WARNING: CNET Download.com downloads now come bundled with opt-out crapware and toolbars
August 23, 2011 45
Email article | Print article 
One of the worst parts of bundled software is that the vast majority of people don’t actually read installers as they go by, they simply click NEXT NEXT NEXT NEXT. This means downloader’s computers get filled to the brim with stuff they don’t want and stuff they’ll never use. Luckily, software developers know people hate this and have taken to bundling less and less with their code.
However, Download.com now bundles its own crapware with those software developers’ code you download from its site. Wait, what?
Image Credit: Geek&Poke
After downloading a program from Download.com, you’ll notice that it’s not actually an installer–just another downloader. (Firefox is several megabytes, not 400KB!)
Starting this new web installer, you’ll notice that it’s a four step process in place of a one-step process. Not only that, but it complicates the already complicated process of installing new software.
You’ll notice that, before letting you actually download anything, it wants to install a new toolbar, change your search engine, and even change your homepage.
Only after accepting or declining these toolbars will you actually be allowed to install your own software.
The only way to avoid this new installer is to log into CNET and clicking the small Direct Download link:
Luckily for users, alternative download sites exist. Several popular ones include Softpedia.com, which marks programs with toolbars included; FileHippo, which has an amazing updater available as well; and MajorGeeks, which has a usable, clutter-free interface.
Via Lifehacker and Ghacks
![[Ask dotTechies] Best download website?](http://dottech.org/wp-content/themes/dt/timthumb.php?src=http://dottech.org/wp-content/themes/dt/images/thumbnail.png&w=134&zc=1)
@David:: Actually, Secunia’s PSI does a comprehensive scan. I have not found a single instance where it missed an installed application. You do need to remember that it only reports a problem with software that has a security patch available that has not been applied. Any other updates are irrelevant for PSI’s purposes.
Cnet was one of my favorite site for downloading software but not anymore!!!!!!!
I absolutely adored CNET Download.com until they started with this extra unessential Downloader Garbage and bundled in all the extra Crapware making the download experience that much longer and rubbishy.
So it’s time to say Thanks for the Good Download Times and go find another online friend that doesn’t try to force me to take any crap from them and let’s me choose for myself!!
I just tried to get KeyScrambler free off of Cnet today and Nod32 refused to allow me to download it. Very strange. I usually use Filehippo, it’s my homepage, but some downloads are only available on Cnet. Also, apparently the developer for Keyscrambler is not developing the free version anymore because of the rapid Firefox release, I have one premium version I got on a giveaway from raymond’s site ant it is nice but wayy too expensive to buy.
PS to Locutus, HP SMB sent me a confirmation of my order today (from a Sunday order) for my TP. No shipping notice though, so the order could still be cancelled at any moment, as many people are reporting for various online stores. About the only reliable online vendor for the discounted TP madness is Amazon direct.
That sucks! i used to like download.com.
Ashraf-I’ll take an ugly web page with a clean download over a “pretty” one with the crapware any day-MG rules-get with the program dude!
Hopefully, when their traffic drops off because of this, they’ll change their policy….
Thanks for the warning guys. I hadn’t noticed yet as I’m always signed in at download.com
Shame when they do this :(
Bye-bye download.com – used for many years. But no longer. The greed for extra money will be the downfall of download.com.
I recently experienced a more dubious adventure from CNET. While going through the motions mentioned above, Step 1 was to “Proceed with install”. Clicking next did nothing… I waited a few seconds and clicked it again and WHOA! what was that? The step 2 screen flashed by in a second, onto step three. Hmm, weird, but whatever. When I was done I discovered Blekko had ingrained itself as my default browser and a new toolbar had emerged. Took a little effort to get rid of it.
I decided to check it out and ran the installer again. Turns out the next button seems to be rigged to do nothing, or pause, or something so that when you click it once it just sits there until you click it a second time, then it carries that second click onto the 2nd step (where all the crap is hidden) so that you inadvertently OK it all, and it jumps to step 3.
So long CNET.
I wanted to download google chrome but im not sure which site is better that doesn’t load
of junk in my computer.,i thought of cnet because i saw high stars rating and then i searched
for reviews and i found its all bunch of crap ..now i dont know which one to trust..cnet,softpedia or FileHippo.
HELP!
@Malou: If you are just after Chrome, go to http://www.google.com/chrome
The worst thing you could do is hiding a cr@ppy software behind the one that I’ve clicked for. Congratulation «download.cnet.com»: you’ve done it. So what’s next? An optional Trojan Horse?
This stupid toobar downloader is a piece of shit. I just downloaded plasma pong from cnet.com , i read every window and unchecked the DAMN STUPID TOOBAR ACCEPTING BOX, and you know what? it installed anyways and deleted all my actual tabs!. THAT’S NOT EVEN LEGAL PIECE OF CRAP!.
IMO your vilifying review of CNET Download.com is unjust and unfair in this case. The download process for the consumer is clearly laid out and there is no attempt at deception by CNET Download.com who, when all is said and done, are justifiably doing no more than simply running a nonetheless trustworthy and respectable business.
Declining the extra bundled software and/or toolbars is a very uncomplicated matter even for a computer novice, provided they are patient enough to wait five or ten seconds for the downloader to do its stuff. The consumer has the option of accepting or declining any part of the download.
No, it isn’t legitimate at all. cnet are now a rogue website and should be treated as such.
It’s impossible to download anything from their site without this payload. Note they did not create anything available for download on that site – they simply took it and wrapped scumware around it.
*even if you uncheck everything* it installs crapware anyway.
I trusted CNET for news and download for many years. When I accidentally installed CutePDF from them on 5/10/2013 with CNET downloader, it installed all these garbage spamware. I will no longer use download.com nor trust CNET news anymore. This is outrageous how they make legitimate free software look bad with their bloatware.
[@Peter Gavin-Rowney]
PGR, you sound like a paid shill for CNet. In fact I’ll bet you are. Not to mention that what you say is basically all false.
I agree with William Johnson in that Peter Gavin-Rowney is a paid CNet mule. Do a google for this issue and you’ll see that not only DotTech.org but tons of other sites with many posts blast Cnet for their unethical business practices.
I, too, have trusted CNET for years. I have previously downloaded from the site without any problems. After downloading an ftp program last night I spent two hours getting rid of everything. My three browsers home pages had been changed, a games package was installed and something else that seemed to be music related. An .exe file was stopped, that was my first clue that something was up.
I went back in to the CNET download page today and yes, the information is there and I accepted the downloads. It was the big download button beside the item that I wanted. At this point I doubt that I would use the site again.