"Free" software, and sometimes paid-for stuff comes with so many "strings attached" in the form of internet communications, that they can bring your internet surfing to a near stand-still. They very often include what you and I might call spyware - I'm sure they'd call them product enhancements. They may be logging all your activities to various hosts, checking behind the scenes for other people using their software and exchanging information, collecting data on your PC from their locations (users and servers) to increase their on-line processing power - or ALL of the above!

Sneaky bast*ards ... and it's all apparently legal, still.

Sound software IS the greatest abuser, in my estimation - but I stay away from free software and even treat the store bought stuff with a suspicious eye.