件是浏览器（有时是假的），它可以很容易地被修改并包含一个不需要的功能，它会做一些你不想要的事情，比如监控你的活动或窃取你的个人信息。如果您确实想要一个新的浏览器，直接访问源（其创建者的网站）并使用知名浏览器会更安全。坚持(Stick)使用广为人知的浏览器，例如Google Chrome、Mozilla Firefox、Microsoft Edge、Opera 或 Vivaldi(Opera or Vivaldi)。
还经常提供多种试用软件。(trial software)其中包括可能需要额外购买才能继续玩的成人应用程序和/或游戏。
其他一些应用程序可能包括“安全解决方案”的特别优惠。安装后一个选项可能特别危险，特别是如果您已经有其他安全措施。有两个安全解决方案，提供相同类型的功能，可能会导致冲突和计算机崩溃。就像(Just)浏览器一样，最好从他们的官方网页做出明智的选择并下载(choice and download)和安装安全解决方案，而不是使用与其他软件捆绑在一起的东西。
最后，某些软件可能会要求或要求您为垃圾邮件注册电子邮件（但他们不会告诉您这是垃圾邮件），将您的浏览器主页更改为他们的网站，甚至购买其他促销活动以免费享受该产品。买者自负(Caveat emptor)。
3. 检查任何病毒、木马和广告软件
这是任何新应用下载(app download)都可能带来风险的问题之一。为此，必须在您的计算机上安装强大的防病毒软件，我们建议您浏览我们的 Security for (antivirus software)Everyone 系列(Everyone series)来研究最适合您的。
但是，为了增加一层保护，您还可以在安装之前扫描您下载的每个文件，以查看它的风险有多大。我们这样做的方法是使用一个名为Virus Total的方便的小型 Web 服务。您访问他们的网站并上传文件并在安装之前对其进行分析。
然后，该服务会告诉您不同的防病毒引擎是否发现它有任何问题。
它还使您可以选择为其他用户留下有关该文件的评论和详细信息。如果您要使用此选项，请务必先使用Virus Total设置一个帐户。
作为警告，如果只有少数鲜为人知的防病毒软件在文件中发现可疑内容，那么它仍然可以使用。确保(Make)检查任何将文件标记为可疑的防病毒软件的信誉。如果它是像Bitdefender、ESET、Kaspersky或 F-Secure 这样信誉更好的软件，您当然应该信任(course trust)它。但是，如果只有低声誉的防病毒软件发出警告，则很容易成为误报。
4. 即使你下载了一个你知道的免费软件，在安装之前也要仔细检查它
尽管您可能会远离未知的免费软件，但这仍然不足以保证安全。即使是一些流行的免费应用程序也可能成为风险。此类软件的一个很好的例子是CCleaner，这是一种被世界各地的许多人用来清理和优化他们的Windows计算机的工具。CCleaner从来都不是在您的计算机上安装不需要的东西的程序之一。然而，就在不久前，2017年9月13(September 13th)日，人们发现当时最新的C Cleaner 5.33版(version 5.33)也在安装它的Windows系统上添加了恶意代码。
更讽刺的是，CCleaner是由Pi riform开发的，该公司已被Avast收购，该公司是同名流行的免费杀毒软件的制造商。如果需要，可以在Tom's Hardware网站上获得更多信息： Avast Unknowingly Bundled Malware With CCleaner For Near A Month(Avast Unknowingly Bundled Malware With CCleaner For Almost A Month)。
这个故事的寓意是，即使是来自曾经值得信赖的开发人员的软件也不能完全被信任。将其下载到计算机后，应立即使用良好的防病毒软件或VirusTotal对其进行扫描。(VirusTotal)
结论
如果应用于任何未知的应用程序或游戏(app or game)，尤其是免费版本，这些提示应该会有所帮助。没有什么是 100% 安全的，但是通过一些耐心和预防措施(patience and precaution measures)，您可以将风险降到最低。让我们知道您是否有任何技巧，可以在测试新程序（尤其是免费程序）时保护您的计算机安全。
How to avoid the risks and dangers of downloading free apps and games from the web
We sometimes write articles about the best free apps that can do a cеrtain thing vеry well or about the best games. One thing that we learned while writing such content is that you cannot be too сareful when you are reseаrching and inѕtalling new software, and especially frеe apps and games. In this artiсle, wе are going to use thіs experience to see which are the rіsks that new unknown software can pose to your system, and thе methods that yoυ can use to minimize them. We found navigating these risks to be eye-opening, and hopefullу, our experiences will be helpful for your adventureѕ іn finding the best apps and games for you:
To help you understand the risks associated with free software that you download from the internet, we created a virtual machine with Windows 10 and then we started to download and install all kinds of free apps from legitimate sources that anyone can find online. Here is what free software can bundle if you do not pay attention and how to stay safe:
1. Be wary about installing browser toolbars and extensions; even the good ones can be bad for you
Shady toolbars and extensions can steal your information, and even the good ones can pile up quickly and clutter your web browsers, if you are not careful. Having one or two toolbars, and a couple of browser extensions might be useful if it is for a search engine you already use a lot, like Google or Bing, or maybe if it is provided to you by a security suite. However, more than a few and your screen, processor, and memory will no longer be what they used to. Often, free apps attempt to install toolbars from websites you have rarely ever used or browser extensions that do things you do not need. Eventually, you could be facing a situation where your web browser needs minutes instead of seconds to load your favorite websites, or situations in which you see more toolbars than actual websites. In the screenshot below you can see what our Google Chrome looked like after we installed a bunch of toolbars and extensions. And guess what: we downloaded and installed all of them straight from the Chrome Web Store.
It would be funny if this were not a common problem many of us have to fix when we visit relatives and friends.
Other free software, like screensavers, can either force or trick you into accepting to install toolbars and extensions that you do not need. Often, software is free because users are monetized by slipping a toolbar or shopping extension into the installation process. Read what you are getting into, and make sure to uncheck or decline any offers for toolbars or browser add-ons. Usually, accepting a toolbar or extension is the default choice during the installation process, so you have to be careful and uncheck everything you do not need.
Some free apps will outright force you to accept a toolbar. Make sure that you want the whole package before you accept it because sometimes these toolbars and extensions can be difficult to get rid of, once they have been installed.
2. Say no to software you do not need, to apps you never heard of, and to special offers that are bundled together
Besides toolbars, there are also other kinds of software that are alternatively offered or forced when installing free apps and games. A common form is a software "buddy," like our friend below, who was meant to help you use your computer... but was more intrusive and distracting than anything else. While the infamous BonziBUDDY is itself gone, imitations remain and are about as equally distracting. Often, these will take the form of an attractive and scantily-clad girl or guy. Like the BonziBUDDY, these programs are likely to contain malware.
Another type of unwanted software is browsers (sometimes fake ones), which can easily be modified and include an unwanted piece of functionality that does something you do not want, like monitor your activity or steal your personal information. If you did want a new browser, it is much safer to go directly to the source (its creator's website) and use a well known browser. Stick to browsers that are widely known like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Opera or Vivaldi.
Several varieties of trial software are also often offered. These include adult apps and/or games which may require an additional purchase to continue playing.
Some other apps may include special offers for "security solutions". This latter option can be particularly risky to install, especially if you already have other security in place. Having two security solutions in place, with the same kind of features being offered, can lead to conflicts and computer crashes. Just like with browsers, it is better to make an informed choice and download and install security solutions from their official webpage, instead of using what comes bundled with other software.
Finally, some software may ask or require you to sign your email up for spam (they will not tell you it is spam though), change your browser's homepage to their website, or even buy into other promotions to enjoy the product for free. Caveat emptor.
3. Check for any viruses, trojans, and adware
This is another one of those problems that can be a risk with any new app download. Having robust antivirus software on your computer is a must for this, and we recommend you browse our Security for Everyone series to research which would be best for you.
However, for an added layer of protection, you can also scan each file you download before you install it to see how much of a risk it is. The way we do this is by using a handy little web service called Virus Total. You go to their website and upload a file and have it analyzed before you install it.
The service then tells you if different antivirus engines found anything wrong with it.
It also gives you the option to leave comments and details for other users about the file. If you are going to make use of this option, be sure to set up an account with Virus Total, first.
As a warning, if only a few lesser known anti-viruses are finding something suspicious in a file, it still might be OK to use. Make sure to check the reputations of any antivirus that marks a file as suspicious. If it is a more reputable one like Bitdefender, ESET, Kaspersky, or F-Secure, you should of course trust it. However, if only antiviruses of low reputation are giving warnings, it could easily be a false alarm.
4. Even if you download a free software that you know, double-check it before you install it
Although you might stay away from unknown free software, it is still not enough to be safe. Even some free applications that are popular can become a risk. An excellent example of such software is CCleaner, a tool that is used by many people all around the world, to clean and optimize their Windows computers. CCleaner has never been one of those programs that install unwanted things on your computer. However, not long ago, on September 13th, 2017, it was discovered that CCleaner version 5.33, which was the latest at that time, also added malicious code on the Windows systems on which it was installed.
To make it even more ironic, CCleaner is developed by Piriform, a company which has been bought by Avast, the maker of the popular free antivirus bearing the same name. There is more information on Tom's Hardware website if you want it: Avast Unknowingly Bundled Malware With CCleaner For Almost A Month.
The moral of the story is that even software that comes from developers that used to be trustworthy cannot be fully trusted. You should scan it with a good antivirus or with VirusTotal as soon as you have downloaded it on your computer.
Conclusion
These tips should be helpful if applied to any unknown app or game and especially to free versions. Nothing is 100% safe, but with some patience and precaution measures, you can minimize the risks. Let us know if you have any tricks of your own, for keeping your computers secure while testing out new programs, especially free ones.
