There are many terms that we can find and that refer to the multiple and varied attacks that we can suffer on the Internet. Many types of threats that in one way or another can compromise the proper functioning of computers and our own privacy. In this article we are going to talk about what Abandonware is . It is a word that may not be as present as other types of threats, but it can certainly affect many users without their knowing it.
What is Abandonware
The term Abandonware basically refers to abandoned software. However, we are not only talking about computer programs, since we can also find, for example, a web page that, although it is still available to users, has long been abandoned.
To better understand what Abandonware is, it is best to give examples. A very common case is that of a computer program that was created years ago, fulfilled its function and could even be a source of income for a developer or company. That application with the passage of time was abandoned and no longer receives updates, nor is there any user or organization behind it.
That program is still present on the Internet. Users could even download it, install it on their computers, and use it normally. Now, they would be facing software that has been abandoned, which no longer receives any type of improvement or update.
Something similar could happen with a web page . It is a service that offers something to users, such as information, downloading files, a forum to comment … In the same way that the case of a computer program could be abandoned. Of course, in this case it is somewhat more complicated for this to happen, since it requires maintaining the domain and that usually involves an economic cost. However, it could be the case that someone maintains the page, renews the domain every year, but just be that.
How Abandonware Affects Security
Once we have explained what Abandonware is, we can get an idea of how it could affect the security of users. These are abandoned software, programs that do not have any kind of endorsement or legal obligation at that time. Even the latter could allow a third party to take advantage and get to commercialize with a certain application, which could even be maliciously modified.
For this reason, users could be using vulnerable applications that have not received any kind of update for years or correct those security flaws that could be exploited by hackers.
Behind all this there are also platforms that take advantage of precisely this abandoned software . We can find, for example, web pages where we can download old games. At present they have already been abandoned and there are no legal rights over them, so they could be freely available on the net.
Now, as we can imagine, this can be a security problem. Those games, those apps, could be a risk. Although this software may not have vulnerabilities in itself, it could be used maliciously by a cybercriminal to modify it and offer it on the network.
Many users use Abandonware or abandoned software without really knowing that it is a problem. We are talking about those programs that we have for the computer that have not received updates for years and are not even available for download. We continue to use them because we like them, because they are useful to carry out certain tasks. Also if we go back to the example of old games, many users find a classic video game on the net and install it.
Should we avoid outdated programs?
With all this that we have talked about, many users will ask this question. Actually any program, any page that we visit, could at some point pose a security problem. Vulnerabilities are present in all types of systems and devices. Of course, logically there is more risk of having problems if we are using a program that has been abandoned, that no longer receives updates.
A few years ago, a very widespread movement emerged that basically consisted of giving a second life to those old games, those applications that were paid one day but were already abandoned and their code does not belong to anyone. Voices emerged both in favor of its use and against it.
In the end we can summarize everything in having good habits when using our equipment and installing software, whether abandoned or not. By this we mean that it is essential to have security tools, keep computers up-to-date to prevent them from being affected by certain vulnerabilities, and always keep common sense in mind.