I am finalizing a new approach to the malware problems currently
reaking havoc with the AVERAGE computer user - home user in
particular.  At our company, we define the average computer user as
someone who is actively surfing the web for information, doing e-mail,
downloading music, downloading movies, and storing/sharing picture
files.

We have developed a revoluationary appraoch to malware for this
profile of person and I wanted to find out what are the most common
consumer products GENERALLY [free or otherwise] currently being used
for the home consumer?  In essense, what are the top 10 most common
home-based software products for non business use for this market. 
Particularly those that have frequent updates.

Thank you,

Jennifer

Hello Jennifer,


Download.com is a great resource for finding the most popular downloads.

?If you want to find the latest and greatest software, or just see
what other people are downloading, look for the Editor's Pick, New
Releases, and Most Popular tabs on the subsection pages.?

?The Most Popular list gives you the most-downloaded programs for the
week in that category.?

http://www.download.com/1200-20-985144.html


The most popular downloads are:

Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition 
1,189,805 downloads last week
Weeks on chart: 156

Spyware Doctor 
986,720 downloads 
Weeks on chart: 75

ICQ 5.04 
556,471 downloads 
Weeks on chart: 162

Morpheus 
500,531 downloads 
Weeks on chart: 237

iMesh 
498,019 downloads 
Weeks on chart: 290

LimeWire 
491,450 downloads 
Weeks on chart: 121

WinZip 
439,814 downloads 
Weeks on chart: 317

All-in-One Secretmaker 
386,259 downloads 
Weeks on chart: 72

Spybot - Search & Destroy
382,980 downloads 
Weeks on chart: 142

Registry Mechanic
350,180 downloads
Weeks on chart: 14

Download.com
http://www.download.com/?tag=txt


Most Popular Software Downloads
Week ending November 13

1-10 of 50  
http://www.download.com/3101-20-0-1.html?tag=pop

11-20
http://www.download.com/3101-20_4-0-2.html?tag=nav_2

21-30
http://www.download.com/3101-20_4-0-3.html?tag=nav_3

31-40
http://www.download.com/3101-20_4-0-4.html?tag=nav_4

41-50
http://www.download.com/3101-20_4-0-5.html?tag=nav_5


======================================


Snapfiles provides a list  of the most downloaded programs by category
for 2004 (freeware and shareware).

Here are a few examples 
 
Adware/Spyware Detection 
shareware: Spy Sweeper 
freeware: Ad-Aware 
  
Auction Tools 
shareware: DeepAnalysis 
freeware: HammerSnipe PowerTool 
  
Memory (RAM) Tools 
shareware: MemOptimizer 
freeware: Fast Defrag Standard

MP3 Players 
shareware: MP3 WAV Studio 
freeware: Winamp (Full) 

Popup Blockers 
shareware: Zero Popup 
freeware: Pop This! 
  

See the complete list here:

http://snapfiles.com/mostdownloaded2004.html

======================================


Eurodownload also provide a Top 100 most popular software downloads list.

 1.  Xilisoft 3GP Video Converter 2.1.55.102 - Convert AVI, MPEG to
3GP, 3G2, MPEG4, MP3.

 2.  Ares Galaxy 1.8.1 - Ares p2p spyware-free filesharing program

 3.  Gluz 5.0 - File sharing application for Gnutella Network

 4.  KaZaA Lite Resurrection 0.0.7.6 - KaZaA Lite Resurrection

 5.  Kazaa Lite Revolution 2.6 - Kazaa Lite is cleaned version of Kazaa.

 6.  ImTOO 3GP Video Converter 2.1.55.110 - A powerful AVI and MPEG to
3GP Converter

 7.  Good Old Sudoku 1.0 - Sudoku - most popular puzzle in Japan

 8.  MPEG4 Direct Maker 4.8.0 - VCD/DVD/QT/AVI/ASF/RM to divx/avi/wmv/mpeg

 9.  Components Engine 4.0.1.22 - Software for interactive spares catalogue.

10.  Jeanie 3.2.1716 - Jeanie Url Spider - Web Spider

http://www.eurodownload.com/top-downloads.php


=============================================


Most popular  downloads at Subloads.com
 
  1. SpyCleaner Gold v.9.5 Top 
  2. Folder Access Freeware v.2.1 Top 
  3. VCD Cutter v.4.03 
  4. Startup Doctor v.4.1 Top 
  5. Easy Radio v.1.4 
  6. SpyCleaner Pro v.8.7 Top 
  7. Free SpyCleaner Toolbar 
  8. Turbo Memory v.2.4 Top 
  9. All Windows-Cleaner v.6.5 Top 
  10. Free Popup Killer Tool v.1.3
http://www.subloads.com/software/index.php?category=0&popularityList=10


=============================================


Search terms used: 
"Most Downloaded programs"
Most popular downloads
Programs that consumers download +ranking

I hope the information provided is helpful!

Best regards,
Bobbie7