Better Safe Than Sorry

The folks at pestpatrol.com offer a searchable database of thousands of software applications, both free and commercial, that contain spyware, adware, malware, tracking cookies, dialers, homepage changers, etc.

So before you download that neat new program you found check this site and confirm that you won't infect your system.

You would also be wise to check several popular Search Engines for the name of this neat software and the word "spyware" (without the quotes) - If this search returns indications of weirdness perhaps you had better not download the software.