| The growing popularity of pocket pc shareware | | | | have found. Applying these uPDAtes on a regular |
| has mirrored the popularity of PDAs and pocket | | | | basis is your best defense against viruses and |
| pc's themselves. As more and more people | | | | other malicious code. |
| discover the usefulness of using a PDA, more and | | | | Once these basic housekeeping steps are out of |
| more software writers are focusing their | | | | the way, it is time to download some fun and |
| attention on this part of the market. Pocket pc | | | | useful shareware onto your PDA. Freeware and |
| shareware is available in every conceivable | | | | shareware software downloads are available from |
| category, from games and game emulators to | | | | many sources, including general software |
| productivity suites that allow the PDA to become | | | | download sites, newsgroups and websites aimed |
| a true mini computer. | | | | at owners of PDAs. No matter what type of |
| Before you download all that great pocket pc | | | | software you are looking for, you will probably be |
| shareware, however, there are a few basic | | | | able to find some useful and fun shareware for |
| safety and housekeeping steps the PDA owner | | | | your PDA. |
| should take to make sure the personal | | | | Another thing you should be aware of id that a |
| information contained on that PDA is well | | | | shareware is in many cases a commercial |
| protected. | | | | software in disguise. What does that mean? Well, |
| The first step is to make sure you are running a | | | | there are two possibilities: the first one is : after |
| strong virus scanning program on your PDA, and | | | | you have downloaded the shareware and have |
| that the scanning software is up to date. All the | | | | been using it for a while, it will cease to work |
| major makers of virus scanning software, names | | | | (after 30 days or 14 days), and the owners of |
| like McAfee, Symantec and Computer Associates, | | | | the shareware will ask you to buy a permanent |
| make versions for PDAs. | | | | license for this software. The second scenario is |
| The next step is to make sure all software | | | | that you will gt only a very basic form of the |
| patches are applied to your operating system and | | | | software as a shareware, and you will need to |
| onboard software products. The PDA | | | | upgrade to the full version for a fee. Now, I'm not |
| manufacturer will generally post any patches or | | | | saying there is something wrong with that - we all |
| fixes to security flaws on their website. In | | | | have to make a living. I'm just saying - be aware |
| addition, the operating system manufacturer will | | | | of that and make a good decision. |
| periodically release fixes for security issues they | | | | |