Here’s a tip from Yuri Mintskovsky:

Free software is out there, but it can be very difficult to find. You may have to visit dozens of sites in the hope that there’s a freebie available for you to download, without finding anything. Here is what you can do to help narrow your search for freebies, and find them more easily.

Start your search by figuring out the exact software you need. This can be easily done by reading up on the software at review sites, forums, techie blogs and even the manufacturer’s site as well. There’s bound to be plenty of information available, so this could take a while to complete.

Usually, you’ll start with one specific software in mind, but don’t restrict your search to that alone. You may be able to find alternative programs that are just as functional, so explore your options (while you check out the sites for information about your desired program, you may stumble upon alternatives as well).

Once you find the exact program you want, use the power of search engines to find the software for you. Good terms to type in are:

free NAME OF SOFTWARE (e.g. free microsoft word)
free TYPE OF SOFTWARE (e.g. free word processing software)
NAME OF SOFTWARE for free (e.g. microsoft word free)

And don’t forget to check out the manufacturer’s site thoroughly as well. Many companies offer a free trial that allows you to use your desired software at no cost for a limited time (such as a couple of weeks or a month). That way, you can rest assured knowing that you most likely won’t get a virus when you’ve downloaded the program, too!