Are these free apps safe?

[Mr. 123]

I recently got a new Mac and have been slowly reinstalling apps and stuff that I had on my old computer. Many of the apps I used are free and came from the web. Recently I downloaded another free app on my old computer which brought adware and installer some apps without my consent so I don't want to make the same mistake with the new computer, so I am wondering if anyone here has any experience with these following apps:

Audacity (http://audacityteam.org), XLD (https://www.mediahuman.com/audio-converter/), Handbreak (https://handbrake.fr), Megasync, MacX apps and Spotify.

Thanks in advance!

 

[MacDawg]

Not familiar with all of them, but Audacity and Handbrake are great, and you should be good installing them from their official sources

 

[Mr. 123]

Great! I really like Audacity because it's straight forward!

 

[kaya]

I'm using Audacity and Spotify. I didn't have any problems so far.

 

[techwarrior]

I have used all at one time or another, should be fine. Only one I would urge caution with is Megasync, I believe that is Kim Dotcom's app although he is no longer involved with it, he had a number of legal issues...it all seems sketchy to me.

 

[kvorobyov]

Actually, XLD and MediaHuman Audio Converter are two different apps but they both are safe.

 

[Partron22]

Beware, however. Some old gold has recently been getting sold to dubious companies.
Even App writers get old.
When an independent App offers me an update, I always make sure to have a backup of the old App or installer, before updating. I've been glad I did that a couple times this past year. One of the "updates" quite happily installed MacDefender on my Mac, without asking. Going to a recent backup was the easiest way to dump that garbage, and downgrade the App with the booby-trapped update.