DOWNLOAD ALERT: Foistware Warning - Comments Page 2

For the same reasons I always check if FILEHIPPO
has the program or update. It shows the latest
version as well as older ones if needed. You
just click on download the latest version and
presto it downloads the latest version. Next
I check to see if the source has a download. If
all other sources fail then I will use C-Net which I have used since the late 1980's, but with extreme
caution.

Thank you Bob for bringing this up. I have so many people with these problems. and thanks for your criticism of the "Big boys" for this practice. Mike from Michigan.

I've gotten very careful when using CNET.

Many, but not all, CNET pages provide a "direct download" option that avoids their insidious ininstaller. The link is usually directly under the green Download button, and easy to miss. When available, this link bypasses all of foistware pages.

Great article, and something more people should be aware of.

I don't see why everyone wants everything for free. Somehow the bills must be paid. If people weren't so cheap they would pay or easily support donationware

I agree. CNET used to be awesome. I've stopped using them because of the deceptive screens that you pointed out. Once you get some of this stuff on your computer it's almost impossible to get off.

I have just done this with my brand new computer!!
If only this article had been on a couple weeks ago.
Now to see if I can fix it or call my grand daughter.
Thanks for being here for us Bob.

I agree with your comments about CNET's downloads, I've gotten to the point with them that I go to the homepage for the software vendor and download from there rather than get caught up in CNET's foistware.
You would think that CNET would not support this practice, but I guess even the best succumb to the "ad income" they must get from foistware they are responsible for downloading from their site.

How about that Babylon browser toolbar. I keep UNchecking all checks asking for downloading of Babylon toolbar, but they get downloaded anyway despite all that!!! I've uninstalled them several times and they keep coming back!!!!!

Hi, Bob,
Regarding Java, you said "But as of last Friday, my tests indicate that Oracle has removed the offer to bundle Ask with Java downloads."

Coincidentally, I just finished installing the Java update about 30 minutes ago. I did see and had to uncheck the offer to install the Ask toolbar and make it my default search provider. I then came here to read your latest newsletter. So, just letting you know that the offer was still active as of today.

I quit trying to use CNet & Download.com when I noticed that a download from them was ALWAYS larger than a download of the same thing from anywhere else. Figured that was a pretty good indication I was getting more than I really wanted, plus the aggravation of trying to figure out which "download now" button was for what I was trying to get. I think it's been going on longer than you might realize.

Bravo!!!!! I have taken to reading the license agreements and anything else they have when I down load software. Still, the dreaded ASK toolbar slips through. I have stopped using any IOBIT or Glary products as the rejection process of this crapware is do deeply embedded to one must read every word to avoid these nightmares. Thank you for bringing this to everyone's attention as these actions, especially from someplace like CNET, are totally disingenuous and make all of us wonder who can be trusted online.

I tried to download an application the other day from CNet, which I previously always trusted. What a shock! I ran into the mess you have described, and will never trust CNet again, unless you tell us that they have cleaned up their act.

You mentioned that foistware is sometimes included in the terms of service. I don't recall having seen this, but I use a free tool that I'd bet will spot it without having to trudge through the agreement to uncheck boxes. It is Eulalyzer, from BrightFort (formely Javacool) software: http://www.brightfort.com/eulalyzer.html . It is handy for reading any and all user agreements/terms of service and picking out "items of interest", rating them for potential hazard level. Eulalyzer has saved me a few times from ugly "gotchas", but it mostly gives me a sense of security that nothing nasty is going to happen if I install this software. I recommend it, and if you know of terms of service with bundled and buried foistware, I would appreciate your testing it and letting me know for sure that Eulalyzer will spot them.

I thought I was getting a addon manager when I downloaded a program but I got my browser redirected and homepage changed to something I never heard of. In addition all "my toolbars" were gone and replaced with theirs. I had to do a restore to clean up the mess. A non-techie wouldn't have a clue to how to back out of a mess like that. I thought I had my machine hijacked and I guess I did. Thank you for your article. I didn't realise it was so pervasive and will read every word of the fine print from now on. I've enjoyed your e-newsletter for many years.

Wow--great article, and exactly the kind of thing that makes Bob the best source for the truth about the internet. CNET is off my list of download sources, as is any site that wants me to install a "download manager," or other such junkware. Thanks, Bob!

I encountered this very issue with CNET, I'm sorry to say. I've always trusted CNET, and been thrilled with their site. NOT ANY MORE. It's like finding out your favorite cat has come home with fleas. I hope CNET goes back to being one of the "good guys."

CNET is an absolute disgrace particularly so in that they hide behind a veneer of respectability and trust then foist all sorts of crap upon the unwary or (in my case ), the tired. I would hope that the online community sees fit to boycott CNET until they are either forced off the net or seek to mend their ways.

Always great to get you e-mails. Re: Foistware and other software dowloads, I used to use EULAlyzer. Eventually, I became more computer savvy and aware of these problems, but perhaps this freeware program might of help to others.

Thank you

as a victim of foistware I am sure happy to see you raising the red flag. Thanks Bob you da best!!!

Ninite when checked out seems like a great service as you wrote, Bob. But it isn't free there is fee of $9.99 to download it and it only supports 92 listed programs