Freecorder from Applian - WARNING | Gen-Tech

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Freecorder from Applian - WARNING

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February 9, 2011
10:04 AM

Mr.Dave

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April 9, 2010

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STAY AWAY from Applian.com.

One of my Firefox extensions, Fast Video Downloader, updated yesterday. It opened a web page promoting another Applian product, Freecorder: http : // www . applian . com /fast-video-download/welcome31update.php. Sounded very useful, downloaded. Found some warnings in a Google search so installed using Sandboxie. Very glad I did! I found PriceGong, a nasty-to-remove rootkit, would have been installed. Sandboxie saved me. I wrote to Applian, they said "We do have that in the program". Then went on to say Applian is not responsible for what gets installed since I, the end user, perform the actual install. Although I appreciate their honesty I don't like their way of doing business. Deleted, and deleted Fast Video Downloader. Never going back.

Here's the letter I sent to Applian's customer support, followed by their response:

"I found a warning about FreeCorder, that it installs spyware called PriceGong (see: http://www.geek.com/articles/gadgets/review-freecorder-records-any-audio-played-on-your-pc-for-free-20070821/).
I used a program to monitor the installation, which also lets me roll back all changes to my computer. Sure enough, a PriceGong folder was added.
Further research shows this is a rootkit that is very difficult to remove.
Whether your software added this, or Conduit added it, I don't care. I am removing Fast Video Download from Firefox, and it appears the system rollback has removed Freecorder.
I will warn everyone I know and make sure to post on several forums and download sites. VERY BAD. If I'm mistaken, please let me know ASAP. Otherwise, please stay out of my computer and my life."

"Department:    General Non-Technical Inquiries
Created:    09 February 2011 07:48
Status:    Close
Time Spent:    0m

PriceGong?

From Cheryl Wester
Staff Subject: Re: PriceGong?

We do have that in the program. If you don't want it then do uninstall. We don't install any programs on your computer-you do that. Thanks.

Regards,
Cheryl Wester"

I was told there would be no math...

February 9, 2011
12:07 PM

eq5150

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December 22, 2010

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Thanks for the heads-up. I'll stay away from them as well.

I recommend you put this post on Web of Trust too if you haven't already.

February 9, 2011
1:39 PM

Mr.Dave

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eq5150 – thanks for the WOT suggestion. I registered there and left a similar warning to others. Also did the same on Cnet and Tucows. I noticed Softpedia doesn't even offer Freecorder as a download, and searching there for Applian turned up nothing.

I was told there would be no math...

February 9, 2011
7:39 PM

Lamont Cranston

Australia

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December 2, 2009

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I cannot believe the laissez-faire attitude of Webster, if I had the time would like to read the EULA to see what disclosure there is regarding this malware.

Breathtaking!

January 23, 2013
9:45 PM

applian

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January 23, 2013

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Hi Guys -

I'm coming in late to this, but let me clear up what's happening. PriceGong is an option from the Conduit platform that Freecorder 4 ran on. We're now on version 7, which doesn't use Conduit.

There are quite a few free downloading apps – including Freecorder – and all of them have a way of making money, usually with bundled applications or advertisements. We've experimented with a few things, and we no longer offer PriceGong with Freecorder and Conduit.

We also sell paid apps, which are more powerful than Freecorder. These do not have any bundled extras or advertisements. Try Replay Media Catcher and see what a real powerful video downloader and converter app looks like.

Bill Dettering

CEO

Applian Technologies Inc.

January 24, 2013
11:13 AM

acr

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December 8, 2009

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applian said
Hi Guys -

I'm coming in late to this, but let me clear up what's happening. PriceGong is an option from the Conduit platform that Freecorder 4 ran on. We're now on version 7, which doesn't use Conduit.

There are quite a few free downloading apps – including Freecorder – and all of them have a way of making money, usually with bundled applications or advertisements. We've experimented with a few things, and we no longer offer PriceGong with Freecorder and Conduit.

We also sell paid apps, which are more powerful than Freecorder. These do not have any bundled extras or advertisements. Try Replay Media Catcher and see what a real powerful video downloader and converter app looks like.

Bill Dettering

CEO

Applian Technologies Inc.

I wouldn't install anything from your company. Your credibility is zero and there's no reason anyone should believe anything you write about your product. paid ones or free.

January 26, 2013
2:31 AM

MikeR

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May 16, 2009

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I encountered this software the other day, too, but stayed well clear because of the word 'FREE' in its title. I wondered if it was in some way connected with FREEMAKE software and that outfit's video editor and video converter, both of which came through onto my PC loaded with more scary malware than I'd have thought possible. (And wow, when it came to Revo's uninstall process, the number of registry entries this software had made was downright astonishing.)

Whether or not Freecorder is in some way related to Freemake (the developer IDs are different, but that means nothing at all) I certainly wouldn't go within a country mile of 'Cheryl Wester' and her supreme arrogance -- an arrogance which presumably reflects the true corporate ethos of an outfit that ought to be black-listed by every computer user, everywhere.

PS: Just a thought, but is dot tech using Java in any way? I've stripped it off my machines in view of Oracle's problems and am wondering if that's why this comment text looks so odd during the writing process.

January 26, 2013
4:56 PM

Ashraf

Mr. Boss

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October 22, 2008

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I encountered this software the other day, too, but stayed well clear because of the word 'FREE' in its title. I wondered if it was in some way connected with FREEMAKE software and that outfit's video editor and video converter, both of which came through onto my PC loaded with more scary malware than I'd have thought possible. (And wow, when it came to Revo's uninstall process, the number of registry entries this software had made was downright astonishing.)

Whether or not Freecorder is in some way related to Freemake (the developer IDs are different, but that means nothing at all) I certainly wouldn't go within a country mile of 'Cheryl Wester' and her supreme arrogance -- an arrogance which presumably reflects the true corporate ethos of an outfit that ought to be black-listed by every computer user, everywhere.

PS: Just a thought, but is dot tech using Java in any way? I've stripped it off my machines in view of Oracle's problems and am wondering if that's why this comment text looks so odd during the writing process.

Nope, no Java. But you are right, the text box in these forums is looking odd -- I'll look into it.

BTW: What malware did Freemake software come with?! When I downloaded their software a while back and reviewed it, it came with no malware what-so-ever.

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