Screensaver.com
Are Free Screensavers Safe to Install?
There are many websites online that offer free screensavers for download. The question remains though, are those screensavers safe? By downloading and installing these so called free screensavers will any harm come to your computer? This is a legitimate concern, which needs to be addressed before any user even thinks about installing a free screensaver.
There are several malicious programs which can come bundled with a free screensaver. These will mainly be viruses, spyware, adware, and toolbars. There are a few variations within these programs, but in the main they are considered undesirable, unless the user specifically requests them. And out of that list, the only one that you would even consider installing would be a friendly toolbar. But more on that later.
Below is a brief run-down of each type of malicious programs that you would want to avoid:
Viruses: These must be avoided at all costs as they can detrimentally harm your computer, often to the point of losing unrecoverable data. If you are afraid of being infected with viruses, only download software from trusted sites where programs are verified and tested, such as at Download.com. Download.com also host their own files, which means that software cannot be altered at a later date to include any viruses.
Spyware: These are programs which are used to unethically track and spy on your internet online activities. The data can then be sold to advertisers or used to change your browser and computer functions. Spyware is one of the worst type of bundled software, and can be difficult to remove.
Adware: Adware is a little less scary than spyware, though no less annoying to the average computer user. Adware programs will continually display popups and unwanted adverts while you are browsing. Sometimes you may not even realise that you have adware unless you notice an excessive amount of popups during your normal surfing (where there were no popups before).
Toolbars: Finally we have toolbars, which is a mixed basket. Some toolbars are actually quite useful, such as the Google Toolbar, or some that offer increased entertainment experience like the StumbleUpon toolbar. Having said that, there are other toolbars which are used as a means of displaying ads and are hard to uninstall. Some of these unwanted toolbars come bundled with free screensavers or software, often from some so called ‘big name’ companies.
It is extremely important that you do your research before you download screensavers. Read the Terms of Service, and Conditions of Use on the websites, as companies are required by law to inform users what they would be installing.
Make sure you read the fine print. Not just what is on the download page. Sometimes they will say ‘No spyware’, but they do not mention anything about adware. Are you prepared to put up with some (or a lot) of advertisements for a free screensaver? Most people certainly should not.
About the Author
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3D Four Seasons Screensaver
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Fireplaces, Fishtank & Lava $5.98 Studio: Music Video Dist Release Date: 12/19/2006… |
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Gorillaz $5.89 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed…. |
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Star Wars Trilogy (Box Set) $38.39 Given that it’s largely credited with reinventing Hollywood–or at least fostering its overweening box office expectations–it’s hard to imagine that the genesis of George Lucas’ sprawling, multi-billion dollar Star Wars franchise was once considered a risky studio proposition at best. But Lucas himself has wisely singled out the robust, retro-romantic music of composer John Williams as the unlik… |
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Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Walt Disney’s Masterpiece) [VHS] $2.99 One of the brightest nuggets from Disney’s golden age, this 1937 film is almost dizzying in its meticulous construction of an enchanted world, with scores of major and minor characters (including fauna and fowl), each with a distinct identity. When you watch Snow White’s intricate, graceful movements of fingers, arms, and head all in one shot, it is not the technical brilliance of Disney’s artists… |
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Door – 24W x 16H – Peel and Stick Wall Decal by Wallmonkeys $33.99 WallMonkeys wall graphics are printed on the highest quality re-positionable, self-adhesive fabric paper. Each order is printed in-house and on-demand. WallMonkeys uses premium materials & state-of-the-art production technologies. Our white fabric material is superior to vinyl decals. You can literally see and feel the difference. Our wall graphics apply in minutes and won’t damage your paint or l… |
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Garden Arbor – 24W x 16H – Peel and Stick Wall Decal by Wallmonkeys $33.99 WallMonkeys wall graphics are printed on the highest quality re-positionable, self-adhesive fabric paper. Each order is printed in-house and on-demand. WallMonkeys uses premium materials & state-of-the-art production technologies. Our white fabric material is superior to vinyl decals. You can literally see and feel the difference. Our wall graphics apply in minutes and won’t damage your paint or l… |
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Fence in Blue – 24W x 16H – Peel and Stick Wall Decal by Wallmonkeys $33.99 WallMonkeys wall graphics are printed on the highest quality re-positionable, self-adhesive fabric paper. Each order is printed in-house and on-demand. WallMonkeys uses premium materials & state-of-the-art production technologies. Our white fabric material is superior to vinyl decals. You can literally see and feel the difference. Our wall graphics apply in minutes and won’t damage your paint or l… |
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Reefscapes: Nature’s Aquarium DVD (2nd Edition) $19.95 OVERVIEW: The world’s most breathtaking underwater scenery transforms your widescreen into a natural ocean aquarium! Reefscapes: Nature’s Aquarium takes the aquarium DVD concept to the next level because it wasn’t filmed in a fish tank — instead, it was filmed on actual coral reefs. Ideal when you want something beautiful, colorful and inspirational to showcase on your TV or computer… Reefsca… |
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3D Aquarium [Blu-ray 3D] $12.96 Its a living underwater environment you can virtually reach out and touch. Six spectacular tanks were designed and filled with more than 200 colorful species of sea life, including clown fish, anemones, live coral, crabs, and seahorses so tiny they can fit on the face of a dime. Filmed using RED One® cameras and DepthQ® Stereoscopic 3D equipment, 3D Aquariums ultra-sharp imagery and spectacular … |
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Toshiba Thrive Screen Protector for 10.1-Inch Tablet (PA1496U-1TSP) $19.99 Add a clear, protective shield to your Tablet’s most fragile component – the screen. The Toshiba PA1496U-1TSP Tablet Screen Protector is an inexpensive and convenient way to protect your Tablet’s screen from scratches, dirt and grime. The screen protector’s form-fit premium film is easy to apply and remove, and will not leave any sticky residue; no liquids or special solutions are necessary. Anot… |