You can download just about anything from the Internet (computer programs, movies, music, screen savers and ring tones), often for free. With these downloads, however, you can easily get viruses or spyware on your computer.

How to download worry-free:

• Never download a file sent by someone you don’t know. Only download from trusted sources and sites.
• Keep anti-virus, spam blocking and firewall software up-to-date. Software threats are constantly changing, so you need the latest versions of protection to catch them.
• Scan files before you download them. Use an anti-virus program to do this.
• Only download legal files. Many files (music, film, and software, in particular) are copyrighted, which makes them illegal to download for free or from an unauthorized site.

Peer-to-Peer networks (P2P)
These online networks let you quickly download things like music, movies and information. They connect large groups of people and allow them to share (copy and download) files that anyone else in the network has.

If you use a P2P, you will need to limit which files you want to share and which are private, so people can’t see your personal information. This can usually be done under the drop-down menu “preferences” or “options.”