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The Internet website OldVersion.com provides a repository of historic versions of popular application software packages for Windows. The selection of software mostly comprises of proprietary, freeware and shareware titles, some of which still work, while some are defunct, most notably instant messaging and file sharing applications. Numerous file sharing programs available there have a high likeliness of containing malware. The installers are known to have been submitted by users of the website to its maintainer by e-mail.
[edit] Advantages
- The site makes it possible for users with older hardware to download and use software that is not as demanding resource-wise, unlike plain modern or very recent/new titles.
- This effectively extends the lifetime of computers acquired several years ago and
- thus enables socially and/or financially disadvantaged people to use computers, as acquiring brand new hardware would be too cost-prohibitive.
[edit] Criticisms
- The fact that the site offers software for Windows, means that this software would be installed on an older version of Microsoft Windows, which must also be had in most cases. Because old boxed versions of Windows (that run on older hardware) are not for sale anymore, some users might be compelled to infringe on software copyrights. In many developed economies, such a situation would legally render the computer unusable for organizations.
- An effective countermeasure for this would be using free software operating systems and tools, but if a particular program for Windows must be used and does not have alternatives, it could be run under Wine, which implements a compatibility layer.
- Many of the networking software (IM, file sharing, email, some APIs) are out of date and thus susceptible to security breaches that are based on known vulnerabilities, therefore anti-virus, anti-spyware, and firewall solutions are strongly recommended.
- Old software may contain bugs that have only been fixed in their next or modern major versions.
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