Originally posted by Savaric
Free virus software? See I always raise a brow when something as useful as virus protection is offered for free. So what's the catch?
Free operating system? What's the catch?

Free C++ compiler that produces better code than many commercial ones? What's the catch?

Free office suite that's comparable to Microsoft's? What's the catch?

Free movie/sound player? What's the catch?

There's heaps of free software around, and while there may be a catch, there frequently isn't. In the case of something that has to be updated frequently (eg AV software), it either means there is a team of people around the world who dedicate their time to it, or a company offers it as a "side product" (for instance, a domain name registrant may offer a suite of DNS tools free).