Software:FreeFileSync

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Short description: Free and open-source file synchronization program
FreeFileSync
FreeFileSync Icon.png
FreeFileSync v6.7 on Windows 8.1.png
FreeFileSync 6.7 running on Windows 8.1
Initial releaseAugust 2008; 16 years ago (2008-08)
Operating systemWindows, Linux, macOS
PlatformIA-32, x86-64
TypeFile synchronization utility
LicenseGPL-3.0-only
Websitewww.freefilesync.org

FreeFileSync is a free and open-source program used for file synchronization. It is available on Windows, Linux and macOS. The project is backed by donations. Donors get access to a Donation Edition that contains a few additional features such as an auto-updater, parallel sync, portable version, and silent installation.[1] FreeFileSync has received positive reviews.[2][3]

FreeFileSync works by comparing one or multiple folders on their content, date or file size and subsequently synchronizing the content according to user-defined settings. In addition to supporting local file systems and network shares, FreeFileSync is able to sync to Google Drive, FTP, FTPS, SFTP and MTP devices.

Adware/Malware

Earlier versions were packaged with OpenCandy,[4][5] an adware module which many antivirus software vendors classify as malware.[6][7][8][9]

Since the release of version 10.0 in April 2018, the software is ad-free.[10] In November 2018 Norton wrongly considered FreeFileSync installer as a malware and blocked its installation.[11]

Supported OS

FreeFileSync is available for 32bit and 64bit operating systems. As of June 2021 the then current version 11.11 of FreeFileSync supported the following operating systems and versions:[12]

  • Windows 10 down to Windows 7.
  • macOS 11.0 "Big Sur" down to Mac OS X 10.10 "Yosemite".
  • On Linux, many well-known distributions are supported. The website cites Arch Linux, CentOS, Debian, Fedora, Manjaro, Mint, openSUSE and Ubuntu.

Older operating systems

Support for Windows Vista and XP ended with FreeFileSync_v10.11. The latest release compatible with Mac OS X 10.7.5 is FreeFileSync_8.4_Mac_OS_X. Older versions are still available on the project website.[13]

See also

References

  1. "FAQ: Donation Edition". http://www.freefilesync.org/faq.php#donation-edition. 
  2. "Compare and synchronize PC files easily with FreeFileSync". https://www.pcworld.com/article/261465/compare_and_synchronize_pc_files_easily_with_freefilesync.html. 
  3. "FreeFileSync: App Reviews, Features, Pricing & Download". https://alternativeto.net/software/freefilesync/reviews/. 
  4. Akerlund, Geoff (10 March 2014), FreeFileSync comes bundled with the OpenCandy malware, and there's no option to not install it., Backup Review, http://www.backupreview.com/freefilesync-review/, retrieved 2 February 2018 
  5. Richards, Gizmo (16 April 2017), Controversial Advertising Program Now Being Embedded in More Software, Tech Support Alert, https://www.techsupportalert.com/content/controversial-advertising-program-now-being-embedded-more-software.htm, retrieved 2 February 2018 
  6. PUP.Optional.OpenCandy, Malwarebytes, https://blog.malwarebytes.com/detections/pup-optional-opencandy/, retrieved 3 February 2018 
  7. OpenCandy, Sophos, https://www.sophos.com/en-us/threat-center/threat-analyses/adware-and-puas/OpenCandy/detailed-analysis.aspx, retrieved 3 February 2018 
  8. ADW_OPENCANDY, Trend Micro, https://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/threat-encyclopedia/malware/adw_opencandy, retrieved 3 February 2018 
  9. Virustotal analyses of OpenCandy, Virus Total, https://virustotal.com/en/file/81196839f19269ce807e43c8b9669459dc833d6fd2d510646fc0bebc0e0ef2eb/analysis/#comments, retrieved 3 February 2018 
  10. Brinkmann, Martin (3 May 2018). "FreeFileSync 10.0 updates removes ads from installer" (in en). https://www.ghacks.net/2018/05/03/freefilesync-10-0/. 
  11. "My virus scanner/firewall shows a scary warning. Is there a virus, malware, or trojan?". https://freefilesync.org/faq.php#virus. 
  12. List of supported operating systems https://freefilesync.org/faq.php#operating-systems
  13. Archive of old versions of the software https://freefilesync.org/archive.php

External links