There is no real point in buying programs anymore.. Some programmers are dedicated to give us, the consumers, free alternatives.
Before, where you had to pay £100 for Microsoft Works, you can get the same in FREE Open Office (search for it in google) - it can also save/open files in word format!
Norton Antivirus alternative: FREE avast! antivirus or AVG Free Edition.
Some programmers hate microsoft so much, they are happy to spend time making free versions of the same software, to lower Microsoft's sales.
Who gets the most benefit out of it? The consumers; us. So there's no real point in risking getting pirate version of these professional softwares, when you can just download a free alternative.