Shareware is a type of software that’s becoming more and more common, as the days of free (and we’re talking truly free) programs fade into the past. Here, we’ll talk about what shareware is, how safe it is, some common examples, and how it differs from other types of “free” software. 

What is Shareware?

Shareware is a type of software that typically offers partial access to a certain program. Let’s take Adobe Acrobat and Photoshop, for example. Users can download these programs with basic features to use for free. The drawback is that to access the full breadth of features, you’ll have to pay up. 

It’s essentially a limited trial of software, with varying levels of limitations and pushiness as to upgrading to the full-fledged program. So, while it is generally safe — provided it’s from a legitimate developer/business — there are some built-in annoyances you might encounter.

Common Types of Shareware

Shareware is more of a general category of software, with a few specific types that fit within the description. The main point of difference between types of shareware lies in how much of the software is actually provided for free, and how aggressively the shareware prompts users to upgrade. Below are some of the most common types of shareware.

1. Freemium Software

A freemium approach is quite common for both computer software and mobile applications — with the core functionality being available for free, and upgraded features being available for an additional cost. A simple example is something like Canva, where you can create and customize all sorts of content for free, but access to advanced features and content libraries requires a subscription. The easiest way to understand freemium software is that it provides free access to the core experience, with enhanced capabilities for paying users. 

2. Demoware

Demoware (or trialware) provides, as its name suggests, a demo period of the entire software experience. Users will get access to all the bells and whistles, with the caveat that free access is limited to a number of hours or days. This is beneficial to users who want to make sure a program is useful before giving up their hard-earned cash. One thing to note with demoware is that it will often include something known as crippleware. This limits a valuable function of the software unless a full upgrade is purchased in order to keep people from taking advantage of the free trial.

3. Adware

Adware is when shareware can become a bit nefarious. Adware can be presented in one of two primary ways:

1. Pop-up ads are quietly bundled in with the shareware, meaning you’ll face unwanted ads from unrelated companies that have paid the shareware provider to incorporate ad pop-ups into the download. Think mobile games, where you can play for free but have to deal with 30-second ads every few minutes — annoying, but legitimate.
2. The second is much more troublesome than built-in ads. In this case, malicious adware (like scareware) is snuck in as a separate download. This additional downloaded adware can result in constant computer pop-ups and even unwanted gathering and selling of user information.

You should always be cautious when downloading things from the internet, but if a shareware download is known to be bundled with adware, it’s best to avoid it. 

4. Nagware

Similar to ad-based shareware, nagware provides free use of the shareware software, but with varying (and often highly annoying) amounts of nagging pop-up ads compelling users to pay for an ad-free experience. While it can be irritating, this is a legitimate way developers can convert free users into paying users.

5. Donationware

Donationware is shareware that gives full access to a software’s capabilities and usually features a pop-up when first starting the program, asking for donations if the user finds the software helpful. It’s far less intrusive than nagware or adware, and there is no discernible difference in the product, should you donate or not.

Freeware vs. Shareware (vs. Open-Source)

On the surface, freeware and shareware are very similar, but there is one major and defining difference between the two — freeware provides software that users can download for free, and have complete access to without ever having to pay or add upgrades to. 

One thing to note is that both differ from open-source software. The key difference is that open-source software can be modified and used for any purpose, including commercial uses, while the others are for personal use and likely require a purchased license to use commercially.

How to Stay Safe

Shareware is often safe, despite some (purposefully) annoying features that drive you to pay for some improvements. That doesn’t mean you should just download any software that claims to offer a service you need, however. When downloading anything from the internet, it’s important to only do so from trusted, well-established, and verified sources.

Beyond being cautious of the shareware’s source, there are certain elements within shareware that can put you at risk. 

• Beware of fraudulent apps. Not only do you want to keep your downloads to known entities, but you also want to make sure you aren’t falling for a malicious duplicate. Because shareware is offered for free, users are less cautious when hitting “download.” Be careful when Googling downloads, as cybercriminals have been known to manipulate results so that their copy version pops up near the top of a search.
• Beware of dangerous ads. Free services still like to make money somehow, and the easiest way nowadays is to offer ad space within their software. While the shareware itself could be safe, there’s no guarantee the vetting process for offering ads is thorough, and thus it’s best to avoid clicking any ads that come across your screen.
• Beware of bundled software. We touched on this above in the adware section, but it’s worth discussing a little more. When downloading certain shareware, other sponsored software is sometimes snuck into the download folder. When installing, take your time when giving permissions, and always be on the lookout for opt-out boxes for anything other than the desired software.
• Beware of out-of-date shareware. Free software can be great, but as with most things, you get what you pay for. Shareware doesn’t always have the most up-to-date security and support, meaning hackers can target outdated software to act as a gateway for getting malware onto people’s computers. The best strategy is to keep all software as updated as possible and avoid installing anything that appears to be abandoned when it comes to receiving updates.

Final Thoughts

With the role technology has taken in our lives, downloads and online services are part of our daily norm. Many of these services can be incredibly helpful, but it’s still important to exercise caution when downloading programs onto your devices. 

The same can be said for real-life interactions — just like you should know who you’re downloading from, you should also know who you’re possibly interacting with. Spokeo’s people search tool makes that part easy, with a vast database and intuitive search tool that gives you answers.   

Cyrus Grant is a writer from Southern California with a background in law and dispute resolution. When he isn’t writing, he can be found deep-diving into the latest technology trends or simply spending time at the beach.

What is Discord?

In its simplest form, Discord is a free communications platform that enables people to create/join servers that allow them to communicate via text, voice, and video (via camera and screensharing). It’s primarily used through the desktop and mobile apps, but it can also be used directly in web browsers as well.

What makes Discord one of the most used services on the internet (with roughly 30 million daily users) is that the platform is organized around communities and interests. Anyone can create a custom server (or multiple), and each server can be set up to be as public or as private as the admin wants. This has allowed the platform to become a home for online social clubs — ranging from small invite-only spaces for friends, all the way to massive public communities for specific games, hobbies, and interests.

For example, if you love a certain sports team, there is likely a dedicated Discord for that team where fans can gather to share news and have discussions. Part of what makes it different from old-school forums is that there’s typically a sub-structure of “channels” within the server (more on that in the next section) where you can go for more tailored information (i.e., one channel to discuss trade rumors, another to discuss a live game, and another for general discussion).

Discord Features

If you’re new to Discord and boot up the app, there’s a good chance you’ll feel a bit overwhelmed. To help ease that feeling, all you need is a basic understanding of the primary features and terms you’ll find in Discord.

• Servers. Overarching servers that users can create or join.
• Channels. Channel categories make up the sub-structure of servers. For example, within a server, you’ll often find a voice/video channel where up to 99 people can voice chat, participate in video calls, or watch a shared stream. You’ll also often find a general chat channel for miscellaneous text chat, as well as a few more specialized channels, like FAQs or support on branded Discord servers.
• Permissions. Server admins can create different permission levels for members within a specific server. For more popular servers, this usually limits who can post in certain channels, and also the type of content they can post (i.e., new members cannot post links or videos).
• Discord Moderator (aka Mod). Mods are users who have been granted administrative controls to help manage and maintain a server’s members, content, and rules.
• Direct Messages (DMs). Private one-on-one conversations (or group DMs for up to 25 people) that also have voice, video, and screen sharing options.
• Nitro. Discord’s premium subscription, which offers some enhanced features like upgraded video streaming quality, larger file uploads, and increased cosmetic customizability.

Is Discord Safe?

Part of what has allowed Discord to become so popular is the fact that, generally speaking, it is very safe to use…but there can still be some risks if you aren’t careful.

Discord Scams

At this point, it shouldn’t surprise anyone when scammers pop up around a popular platform. These scammers are the primary “danger” you should watch out for when using Discord.

• Phishing Links. Because many Discords are essentially forums for people with shared interests, it’s not uncommon for channels to be filled with helpful links. Unfortunately, that creates a perfect environment for scammers to post malicious phishing links disguised as something helpful. If you’re on a large Discord channel with open posting permissions, don’t click on links from unknown senders.
• Quishing. Occasionally, you’ll come across a QR code posted in a channel. Unless you are 100% confident in the legitimacy of that QR code, don’t scan it. Quishing links are the same type of scam links as phishing, but in QR code form.
• Malicious programs. Some Discord servers provide niche communities around all sorts of tech. In some cases, this includes the sharing of open-source software that can help solve specific problems or provide useful tools. In order to avoid accidentally downloading malware, be very careful downloading anything from a Discord server. There’s no 100% safe way to navigate these channels, but typically, you can find moderator-approved posts that signal something should be safe. 
• Catfishing. With more and more dating origin stories coming from online encounters, it’s no surprise that there are a number of dating-focused Discord channels. This varies from servers that focus on fully online dating to more localized meetups. Either way (but especially so with the e-dating servers), catfishing can be a big problem. While these servers can be a fine place to meet someone, it doesn’t hurt to run a Spokeo search before sending any gifts or sharing private information.

Discord FAQs

Still have questions about Discord and how to stay safe on the platform? We have answers.

What is Discord used for?

Originally, Discord gained popularity as a way for gamers to talk while playing games. Today, Discord is used for a variety of purposes, including special interest forums, brand communication, dating, and even local events.

Does Discord have safety features?

Discord has a number of customizable safety features that can restrict what kind of content you see, what servers you can join, and who can contact you. For more information, check out their Safety Center.

How can I tell if someone on Discord is real, a scammer, or a bot?

Because Discord has grown into a platform for all types of interactions, including dating, you’ll want to be cautious when interacting with new people on Discord. If you plan on having ongoing interactions with a certain person, run a Spokeo people search with the information they give you before sharing information about yourself.

Cyrus Grant is a writer from Southern California with a background in law and dispute resolution. When he isn’t writing, he can be found deep-diving into the latest technology trends or simply spending time at the beach.

• Use a Spokeo Reverse Phone Look Up to help find out who an unfaithful partner is texting.
• Common signs of infidelity include new schedules, a change in how possessive they are over their phone, and emotional distance in your relationship, among others. 
• Both emotional and physical cheating can be enabled by text messaging. 

Have you noticed your partner spending a suspicious amount of extra time texting lately? Do they get kind of weird about it when you call them out? While we definitely don’t recommend jumping to conclusions – a solid relationship is built on foundations of trust and open communication, after all – relationship experts have identified some consistent, telltale signs of infidelity to keep an eye out for.

It’s usually best to start the process of understanding if your partner is cheating with a serious and open conversation. But, if you find yourself in a position where you’ve got the other half of a cheating partner’s phone number on your hands, Spokeo’s Reverse Phone Lookup can provide publicly available information that may be associated with that number. Here’s how.    

Potential Signs of Infidelity 

Let’s be super clear up front: it’s up to you to decide when the combination of vibes and telltale signs of infidelity warrants a discussion or confrontation with your partner, and how much snooping around their phone is justified. 

What we can tell you, though, is that relationship experts such as licensed marriage, couples, and family therapists, LMHCs, PsyDs, LCSWs, CSATs, and even attorneys offer certain consistent behaviors as potential red flags for infidelity. Some of these red flags include:

• Newfound periods of being less easily reachable or available, including suddenly altered schedules (or a hyper-focus on your schedule).
• Likewise, lessened emotional availability.
• Sudden and significant changes in your sex life together, including a decrease in attention or lovemaking.
• Friends appearing uncomfortable around you can be an indication that they might be in the know.
• Your partner is paying an unusual amount of attention to their appearance (especially if they didn’t previously).
• Your partner stops talking about your future together.
• A more possessive shift in phone habits, or consistent and noticeable changes in phone habits in general.
• The appearance of sudden or secretive new expenses.
• Defensiveness or inconsistent stories when confronted.
• A recent lack of emotional intimacy or affection, or a sense of hostility toward your relationship.
• The sudden appearance of commonly used apps that cheaters commonly opt for, as they’re lighter on digital trails (including Snapchat, Signal, Telegram, and WhatsApp).

Sometimes, a strong gut feeling is a signal, too – especially when it happens in tandem with other potentially telltale signs. 

See Who They Are Texting: When to Use Spokeo, and How It Works

Ultimately, the choice of when to stealthily check your partner’s device for the digits of who they’ve been texting is a deeply personal one. Only you can decide when your boundaries have been crossed enough that it’s time to cross that boundary in return. If you’re certain that your partner has been sending cheating text messages, or the signs of infidelity and your gut feelings have reached a threshold for you, it might be time to get hold of the number in question.

Whether you get that number by peeking, snooping their active texts, or digging up recently deleted text messages, a Spokeo Reverse Phone Lookup can help you see who they are texting. Our powerful phone search tool scans billions of public records to search for who that phone number belongs to, their address, social media profiles, and more.

Here’s how a Reverse Phone Lookup on Spokeo works:

1. Enter a 10-digit phone number in the Spokeo Reverse Phone Lookup search bar, then click the “Search Now” button.
   
2. Once on the results preview page, hit “Continue” to see if there is an available report, which can include all kinds of helpful details about the person the phone number belongs to, from the location to which the phone number is registered to marital status (that’s a big one) to address history and much more.
   
3. Access all the available details of the (previously) mysterious texter with a 7-day trial of Spokeo for $0.95. With a Spokeo subscription, you can potentially gain access to details like age, relatives, and – especially useful in infidelity cases – public social media profiles, dating profiles, and publicly shared blogs and photos. 

Frequently Asked Questions

When does texting count as cheating? 

Great question – when is text cheating? As the Baltimore Therapy Center puts it: 

“..it doesn’t really matter whether texting is actually cheating. The truth is that you get to define the boundaries of your marriage or relationship and what counts as a violation of those boundaries. That doesn’t mean your partner has to agree with you; it does mean you need to communicate about it (not just argue and defend).”

That’s to say that your partner secretly texting a person you don’t know could count as cheating, if that’s a boundary you’ve set. Or, maybe you’re OK with your partner simply texting about their day with someone else, but using texting to set up times and places to meet is where things cross the line. 

What do cheating texts look like? 

While that’s a boundary that’s ultimately up to you and your partner to decide, some common signs of cheating via text in a committed relationship include flirting, sexting, emotionally intimate conversations, and an overdivulgence of personal details, especially ones that make you uncomfortable. 

What is emotional infidelity? 

Whether your partner is engaging in physical, IRL infidelity with the person they’re texting or not, in some cases, the texting alone can be a form of what experts call emotional infidelity. When a partner forms a deep, intimate (and especially secretive) connection with someone else that doesn’t involve sex or physical intimacy, that may be what experts call emotional infidelity, or an emotional affair. 

Again, at the end of the day, it’s up to both you and your partner to set boundaries that you feel are cheating, and to express those emotional boundaries clearly – ideally well before any form of cheating takes place, emotional or physical.  

How do I deal with my partner texting someone else? 

When it’s time for a confrontation, marital therapist Andrew G. Marshall recommends choosing the moment wisely, questioning your partner about the texts, letting them arrive at the conclusion that they’ve done something wrong. He also recommends listening deeply to their story and discussing the underlying conditions in the relationship that may have contributed to the infidelity.  

Of course, whether you’re dealing with a confirmed cheater or you just have your suspicions, the best way to get your burning questions answered by cooler heads is to speak to a mental health professional or relationship expert, such as a licensed therapist or marriage counselor. Nonprofit resources like the American Counseling Association’s provider directories at Counseling.org can help. 

Catch a Cheater, Protect Your Heart

If you’re concerned your partner is cheating, but don’t have any text messages as proof, you can also use Spokeo’s powerful people search tools to learn more about who you’ve given your heart to. By inputting your partner’s name, phone number, or email address, you just may uncover previously unknown numbers, emails, and social media accounts that they may have linked to a dating app or be using to sneak around with. 

As a freelance writer, small business owner, and consultant with more than a decade of experience, Dan has been fortunate enough to collaborate with leading brands including Microsoft, Fortune, Verizon, Discover, Office Depot, The Motley Fool, and more. He currently resides in Dallas, TX.

How Does RFID Work? 

There are several different kinds of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips, but they all work on the same basic principle. There’s a small chip with a bit of code on it that contains information. In commercial settings like a factory or an Amazon warehouse, that chip might identify a part or a specific package. On credit or debit cards, it holds your payment information. There’s also an antenna attached to the chip. 

When a chip reader comes close to the RFID tag, the reader’s radio waves act as a power source for the chip and antenna, and it responds by transmitting the information it contains (radio waves are a power source in themselves, remember; it’s how your microwave cooks things). Industrial RFID tags can be read from several feet away, but the kind on your cards need to be very close to the reader. 

The Near Field Communications (NFC) chips in your phone are essentially a souped-up form of RFID, which can transmit and receive (so it’s both a tag and a tag reader). Like your cards, this only works in very close proximity to the payment terminal. 

Can RFID Really be Hacked? 

That leads to a couple of big questions: a) whether RFID cards can be hacked; and b) whether they’re a safe way to pay. 

The first question was answered long ago with a definitive yes. All the way back in 2006, security researchers were demonstrating “proof of concept” attacks harvesting the information from RFID cards. But the second question is tougher, because most of these hacks targeted other RFID devices rather than debit and credit cards. The whole point of chip-enabled cards, after all, was to make them more secure compared to the old-school magnetic stripe. The stripe was easily read by credit-card “skimmers” — an illicit reader installed over the top of a legitimate one — which allowed criminals to make a duplicate of your card, and max out your credit in a hurry. 

Chip cards are a tougher nut to crack, partly because key data on the chip is encrypted and partly because they use an algorithm that creates a unique code (an “Authentication Data Element,” or ADe) for each purchase. Scammers using an improved version of a skimmer, called a “shimmer,” can actually read some data from the chip, but it’s not as bad as it sounds at first. 

Criminals still can’t clone the chip card, but they’ll get the iCVV code — the digital equivalent of those three digits on the back of your card — which means they can make a better clone of your stipe card. Some card issuers have dropped the stripe entirely, using either tap-and-sign or tap-and-PIN instead, to close this vulnerability. 

How Does RFID Blocking Work? 

A lot of companies (a lot of companies), seeing the coverage of RFID hacks and vulnerabilities over the years, have begun marketing protective devices to help keep your information secure. Essentially, they create what’s called a “Faraday cage” around your card. A Faraday cage (named for a brilliant 19th-century pioneer in electrical research) is just an enclosure made of conductive material, like aluminum or copper. They’re routinely used in scientific and industrial settings, where sensitive equipment needs to be protected from interference, and even in consumer electronics, where outside signals might mess with your data or your music. 

Interestingly, a Faraday cage doesn’t have to be a solid enclosure, because a conductive mesh works just as well. If you cut open a TV cable, you’ll see a regular wire in the middle and a copper braid around the outside; the braid acts as a Faraday cage to shield the wire in the middle (which carries your TV signal) from interference. 

That’s important for consumers wanting a wallet that can protect their cards from a potential hacker with an RFID reader. A solid Faraday cage wouldn’t make a very practical wallet, but mesh can be incorporated into even a slender, flexible wallet without much difficulty. That’s how RFID blocking wallets work. 

Do I Need an RFID Blocking Wallet? 

Here’s the thing about RFID hacking: despite all the potential vulnerabilities that have been demonstrated over the years, it just hasn’t been a “thing” in the real world. There are a couple of reasons for that. One is that relatively few cards are “contactless,” meaning you could theoretically read them from a few inches away (subway, coffee shop, elevator) with an RFID reader. Most need to be inserted into the terminal, or make physical contact with the “Tap” reader. 

A more important point is that, on the whole, it’s just not worth criminals’ time. Like any other business, they’re concerned with efficiency and return on investment. For pennies, they can send out a mass phishing email and potentially steal credit card data from thousands. Hackers can steal millions of card users’ data in a single breach, and — more importantly — sell them on to other criminals for as little as $10 to $15 each. A look at the FTC’s credit card fraud data for 2022 shows over 400,000 incidents involving new accounts (i.e., identity theft), compared to under 40,000 involving existing accounts (credit card hacks, skimming, shoulder surfing, and everything else combined). 

In other words, criminals have collectively decided that “the juice isn’t worth the squeeze.” That’s not to say a hack is impossible, especially if you’re a public figure or in some other way a high-value target. It also doesn’t mean things will necessarily stay this way (there’s a lot of money and talent on the criminals’ side, after all).

So, do you need an RFID blocking wallet or sleeves for your cards? No, probably not. But if you’d sleep better for having one, by all means go ahead and buy it. 

There are Some Special Cases

That’s not to say there aren’t a few scenarios where RFID is a legitimate threat; they’re just not usually something a private citizen needs to be concerned about. Those passes you swipe to get into secured areas at work? Those are RFID tags, and they’re much easier to duplicate than a credit or debit card. So are the card-shaped hotel room keys. 

While attacks like those are seldom targeted at an individual, as opposed to the organization, it’s possible that someone with an RFID reader — like the Flipper Zero, marketed to hobbyists as a “Swiss Army Knife for hacking,” at well under $200 — could manage to copy the RFID for your specific room, and steal your personal belongings. It’s a stretch, but it could happen. There’s certainly no harm in using a sleeve or RFID blocking wallet to eliminate that minimal risk. 

More often, this kind of thing is a headache for the companies involved, and the suppliers of the actual RFID cards and their readers (whose customers, of course, use them for security reasons and expect them to be, well… secure). If your workplace suddenly decrees that you need to keep your access card in an RFID-blocking sleeve or wallet when it’s not in use, this is why. 

Don’t Worry, Be Happy

So what’s the bottom line? 

If you’ve been eyeing advertisements for RFID blocking wallets or contemplating a half-dozen sleeves to protect your cards individually, you can relax. There’s little realistic likelihood that anybody’s going to hack your cards that way. On the other hand, if the price fits your budget and it will make you feel better, there’s no compelling reason not to. 

On the whole, though, you’ll do more for your own security if you keep up to speed on the latest scams and threats through blogs like this one, and keep a close eye on your accounts for any unexpected or illicit activity. 

Better yet, sign up for Spokeo Protect (our identity protection service) and let us do all the monitoring for you. That will address a whole lot of threats that are more immediate and dangerous than RFID hacking, and should do a lot more for your peace of mind than any wallet, however high-tech.