Download.com - The New Home For Bloatware

Published on August 22, 2011 By Jafo In Personal Computing

Seems all new uploads there are being 'gift wrapped' with a proprietary installer...complete with toolbars etc that one 'must' opt out of if all you want is the proggy you were hoping to get.

Time perhaps to find a new source of your proggy downloads....

I'd checked out that flash cookie proggy and it had been wrapped....pain and a half.

More on the 'scam' here...

http://www.extremetech.com/computing/93504-download-com-wraps-downloads-in-bloatware-lies-about-motivations

Comments (Page 2)

gmc2

on Aug 22, 2011

Jafo

reply 15

One of the banes of modern computers/net surfing is this bloody pre-occupation with browser addon toolbars.

None is "needed".

None.

totally agree on this one.

yrag

on Aug 22, 2011

Jafo

reply 15

Yes, but it was a pain..... certainly more than such a simple proggy warranted.
One of the banes of modern computers/net surfing is this bloody pre-occupation with browser addon toolbars.
None is "needed".
None.

Stop installing shit, Mate and the dramas will stop.......

.....you don't break enough on your own, you need to go looking for seconds?????

Wizard1956

on Aug 22, 2011

yrag

reply 17

.....you don't break enough on your own, you need to go looking for seconds?????

Nothing like a software solution to cut down on all that physical labor.

k10w3

on Aug 22, 2011

I noticed this the other day and decided to bail on the program I wanted. They were so trustworthy in the past. Such a shame they had to take this route.

starkers

on Aug 23, 2011

I quit using C-Net for downloads yonks ago. I want a clutter-free site without all the banner crap and distraction... hence I go to majorgeeks... sometimes filehippo.

This story serves as a healthy reminder as to why I ceased going there... and why a return is out of the question.

Jafo

on Aug 23, 2011

yrag

reply 17

Stop installing shit, Mate and the dramas will stop.......

I often try linked stuff to verify whether links work/are appropriate for the site....not because I actually 'want' the proggy...

WebGizmos

on Aug 23, 2011

I love the smell of tar and feathers in the morning!

tazgecko

on Aug 23, 2011

Moonchild Productions has been in contact with Download.com about the wrapper/installer stub around Pale Moon. It's in violation of the redistribution policy!

Some developers are starting to complain ... could get messy

Aussie007

on Aug 23, 2011

k10w3

reply 19

I noticed this the other day and decided to bail on the program I wanted. They were so trustworthy in the past. Such a shame they had to take this route.

Same here.
No matter what program you try to download all you receive is a CNet Installer.

Macca

davyandjane

on Aug 23, 2011

Yes its a pain alright but still a good site to find software but just go elsewhere to download it.

DrJBHL

on Aug 23, 2011

Jafo

reply 15

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 8Jafo, did you succeed in downloading and installing the flash cookie remover? After opting out of the toolbar, changing the start page and search engine, it wouldn't install because of "a proxy or firewall".

Yes, but it was a pain..... certainly more than such a simple proggy warranted.

One of the banes of modern computers/net surfing is this bloody pre-occupation with browser addon toolbars.

None is "needed".

None.

Firefox has an extension called "Better Privacy 1.67" which removes all LSO's when closing the browser and notifies how many it found. So, a great work around for when I use Firefox. It removes 'em and screw the trackers.

To it I added "Adblock Plus" and "Track me not".

C-ya|net indeed, Wiz.

One of the many reasons I like downloading from the dev's website and not other places. Using Comodo-Dragon rounds out the picture. It connects through Comodo's secure proxy (when using Comodo only, or all browsers if that option is chosen).

Island Dog

on Aug 23, 2011

The real big problem is when people download something, the bloatware will be "blamed" on the app they installed and probably not the people really responsible.

Wizard1956

on Aug 23, 2011

If Download .com is doing this with SD software, maybe they should not be a distributor .

Island Dog

on Aug 23, 2011

We're looking into it.

Uvah

on Aug 23, 2011

Jeez...and I thought cnet immune to such nonsense. Oh wqell

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