Make Downloading Music FROM THE WEB A Snap

In the old days, if you wanted to own a particular song, you had to buy the entire album. Now, all you have to do is download a single MP3 file from the Internet. There are many different services that make it easy to download music. Read the following article to learn more about them.

Always be wary of the sites you're downloading music from. Protect yourself by visiting only the most credible sites. Other sites leave you vulnerable to spyware, spam, and viruses. It's better to keep private information secure when you deal with lesser-known sites.

One way to get free music is to rip it from YouTube videos. The upside of this is that you can use simple software to accomplish the task, and it allows you to avoid paying for each song that you download. The downside is the quality of the music might not be the highest.

Prior to opening a music files, look at its size. It's crucial that you don't download the wrong thing. It can also be damaging to your computer. Be certain that the file you download is about the size you would expect. Delete any file that is larger or smaller than expected.

A great alternative to downloading music on your phone or computer is to sign up with a streaming music service. There are quite a few services available where you can listen to music online. They may have advertisements on their webpages, but listening to all the music you want is usually free.

When you download a song online, check its size. If it is less than 2 megabytes, unless it is a very short song, it is likely to be a virus. Most viruses are just text and they don't take up much hard drive space, so be wary of small files.

When downloading music online, make sure that you only download files with the correct extension. Never download files with .exe file extensions. This extension can harm your computer. It can hijack your computer system and completely destroy it. Even worse, you could open yourself up to identity theft or other security issues.

Any website that offers legal music downloads will have a copyright notice somewhere on their site. This notice will show that the site's owners are authorized to sell and distribute the music legally online. This notice should also tell you what you are and are not allowed to do with the music after you purchase.

For safety sake, download music only from sites you know and trust. This will ensure that the song doesn't have Yellow Tape some sort of virus in it which can leave your computer a mess or your private data open to criminals. Stick to sites like Amazon or iTunes who scan the files they provide.

If your taste in music changes a lot, consider using a site that allows you to stream music, rather than download it. Streaming allows you to listen to a large variety of songs, but the music never resides on your computer. This can save you money and space on your hard drive, so it is sometimes the better option.

Check out mainstream MP3 stores and look for their free music section. Often this is populated with songs from up and coming artists which are worth checking out. For example, MP3.com has a whole category dedicated to free songs. You can sample each and then download those that sound great.

Be careful with free peer-to-peer music download services. Many of these sites straddle the line of legality. What you may be thinking is ok is actually putting you in jeopardy of prosecution if the service is caught and they report on their users. Do your research before joining any peer-to-peer music download service.

Take advantage of free trial periods. If possible, always try before you buy. Don't commit to any sort of subscription before you know it's right for you. Many of the larger online music services offer free trial periods. Make sure the program you choose is easy to use and convenient.

If you want to keep your credit card safe from hackers, pick up iTunes gift cards at local stores. You can input the number online of the gift card, instead of your credit card number, meaning no one can hack into their database to get your information, saving you from criminals.

Downloading music is a snap when you know where to look for it. There are many different options for doing so online, and knowing which service is best can be tricky. With the tips from this article, you can find all of the songs that you want without spending hours hunting for them.