Installment #8 - Free software & widgets

My latest search was for 'widgets' and, out of curiosity, 'free software' and 'free wallpaper' for desktops. Now, mind you, I know better! I was told early on that if I wanted enhancements to either buy them or make them myself. Makes sense, doesn't it? You ought to know that anything offered for free is going to have a catch. Free software is almost always infected or compromised somehow.

I researched 8 widget sites and found 3 bad ones. But, I researched 27 free software and/or wallpaper sites and found only 7 good ones and 3 maybes (because they're still pretty new)- it won't be long, I'm afraid, until they become questionable.

Here are my findings:

BAD:

apple.com
last.fm
widgets.yahoo.com
freewallpapers.to
coolwallpaper.com
freesaver.com
desktopia.com
free4uwallpaper.org
desktopexchange.com
flash-screen.com
wallpaperbase.com
screensavers.com
freescreensavers.com
download.com
freewarefiles.com
completelyfreesoftware.com
tucows.com
thefreesite.com
filehippo.com
brothersoft.com
newfreedownloads.com

GOOD:

free-wallpaper-download.com
freexxwallpaper.com (new porn site - beware)
fsf.org
widgetbox.com
widgetgallery.com
automattic.com
widgipedia.com
andywibbels.com
gnu.org
shareware.com
free-soft.org
freewarehome.com
freeserifsoftware.com
allfreebiesoftware.com


As you probably know, I checked these by using not only experience and word-of-mouth, but with SiteAdvisor and Firefox's WOT. You do the same!