Protect yourself

Here's how to help protect yourself from the security and privacy problems associated with EULAs before you hit the "I Agree" button.

• Consider the software publisher - is the company well known and reputable? Does it publish its EULA prominently? Does it have a privacy policy?
  
  
• Try to read the licence agreement before installing the software. If necessary, copy the information and delay the installation until you've had time to study it carefully and contact the publisher for clarification. Look for the licence agreement on the publisher's website before buying the software.
  
  
• Look for clauses that indicate monitoring of internet activity or collecting your personal information (you may also need to review the company's privacy policy first).
  
  
• Look for any restrictions on your use, such as the number of computers you can install it on, or prohibitions on producing commercial work with academic version software.
  
  
• Beware of prompts to allow software past your firewall. Review the licence agreement to find out why this is necessary.
  
  
• Use caution with 'free' software. It is rarely free. There's often a trade-off in advertising, access to personal information or use of your computer's resources. For example, peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing programs use your computer to send information across the web which may leave it vulnerable to viruses, software flaws and trojans (malicious programs hiding in benign applications).
  
  
• Don't install unauthorised software on computers at work, as it could have wider privacy and security implications.