Many programmes offer various versions of the same product, depending on the usage or the range of functionalities required for example, the MS Office range is available for Students, home office and businesses. You also need a valid a product key to activate the product. A good sign of legitimate products is a certificate of authenticity (COA), which is on the hologram label. Pirated copies of popular software packages means that you need to be extra vigilant when buying. The most popular purchases by far are the Windows operating systems, Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe editing software and various anti-virus brands. Similar categories of computer software can come at a dizzying range of prices and formats so it is key to choose what is right for your specific needs.

You may want to add functions to your device such as video or photo editing and office document manipulation, to upgrade from a previous version of your operating system software or to protect the machine against viruses and malware. Buying computer software is one of the most important decisions you will make about what you get out of your computer.