Tech
Paying for software you may already have
Several common purchases duplicate something already included, free, or available through an institution.
Operating systems now include antivirus, firewall, disk encryption and backup tools that are adequate for most households. Paid security suites add features, and a substantial share of their marketing is aimed at people unaware the built-in tools exist.
Office and creative work has mature free alternatives, and many are compatible with the file formats people need to exchange. Students and staff at educational institutions frequently have paid licences already provided, and public libraries often include access to paid platforms with a card.
Watch for subscriptions that renew annually at a higher rate than the introductory one, and for utility software sold to fix problems the operating system handles — registry cleaners and driver updaters being the long-standing examples.
Before buying anything, two checks: whether the operating system already does it, and whether an institution you belong to already licenses it.
What to do next. Check what your operating system already includes, and what your library or school already licenses, before buying.
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stand in front of them. Start there.
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