There is the misconception that just because you can get software free of cost, it means that it's free software. This is not the case, free software can cost money and still be free software; while close source source software can be given away.
What make software free software, is not the price. What makes it free software is that the user can freely study the source code, make modifications and distribute the resulting software without any restrictions whatsoever. The price of the software isn't what makes free software, is that fact that there are no restrictions to access it's source code.
When there are restrictions on imposed on the use of software, but it's given away for free, then it's freeware. Freeware can be both, open source or closed source(proprietary) software, since it just means that it's given away for no profit.
Free software can be for profit, if it allows their users free access to their source code to be studied, modified and distributed by users.
It's sad most people don't understand this difference, since proprietary software greatly restricts users freedoms by limiting how they can use software they own. And now more than ever, there is a need to move to free software since it's the best way to keep our freedoms and privacy.
Free software is not something for geeks, or technically proficient people. Free software can be easy to use, and easily accessible for people with any level of technical knowledge. Some examples of how free software that is easy to use are Firefox and Ubuntu, or Android on the mobile realm. The point is, that free software is the best tool people have to protect and enact their freedoms.
The governments has shown how willing is to take our freedoms, and some companies have shown that they are more than willing to help the governments who do so. Free software is the best, and perhaps, the only option to at least keep them at bay.
So, let's start by not confusing free software with freeware.
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