DOWNLOAD ALERT: Foistware Warning - Comments Page 4

WOW, having Bob on board to watch for us, lead us in the right direction, and to share with us when he finds needed things to share is like having a good friend always there to guide us. Thanks for such a great article. I printed the article and will share with my teachers at school. Do you feel like you have your own private TEACHER..........

After years of experience with computers I retired and now get requests for slow computers and other maladies from computer novices. I used to recommend Cnet as a safe place to download software. I noticed the foilware issue too and didn't have a solution beyond a personal "service" call or installing a program like Team Viewer.

Why do people and companies shoot themselves in the foot?

Another useful article from professor Bob! I have always enjoyed Bob's newsletters and have learned useful tips and tricks both from his articles and from user comments. Recommend subscribing to Bob's newsletters to any computer user you like (whether they are novices or pros).

IoBit seems to have a decent suite of tools, but even they have foistware (I like that term) of their own, tricking users into installing their toolbar. Funny enough, this hit me while installing their Advanced System Care application, which conveniently includes a very good uninstaller that removed the toolbar and all of its file and registry litter.

I recommend ASC and Smart Defrag to all my clients, but also point out the foistware and how to avoid it.

This article helped me realize that in fact I COULD get rid of that nasty extra tool bar (I think it was the "ask me") one that came from I-don't-know-where. I uninstalled it! Hooray! Thanks, Bob.

Great Article! Thanks, Bob. This is "Strike Two" against CNet. Just two weeks ago CBS, corporate owner of CNet, prevented CNet from publishing its praise of a new DVR by Dish Network that allows users to skip commercials. Maybe CNet's use of "foistware" is another example of excessive corporate influence.

Good article Bob. I gave up on CNET a year ago as it was obvious to me they had their own agenda for me and my PC. It took me a while to get rid of their unwanted rubbish.
So I have been doing my downloads thru Filehippo with no real problems. They are certainly better than CNET.
But I will check out Ninite now. Thanks Bob.

The last time I downloaded something from CNET, I carefully unchecked all of the check boxes. It still installed a spyware toolbar, redirected my search engine and it took a Malwarebytes.or scan and a manual registry fix to stop the default browser to stop changing back. That was almost a year ago so I don't remember which software it was or which search engine but it was the fun something or other.

Ever since CNET has bundled these toolbars and their own downloader they have become complete CRAP!
A few years ago I trusted them with everything but now I never use them unless I absolutely have to. I go to FileHippo.com now and have never turned back.

Bob didn't mention that every product on Download.com has a "direct download" link right next to the download button that downloads the software without the installer? Guess it's too much to read the bolded text on your way to download more free software.

I've taken to finding a download I want on CNET then searching it out and downloading it elsewhere. Preferably IT'S homepage.

Well, since CBS has exerted their control over CNET for the worse (http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130114/19332021673/cbss-censorship-cnet-may-undermine-different-cbs-lawsuit.shtml), I've already decided they weren't trustworthy. But this is the nail in their coffin: they are now officially purveyors of malware, downloaded beware.

I get most of my downloads from the source or majorgeeks.com.
Cnet should be ashamed of its policies.

I had a foistware event with the program FixCleaner. I had downloaded it based on several recommendations from pros to help clean up a bogged-down hard drive. I consider myself moderately savvy and always try to catch the tricky little add-ons, but stuff happens. Anyway, the program initially did some good and helped clear out a bunch of hidden junk...but then came the update offer. I did not see a reference to add-ons, but the update not only drastically slowed down my hard drive (umm...remember why I bought it orginally? :)) but it also reset all my browsers to automatically use AVG as the default search, plus a bunch of hidden registry files from AVG. I was able to track this back to FixCleaner by looking at some file timestamps and rolling back to a restore point immediately prior to that update. Needless to say, FixCleaner is no longer on my machine and the company got a very strongly worded response from me. And, as a side note, I consider AVG to be just as responsible and sleazy for participating.

Thanks Bob!

I work on 'puters for people and this issue is rampant. Removing this "junk" always promotes better PC operation. I'm going to share this article with friends and family.

You ARE the man!

Thanks Bob, I have already sworn off Cnet. I am an avid download junkie and the sweet little installer program by cnet is the definite tipoff to a ripoff. I knew there would eventually be trouble when the current greed-laden owner slithered in like a snake with cnet singing all the orchestrated praises. The word BROADCASTER is the key and CBS is probably the slimiest, though I will have to admit it is a close race.

Now I just need to check and see if I can eliminate all the cnet services I subscribe to.
There are plenty of good download sites without these money-grabbing advertising purveyors.

Great article Bob. But I still believe CNET is a good place for getting good (and free) software from as long as you are very careful to tick or untick the appropriate boxes and click the decline buttons.
There are some places on CNET that don't give you any foist ware, for example the download for AVG 2013.

Thanks Bob ... I got foistware from C-Net myself the other day ... It took me 15 minutes to clear my new computer after the installation. I used to trust C-Net implicitly ... but I'm done with C-Net after seeing your report.

The annoying thing with CNET is that while they often have a direct download link a lot now don't which means if you want the program you have to do a search for it.

I understand small developers need to offer these to make small revenue but some of them shouldn't.

Why would an average user know the direct download link would be any different to the big green button? They see the green button and presume that is the button they are meant to press. I too recomend cnet and go there for anything I need. I even get something there that I need to pay for, but I too have noticed the tricks of extra installations that I did not want. I do uncheck anything extra as I have learnt the hard way. I am sure it is worded that if you do not Accept, etc, you might not get your download. As you said, it should be us, that checks the boxes, not them. They rely on a lot of people who are not that savvy, newbies, and some elderly (I am elderly, so not all elderly lol) Not all users are able to easily get rid of these additions, or change their search preferences.