NoSPAM!!!, that is not my experience. I do OCCASIONALLY receive a solicitation from a software company that I have given my email address to in connection with a GOTD offer, but the number of such emails I receive is negligible.

I think you can furnish your email address to them without worrying unduly. After all, they have presumably already been vetted by GOTD as having reputable business practices.

Dan McLaughlin,
put your email address in capitals. Revert to lower case after for your password.

Rick_S,
use capitals for your email address. Revert to lower case after for your password.

Contevou, the most ridiculous comment I have ever read here in 10 or so years.

Contevou ...

Hey man ! ... i dig what you're saying ...

Could you concept your article into a quicker version ...

preferably slower and more understandable focuses on

"Privacy" or "Security" and I for one will give up my online privacy to make this a safer country.

Gup, thank you for the feedback. Fortunately I did not add my comment to please you or anyone else. It matters not that you think it is the most ridiculous comment you have read in 10 years or so. It is my opinion and I definitely DO NOT ever reply to someone else's comment especially with a comment that is at best from a below average IQ.

:>)

Contevou,
" I definitely DO NOT ever reply to someone else's comment"

English second language, or just comprehension deficiency?

Contevou,

Just want to address a few things real quick...
you say (and I quote)
"It is my opinion and I definitely DO NOT ever reply to someone else's comment..."

You get that you made it IN REPLY TO SOMEONE ELSE'S COMMENT, right?

" especially with a comment that is at best from a below average IQ."

I agree, saying that you don't reply to comments AS a comment indicates a very low IQ, but you shouldn't knock yourself for that.

here's another quote:
" the reason we are being more or less (sooner or later) forced to use Windows 10 may have something to do with the security of our country. "
and
"Since Microsoft and Google merged in Windows 10 the capability to gather sick amounts of mass information has been created."
...
This is wrong. This is propaganda and speaking as if you are an authority about something you don't know about is dishonest and misleading.
...
The reason we will all be forced to eventually use a higher version of windows is money.
Microsoft makes more money selling a new OS than supporting your old one...which do you think they'll focus on more? And the money it would take to keep a staff just to support an old OS just isn't worth it; There is no miracle code in 10 that could not be implemented in windows XP, it's just not cost effective.
...
"Since Microsoft and Google merged in Windows 10 "
- Can you quote your source on this, because after searching online for about 10 min, I could not find even one thing that validates your statement.

"Some even say Windows 10 / Google provide all their information directly to The National Security Agency."

My neighbor says there are satellites in his fillings that send his thoughts to the NSA. Either one is just as believable.
(And really, what is it you do that the NSA might want to see? You think that movie you downloaded is going to get them to tap your info and arrest you? Maybe your conversation with the wife about buying eggs is a covert attack plan?)

Also, the dig at the end about the low IQ? It makes YOU sound like a petty troll.

What about his comment makes you assume he has a low IQ? It is all spelled right and the sentence structure is correct...mostly. :)

S/He could obviously use a lesson in online etiquette and manners, but it looks like you could also. (Hi Pot, I'm Kettle!)
Ironically, had you not tried to insult someone else, I would have just shut up and moved along.
I hate bullies though, and your comment about the IQ is something a bully would say.
Have a great day and let's try being nice to each other this year...being jerks didn't work last year either.

GOTD Etiquette Police- Self Appointed,

Guilty ...... I apologize for my hour of stupidity today. No excuses, just I'm sorry for the ignorance and thoughtlessness I experienced while posting today.

Have a great new year!

Contevou, Well wont' argue with your "CHOICE" but have used XP since it came out..... ..24/7....with over 150 programs installed that ALL work.....(even some old excellent 3.1's that nothing replaces) never been "hacked or hit" with some FOOLS VERSION of Rot-Ware SO XP since MS thinks we all have to "change or else"........that applies to over 100 MILLION others. around the world that WON'T CHANGE.
Naughty word to MS........GO BROKE.......

Jeff Dalls, no, the free version on Ashampoo's website is not the same version as BS 2017, which contains more functions and has another GUI.

Jeff Dalls, It is free, so it is a giveaway. Lighten up ;)

J, Virtualbox, VLC Media Player and Paint dot NET are also free, but you wouldn't expect them to be offered as a giveaway, would you?

J, Yes, it is a giveaway.
But it is NOT giveaway OF THE DAY. That implies get it now or lose your chance.

To clarify the version numbers: Ashampoo has two series of Burning Studio products.
* The number titles, such as BS 17, 18 are paid software.
* The year titles, such as BS 2016, 2017 are always free. (I'm not referring to the "version number" which you find in the "About" menu. I'm referring to the TITLE of the software.)
It's the free versions, like the one offered here today--and everyday at Ashampoo.com--which bombard you with advertising.

Stan, I don't know what site you looked on, but this IS the free version. I put up two different pages for each one and read line for line. They are the same!!! There isn't any added features or functions. If they did change the user interface, that doesn't make worth $23.99 and it still remains the free one!!!

Bruce Fraser, If you consider this as a giveaway, then you must also class all freeware as a "giveaway", because there is no difference between the two.

Jim C, I downloaded the official FREE version (no numbers in the name) from Ashampoo's site. Looking to "about..." mentions version 1.14.5; the GUI page is entirely light blue with "Burning Studio Free" in big letters. On the left menu, you have 7 topics. The temporary free version of this GOTD is BS 2017, and is version 18.0.0. The interface of this version is black, with "Burning Studio 2017" in big letters. On the left menu, you have 10 topics.

Stan, You are still getting versions mixed up, BS 2017 is completely free and if you follow the "Homepage" link at the top of this page, it takes you to the BS 2017 official webpage, where you can download it for free any time. BS Free is a different product but also free.

Jeff Dalls, Correct on website click downloads it clearly says
Ashampoo Burning Studio 2017
v18.0.0 Free Full Version

Stan,
The free version on their website actually has a version listed as well as a date.
Ashampoo® Burning Studio FREE
Version 1.14.5, 2014/06/02

The GOTD version as today's free program is
Ashampoo Burning Studio 2017
Version 18.0.0 - [18.0.0.12 (4910)], 2016/12/15

Stan: "some clarification in Ashampoo's product strategy"

From what I understand, whenever Ashampoo offers a product that includes the full year in its title (e.g., Ashampoo Burning Studio 2017), it is the freebie promotion version of a prior Ashampoo non-free version (in this case, Ashampoo Burning Studio 16).

Suze, that is EXACTLY how it works.

DD, Thank you for verifying.

Suze & DD, re "(e.g., Ashampoo Burning Studio 2017), it is the freebie promotion version of a prior Ashampoo non-free version (in this case, Ashampoo Burning Studio 16)." That is incorrect. Studio 2017 is NOT the freebie version of Studio 16.

ABS 16 has many more features than ABS 2017. Check it out:
https://www.ashampoo.com/en/usd/pde/4510/burning-software/burning-studio-16#ash_top
https://www.ashampoo.com/en/usd/pde/4910/burning-software/Ashampoo-Burning-Studio-2017#ash_top

I have no dog in this fight. Just sayin'...

Tony S, Indeed, ABS 16 does have many more features than ABS 2017. Thank you for pointing this out.

Heavy Water, Ashampoo has nearly all the "lite-version" progs permanently for download on its website - this "free" version in GOTD is one of those lite versions. (See remark at end of offer for a cheaper upgrade) So it's not really a giveaway!

Harald K., Aw, it is free, so it is a giveaway. This free 2017 version is brand new right now, so GOTD gets to feature it.
Some people would not know to check to find it anywhere else if they don't know it exists.
It's all good.

vanierstein,

I got into problems burning discs with the other versions.
No idea why.
YMMV.
But with 2013 version burning discs always come out roses easily with no hassles.

ric, Thanks !!

ric, you should not be using Windows XP; unless you're employing the rather dubious POSReady hack, XP stopped receiving security updates nearly three years ago.

ric .. .

i also wished ...

that Ashampoo GmbH & Co would take reconciliation with XP's operators again.

Stay Happy ... 2017.

Jim Stone, anyway: It was and is simply the best windows , beneath WIN 7(I use both again) - I came back from unbearable Win 10 with its built-in "hacks" from Microsoft....

ric, Sorry but got to agree with Jim Stone, you should not be using XP, or if you are it shouldn't be connected to the internet. Ever. I run a corporate network and our last XP machines were scrubbed 18 months ago and THAT was very late! By using XP you are essentially volunteering to be part of a botnet and to help spread spam and viruses. The reason most new programs wont' work with XP is not that they can't be made to, it's that they aren't going to make software to run on a 17 year old dead OS that no one should be using anymore because it's such an easy attack vector! If you can't afford to upgrade fair enough, but you're going to have to live with the idea that very few if any useful new programs will work on your computer and that sooner or later your computer is going to be infected, if it isn't already.

Jim Stone,

As far as I know I have never been hacked because I use XP.
Because I am a nobody and not wealthy.
Not some politician or celebrity.
It would be a complete waste of time for a hacker to hack me.
Contrary to public misconception, NOT receiving the much dreaded Windows security updates to one's Windows OS from nearly three years ago - is a big PLUS.
Please Google the number of times users' systems have crashed after and caused by a Windows OS security update.
I buy and pay for very good anti-malware product every year.
The only time I get into trouble is when I ignore the anti-malware and knowingly install a dubious "giveaway".
(By the way, in my experience, it is the German giveaway sites that are notorious for malware infections).
I think Windows 7 Professional 64 Bit is OK.
Just a few days ago, a friend complained bitterly about the "free" upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 and now curses the newer OS. He wants to revert to Windows 7.
Maybe he has to reformat his whole hard disk.
Because Microsoft has put in locks to prevent users from going backwards.
They are dead set on promoting Windows 10 no matter what.

Chris,
XP is safe now because every hacker has migrated to Win 7, 8 and 10.
just like firefox used to be safe when it was new out and everyone was hacking Internet explorer. Now firefox is being hacked constantly. Switch to Chrome and the problem will switch to chrome too.
the hackers go for the most used programs to attack. How can they do it?
Volume is the the secret.
Leave my XP alone. It is safe and I never get hacked at all.

Bill, You do understand that viruses and scripts are automated right? You understand that they are out there spreading from machine to machine automatically, not because someone is taking the time to look for and target your machine specifically? XP is NOT safe because hackers have 'migrated to windows 7'. Viruses, malware and hackers absolutely love people like you.

Chris,
As a developer I don't have to specially create software for different Windows OS’s, as long as the OS understand all the functions I use it will run on that platform.
However, if I use new functions that have been introduced in later versions of the OS then it will not run on the earlier platforms.
If you look after a network I suggest you understand the fundamentals more thoroughly.

I use XP because I like it better than any of the later versions and I am connected to the Internet all the time, but I don't go into dangerous areas.
Don't think hackers like me any more or less than anyone else.

Chris,
my antivirus programs are savvy enough to trap the trojans, viruses, rootkits and malware just fine.
i require XP Professional to run software that is used for mediacl accounting and cannot be ported over to win 7,8 or 10

The level of ignorance displayed by ric and Bill above is truly mindboggling.

Jim Stone is absolutely right. Actively using an OS with three years worth of unpatched security vulnerabilities is insanely dangerously in this Internet-connected age.

ric and Bill are leaving their computers open to being recruited into botnets and used for sending spam and launching DDoS attacks on other systems. They're leaving themselves open to being locked out of their computers by ransomware.

Depending upon what they're actually using those computers for, they may even being leaving themselves open to having their credit cards stolen, their bank accounts emptied, or even full-on identity theft.

Note that several of those things will not be immediately obvious. The hackers aren't going to conviently inform you that they've botted your computer or stolen your identity so "As far as I know I have never been hacked" isn't really saying much.

And don't get me started on ridiculous idea that not being rich or famous is some kind of protection, as though you had to be specifically targeted to be in danger, or the sheer stupidity of "XP is safe now because every hacker has migrated to Win 7, 8 and 10" as though the still-large number of people foolishly using XP weren't a tempting target or even that XP is somehow immune to attacks aimed at later versions of Windows.

XP-Man, It's precisely because I DO understand the fundamentals I made my comment. 'As a developer' you should simply know better than your comment implies so I'm afraid I doubt your veracity there, there's nothing more to say.

Hi Bill, I worked in IT for the NHS for 3 1/2 years, in fact I joined over 5 years ago now to do a Windows 7 rollout for a large hospital who were desperate to get shot of their old XP machines so I do understand the problem of legacy medical apps in the industry, but you're talking about using the computer as a daily work machine that you're still installing more applications on now, not having it sandboxed on the network and locked down to perform a specific function or better still virtualised and locked down. Active XP machines are a HUGE problem for the NHS because of this legacy app problem, but I don't know a single NHS Trust or Foundation that would even consider countenancing using XP as a daily workstation, let alone allowing employees to install random free giveaways on it, so I can only assume you work for a private medical company with a really lax IT department.

Chris,
If you're so well versed in the fundamentals surely you would have pointed out the errors you perceive in my argument.
Doubting my veracity is a rather weak reply to facts.

Jim Stone, WRONG.........had XP since day one........24-7, if ya got any decent Malware or Virus Pgms......your SAFE......
Plus, 100+ MILLION others around the world use it.......doesn't that say something?

Did you happen to find out which version is last for Windows Vista?