Download.com (CNet) Must Think You’re Stupid
Many of you already know about the game that CNet/Download.com plays with downloads. If you don’t know, let us tell you how this company, owned by CBS by-the-way, tries to make money from legitimate freeware. The take an otherwise decent freeware program, take the install it and wrap it in a CNet/Download.com bundle, and distribute it from CNet/Download.com.
I guess they think it’s not bad enough out there already with all the malware-laden freeware, they have to add to it – taking many of the few remaining good, clean freeware and wrapping it up in their own malware bundle They must think we’re all stupid.
It takes a lot of gall to wreck good freeware this way in the first place, but apparently they saved a big reserve of gall, because now they’ve really outdone themselves…. Read about their latest ploy -in their own words:
“Hello CNET TechTracker Users!
We’re excited to introduce you to the latest version of our software update service, now called the Download App. This is the newest evolution of the CNET service previously known as TechTracker.
The Download App is a free application from Download.com that helps keep the software on your Windows computer up-to-date, as well as clean up the junk that accumulates in your system over time. The Download App scans your computer and notifies you when updates are available for the software you have installed, just like TechTracker. As you know, software updates contain new features and patches that make your computer more secure. You can also use the Download App to remove unwanted software from your computer using the Uninstall feature. Using the software catalog that powers Download.com, the Download App provides secure, spyware-free software updates, and makes it easy to keep track of all your software updates in one place. With the new Utilities features, you can scan your computer for junk files that might be slowing your computer down and get rid of them with a few clicks.
We’ve been working hard on this new version, and we’ve got plans for new features and improvements in 2014 that you won’t want to miss.”
This takes nerve the size of Everest; it takes the cake. It claims to “scan your computer for junk files that might be slowing your computer down”; junk files have little to do with slowing a newer computer down, but malware, junkware, and crapware like Download.com (CNet) tries to goad you into installing sure will “slow your computer down”.
Tech Tracker was a piece of junk to begin with, now their modernizing Tech Tracker and calling it the Download App. New and improved…. we’re certain of that. It’s a new and improved way for CNet/Download.com to earn more money by tricking the unwary computer user into installing junk that no one wants – like home page hijackers, search engine hijackers, and other malware toolbars and programs and PUPs that no one would intentionally install unless they had been out drinking all night and got home in the morning and decided to have a download frolic just for fun to see how fast they could ruin their computer.
It’s a shame when big companies who once had the respect of the Internet community, turn into money-grubbing, malware installation stations. CNET/Download.com should be ashamed of themselves, but they’re not. As long as they trick enough people into installing the garbage they bundle with otherwise legitimate freeware, so it shows up well in the old bottom line, they don’t give darn about respect or principles.
Over 5, 400,000 people have downloaded this program, Most all the other programs on CNet offer viewable user reviews and ratings, but not the good old Download App, it rated two our of five stars (not good) but you can’t see the user reviews because CNet/Download.com won’t show you. But they’ll let you read user reviews of almost every other program available for download.
Download App? Really. Download Crap is what it should be called.
(Note: CNet/Download.com have added an option for software developers to opt-out of CNet/Download.com’s junkware installer wrapper, and you’ll find that many of the developers have opted out. But downloading from CNet/Download.com continues to be a crap shoot for users. We highly recommend you don’t download from CNet/Download.com)
The way of doing business, as you’ve described here, is absolutely appalling and disgusting. The really sad thing to me is that it’s happening in the majority of businesses. BLATANT deception and trickery levied against the consumer/user is prevalent. It’s like a conspiracy….the huge money seems to pass back and forth between and among those who have the most of it. The customer is just the pawn and/or the enabler. The few remaining businesses who still operate with integrity and care how the consumer/user is effected, continue their attempts to route out and inform us, but too many apparently aren’t paying attention or just don’t care ’til whatever it is, “happens” to them. It does not “just happen”…..we LET IT “happen”. Cloudeight and Emsisoft and all the “whistle blowers” and “activists” digging out and reporting the injustices are the only “heroes” I can think of. Keep on keepin’ on.
Yeah softpedia is so much better
We disagree…
http://thundercloud.net/infoave/new/download-tricks-by-softpedia/
Just a note to say thanks for the good work you two do. Even when there is the occasional disagreement, I sure can’t say that I have come way out on the good end. I learn something helpful every single week.
Well shoot, I have used download.com for years for things and have never had a problem. All a person has to do is be able to read and decline any extra programs offered, just stick to the main thing you want.
And as far as these so called updater programs and all in one miracle computer anyone ought to know they are just hype and junk–stick to things that do one thing at a time. Look at what you are doing and do what you are looking at—what is difficult about that????
Why should we have to wade through this junk? Why can’t we just get the programme we want without having to study everything? There are many older users who do not understand how careful they have to be, and should not be forced into this situation by unscrupulous companies trying to trick us into downloading stuff we do not need, and can actually harmful.
So if you sign a contract for a loan at 7% as you agreed. But then after six months you’re paying 14% and a after a year you’re paying 21% – that’s okay because it was in the contract, buried in fine print and all you had to do was read the 5000+ word addendum -all in legalese and right there in black and white it says,”The interest rate charde on behalf of the lender shall be 7% for the first half year, 14% there after until the first day of the second year when the annual percentage rate will be 12% per anum, unless you signed this contract in a month whose name ends in “Y”, in which case the interest rate shall be 14% per anum for the first six months of the penultimate year, then 16% or 18% respectively thereafter until the first day of the final (third) year of this contract when the interest rate shall 21% if this contract were signed in month whose named ends Y and 20% if it were signed in a month whose name does not end with Y. This rate shall be valid the first six months of the final (third) year of this contract, after that which the rate shall be 30% not withstanding whether or not the month in which the contract were signed ends in a Y…”
This clause appears in the middle of a 5000 word contract, and when you singed the loan the lender made you believe – did everything he could to make you believe, the interest rate were 7% and this was a honest deal, then you end up paying 30% – that’s the fault of whoever signed it for not reading through thousands of words of legalese?
CNet does not make it clear that they are wrapping many of their downloads in garbage software which can cause your computer to run poorly. Whether major or minor this is attempted fraud and causing harm to your private property, knowingly or unknowingly, would be illegal in almost ever other aspect of life.
CNet’s trickery is obvious and should never be defended.
Well blow me!! I have always used download.com. Are there any honest and reliable people out there.
Not many, but there are some. As soon as we recommended something they’d change. File Hippo used to be really good, but they’ve joined the dark side too – but they’re not as bad as CNet and Softonics. We’ll research this and see what we can find. Right now, your best best is download from the author’s site – but be careful, author’s play games too.