12/28/21, 3:34 AM Basic Computer Skills: Free Software

Basic Computer Skills

Downloading and Uploading

Downloading and uploading

While exploring the Internet, you’ve probably encountered the terms downloading and
uploading. Downloading means receiving data or a file from the Internet on your
computer. Uploading means sending data or a file from your computer to somewhere
on the Internet.

These terms describe activities you may have already learned how to do. If you've ever
opened an example document in one of our tutorials, you've downloaded that file. If
you’ve ever shared a photo you took on Facebook or another social media site, you've
uploaded that photo.

Downloading
Usually, when you download a file you will start the download by clicking a link to that
file. Many of our tutorials contain links to files, like this:

Download our practice document.

https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/basic-computer-skills/free-software/1/ 1/8
12/28/21, 3:34 AM Basic Computer Skills: Free Software

If you click the link, your browser should prompt you to select one of two methods for
downloading the file.

▶︎ Open with will download the file and load it immediately in the specified
program.

▶︎ Save File will download it and save it to your hard drive.

Either way, once you click OK, the download begins. Your browser will indicate the
progress and time remaining on the download.

Once the download is complete, either the file will be saved to your computer or it will
open in the program you selected. If you have trouble finding the file after you’ve
downloaded it, check out our Finding Your Downloads lesson.

Some browsers don’t always start this download process when you click
the link to a file. In these cases, you can right-click the link, then click Save
Link As, then select a location to download the file.

Uploading
If a site allows uploads, it will have an upload utility to help perform the file transfer.
Each site handles this process differently, but we’ll give some common examples.
Usually, the site will have help pages to walk you through the upload process.

Many sites have an upload button that opens a dialog box. For example, Facebook has a
camera icon that begins the upload process.

https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/basic-computer-skills/free-software/1/ 2/8
12/28/21, 3:34 AM Basic Computer Skills: Free Software

A dialog box will appear, prompting you to select a file. Browse to the location where
your file is stored, select it, then click the Open button. Afterward, a progress bar
tracking the upload process will appear on the page.

Some sites support a drag-and-drop interface. For example, when logged in to Dropbox
you can drag the files from a folder on your computer and drop them into the browser
window.

https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/basic-computer-skills/free-software/1/ 3/8
12/28/21, 3:34 AM Basic Computer Skills: Free Software

Many other upload utilities have similar features. A more detailed example of uploading
a file is available in our Google Drive tutorial.

Lesson 6: Free Software

Free software

https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/basic-computer-skills/free-software/1/ 4/8
12/28/21, 3:34 AM Basic Computer Skills: Free Software

There are free programs available for almost any purpose you can imagine. If you're
looking for free software for a specific task or want to find a free alternative to an
expensive commercial program, it's probably somewhere on the Internet. Often, the
most difficult part is finding the safest, most reliable free programs among the
thousands of other free programs.

Usually, the best way to find free software for Windows is to do an Internet search. On
Android and iOS devices, the best way to find free software is to search in the Play Store
or App Store for apps that are listed as free. For Mac OS, both the App Store and Internet
searches are effective methods for finding free software.

When there is no fee to use software, it is sometimes called software gratis

or freeware.

Safely searching for free software

When searching for free software, distinguishing good software from bad or dangerous
software is crucial. These steps will help you find a program that is safe, reliable, and
performs the functions you need.

▶︎ Identify your needs and the tasks you are trying to accomplish. Do you
need a simple tool or something very powerful? Are you trying to perform a
specialized task, or are you looking for something generally useful? Are you
just looking to save money?

▶︎ Search for information on a program before downloading it. Determine if

the publisher is reliable and well-liked, and if the program is safe and stable
https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/basic-computer-skills/free-software/1/ 5/8
12/28/21, 3:34 AM Basic Computer Skills: Free Software

and has the features you want.

▶︎ Read reviews on neutral third-party sites; a publisher may remove negative

reviews from its own site.

▶︎ Don't click misleading advertisements designed to look like download

links or error messages. Carefully examine download links before clicking,
or install an adblocker.

▶︎ Avoid malware included in installers. If an installer has options for custom

search bars or other programs that seem unrelated, tell it not to install
these.

▶︎ Download directly from the developer's website rather than from a third-
party site. Many—but not all—third-party file hosting sites include malware
with their installers.

▶︎ Scan for viruses and malware immediately after installing a new program.
It's better to avoid installing malware, but scans will probably catch
anything you missed.

In the image above, the download button at the bottom-left is the real download link,
while the other two are misleading ads.

Keep in mind that these safety tips are good practices whether you're downloading free
software or paying for software. There's nothing stopping a distributor from bundling
malware with a program and still charging you a fee for it, and plenty of commercial
software is unstable or ineffective. Be aware at all times of common unscrupulous
practices so you can avoid them and choose the best software for your needs.

https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/basic-computer-skills/free-software/1/ 6/8
12/28/21, 3:34 AM Basic Computer Skills: Free Software

Examples of free software

One of the biggest advantages of free software is determining your specific needs and
searching for the program that's right for you, but sometimes it's helpful to see what
software other people are using. Here's a list of some of our favorite free software for
common tasks.

Security and system optimization

▶︎ CCleaner: Optimization and storage management

▶︎ Malwarebytes: Anti-malware software

Productivity

▶︎ LibreOffice: A full-featured office suite

▶︎ Thunderbird: Email management software

▶︎ Keynote: Note-taking and organizational software

▶︎ Metapad: An advanced text editor

▶︎ Foxit Reader: A PDF viewer

▶︎ CutePDF: A PDF writer that works like a virtual printer

Media

▶︎ Paint.NET: A simple image editor

▶︎ GIMP: A complex and powerful image editor

▶︎ VLC media player: A cross-platform multimedia player

▶︎ K-Lite Codec Pack Standard: A multimedia player package

▶︎ Dropbox: Cloud storage, file synchronization, and file hosting

Why is some software free?

There are many reasons a developer may not be charging a fee for its software. In most
cases, developers are still earning money through other means. Here are some of the
common ways free software still makes money.

▶︎ Donations: The software is free, but users can donate money to support the
developer.

▶︎ Advertisements: The developer is paid by other companies to place

advertisements in the software or on its website.

https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/basic-computer-skills/free-software/1/ 7/8
12/28/21, 3:34 AM Basic Computer Skills: Free Software

▶︎ Data mining: The software collects information about users and sells this to
advertisers or marketing researchers. This is often used in combination with
advertisements.

▶︎ Bundling other software: Other software distributors pay the developer to

bundle other programs with its software. This often includes malware.

▶︎ In-app purchases: The base software is free, but users can pay fees to
unlock additional features.

▶︎ Premium products or subscriptions: The software itself is free, but the

developer sells more advanced versions of the program or other programs.

Not all free software developers earn money from software. They may have full-time
jobs and make software in their free time as a hobby, they may be working under a
license that prohibits earning profit from the software, or they might just enjoy
participating in free software communities on the Internet.

Some software is freely available because the developers adhere to certain social and
ethical guidelines. This software is sometimes called software libre, although it's also
sometimes called free software, using the definition of free that means liberty, not
free of charge. You can read more about this type of free software at the Mozilla
Foundation or the Free Software Foundation.

Support free software developers

After using free software for a while, if you are happy with the programs consider
supporting their developers. Visit their websites, and look for ways you can help. They
may have links for you to donate money, contribute your talents to their projects, or
promote their software on social media. But remember, your support is a choice, not an
obligation. Free software communities thrive on individual choice and mutual
assistance.

https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/basic-computer-skills/free-software/1/ 8/8