Author Topic: Beware of download sites (Read 39184 times)

CWuestefeld · « **Reply #25 on:** January 14, 2015, 02:41 PM »

Similarly, I still use MajorGeeks, and I believe them to still be above-board. But I may be wrong.

bit · « **Reply #26 on:** January 14, 2015, 02:42 PM »

@bit

.. no gizmo's ? http://www.techsupportalert.com/ Gizmo's introduced me to DC.
-crabby3 (January 14, 2015, 06:08 AM)

tnx. ^gizmo's added to my last post & personal list

I didn't say 'yea or nay' to majorgeeks and leave that call to others.

mouser · « **Reply #27 on:** January 16, 2015, 10:31 AM »

And this might be a good time to toot our own horn and say thank you to everyone who has donated to the DonationCoder.com website over the last 9+ years.

We have always been able to host our own software on our own server and been able to do so even as we started hitting huge numbers of downloads (about a terrabyte per month).
We have never bundled anything with any of our downloads -- no adware, crapware, malware, toolbars.. nothing.
Other than an occasional experiment -- a month here and there -- the website itself has remained entirely advertisement free.

Those things have been made possible because of the generous donations from normal folks like you who help pay for our $400/month hosting costs. So, thank you for helping keep DonationCoder clean and annoyance-free.
And a bonus thank you to the volunteers on the forum who help keep the forum fun and free of drama!

bit · « **Reply #28 on:** January 24, 2015, 11:22 PM »

^drama queens, agreed.
Asian dramas, that's 'another story'.

Okay, about safe/unsafe download sites, what about sourceforge?

Steven Avery · « **Reply #29 on:** January 25, 2015, 06:30 AM »

Nice list.. ready for bookmark action.

NoNags
http://www.nonags.com/

Some go out of their way to send you to the source site:
http://www.freewaregenius.com/

I know Sourceforge can allow the people they host to have bundled junk. I'm not aware that they add anything.

Steven

40hz · « **Reply #30 on:** January 25, 2015, 06:13 PM »

I know Sourceforge can allow the people they host to have bundled junk.
-Steven Avery (January 25, 2015, 06:30 AM)

In that they supposedly bless off on anything submitted, they have a tiny amount (very tiny) of moral responsibility for whatever they're hosting. But not legal responsibility. See below for the relevant part of their ToS.

Terms for submitted files

7. SourceForge.net Submissions/Content

When you submit, post, upload or otherwise provide Code to SourceForge.net, you must designate promptly the software license pursuant to which licensees, including Slashdot Media, obtain rights with respect to such Code. Except as otherwise expressly permitted by these Terms, any Code submitted to SourceForge.net must be licensed to Slashdot Media and other licensees under a license that is: compliant with the Open Source Initiative (“OSI”)’s Open Source Definition (http://www.opensource.org/docs/osd) or certified as an “OSI-Approved License” (http://opensource.org/licenses). Please note that Slashdot Media is not affiliated with the OSI.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in these Terms, once you have selected the OSI-Approved or compliant license applicable to your Code, Slashdot Media shall be a licensee of such Code under the applicable OSI-Approved or compliant license that you have chosen. You shall promptly notify us in writing if you do not have the right to grant Slashdot Media or any other user an OSI-Approved or compliant license to your Code. Until such time as you have selected the OSI-Approved or compliant license applicable to your Code, Slashdot Media shall be a licensee of such Code under the license terms applicable to Associated Content.

When you create or make available your SourceForge Content on Sourceforge.net, you represent and warrant that:

you own or have sufficient rights to post or make available your SourceForge Content on or through SourceForge.net;
the posting or making available of your SourceForge Content on or through SourceForge.net does not violate the privacy rights, publicity rights, copyrights, contract rights or any other rights, including intellectual property rights, of any person or entity;
you have fully complied with any third-party licenses relating to your SourceForge Content, agree to pay for all royalties, fees and any other monies owing any person by reason of any of your SourceForge Content that you posted on or through SourceForge.net;
your SourceForge Content does not contain any viruses, worms, Trojan horses, malicious code or other harmful or destructive content;
your SourceForge Content is not obscene, lewd, lascivious, excessively violent, harassing, libelous or slanderous, does not advocate the violent overthrow of the government of the United States, does not incite, encourage or threaten immediate physical harm against another;
your SourceForge Content does not endorse or promote racism, bigotry, hatred, or physical harm of any kind against another group or individual, and does not discriminate, incite harassment or advocate harassment of any group or individual;
your SourceForge Content does not contain material that solicits personal information from anyone under 18 or exploit people under the age of 18 in a sexual or violent manner, and does not violate any federal or state law concerning child pornography or otherwise intended to protect the health and well-being of minors;
if your employer has rights to intellectual property you create, you have either received permission from your employer to make available your SourceForge Content, or secured from your employer a waiver as to all rights in or to your SourceForge Content;
your SourceForge Content does not constitute, contain, install or attempt to install or promote spyware or malware or any other computer code (whether on Dice’s or others computers or equipment) intended to, or that does, enable you or others to gather information about or monitor the online or other activities of another party, unless it discloses such functionality to the user in a clear and conspicuous manner and the user affirmatively consents to such use; and, your SourceForge Content does not otherwise violate, or link to material that violates, any provision of these Terms or any local, state, or federal law or regulation, including any law designed to regulate electronic advertising;
your SourceForge Content shall not constitute, contain, install or attempt to install or promote any toolbar or secondary offer without the express written consent of Slashdot Media; and
you shall notify Slashdot Media of all third-party add-on, extension, plug-in and other executable software distributed or bundled with your SourceForge Content prior to the release of such by sending an email to [email protected] prior to posting.

By submitting Code to SourceForge.net, you certify that your Code is in compliance with the OSI-Approved or compliant license that you designate, and you hereby represent and warrant that you have all rights, licenses and consents necessary to grant Slashdot Media and other users the rights and licenses granted herein, and under the OSI-Approved or compliant license you designate, without infringement of any third party rights. In addition, the Code that you submit must also be made available in human-readable (i.e., “Source Code”) form. Whenever reasonably feasible, you agree that you will make Source Code available on or via SourceForge.net corresponding to Code that you post, submit, display or distribute. You must make Source Code available for all portions of Code that you have modified, enhanced or otherwise created derivative works from (with any such modification or derivative work being a “Change”).

Slashdot Media acknowledges that there may be situations where posting Source Code is not reasonably feasible; examples of such situations are when you are posting Code that: (a) is ancillary to other Code that you have changed but such Code is only available to you in binary or executable form (such as closed-source device drivers or closed-source software frameworks); (b) is otherwise readily available in Source Code form online as part of an Open Source distribution, and where you notify users that the Source Code for such distribution is available elsewhere on the Internet (and you also provide a link to that location); or (c) Slashdot Media agrees in writing does not need to be posted in Source Code form.

For users posting on Sourceforge.net, you are aware that certain postings of open source encryption code are controlled under U.S. Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) 5D002, License Exemption TSU, which requires notice prior to export by email to the U.S. government. Submit the notification or copy to [email protected] and to [email protected]. You are responsible for submitting this email to the U.S. government and Section 740.13(e) of the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”) 15 C.F.R. Parts 730-772. Note that products which use encryption solely for authentication are deemed 5×992 and the prior notification is not required. For more information see: http://www.bis.doc.g...yption/question2.htm

Steven Avery · « **Reply #31 on:** January 26, 2015, 02:00 AM »

Note that freewarebb is still on the list. Wrongly.

================================

Should have an alternative to go to the author's download site, without too many clicks.
Tested with CCleaner
e.g.
bleeping computer - "author"
Download Crew - "Developer
File Forum - "Publisher"
FileHippo - "Technical-->Author"
Lo4d - "Publisher"
NoNags - ".. from author's link" and Homepage
Portable Freeware - "Website"
Snapfiles - "Publisher"
Softpedia - "Developed by---> More applications by" (not obvious)
TechSpot - "Direct Download"

Ninite has no url to site, it is a batch installer. See the problem mentioned below. Even with the best intentions, batch installation is questionable for the individual user.

Otherwise, everybody is acceptable.

PortableApps works with SourceForge. SourceForge has .. " (name) web site" on mirrored sites (e.g. Sumatra PDF). I didn't realize the degree of SourceForge problem beginning in 2013 (before that problems were limited, e.g. PDFCreator) :
http://www.ghacks.ne...wnloads-with-adware/

================================

If they warn about potential problems in the install, that would be good.
e.g. - Snapfiles on CCleaner
"Offers to install promotional, third party components (e.g. browser toolbar)."

================================

And if they have a forum, that is a plus.

PortableApps
Portable Freeware
TechSpot

================================

They should avoid errors.
http://portableapps....-tdsskiller-portable
Kaspersky said to be McAfee (ok, maybe an oversight, it just struck me as odd)

================================

Any automated batch site is problematic.

"I liked what I read about Ninite, and tried it. As a test, I took only one program, Chrome. It loaded as my default browser, without asking, and it also unchecked the box in Firefox which says to always check to see that it is the default browser. In case that isn't bad enough, it put an 'exception' in my FIREWALL, allowing Chrome/Google to contact my PC from the internet, again, without telling/asking me. I can't say I would recommend Ninite."
https://discuss.howt...s-the-proof/23962/67

MajorGeeks has always had a problem of far too many unrelated download buttons that can be crapware. (Whether or not they have any direct problems.)

================================

Any site that hosts a crapware-malware companies software is not as concerned as you would like.
The following have one or more Uniblue programs - (Perhaps they should be contacted.)

Download Crew
FileForum -
Lo4d
Softpedia
TechSpot

================================

BleepingComputer could be on the list, even though they only have a small number.
Since they do a lot of downloads and are among the leaders of providing tools and discussion.

Some clubby type groups like Wugnet may be good too.

================================

Safe software download sites – Beware of deceptive download links & PUPs - Jan, 2014
http://www.thewindow...tware-download-sites

(However, the Windows Club carries right below the title an ad for a Uniblue fixit-registry scam.|
Worse, it looks like it might be a direct Uniblue ad. Talk about a self-defeating position.)

The article is interesting, they say FileHippo has installers. Some discussion.
Freewarefiles (which Gizmo below recommends, noting ads though) also said to be off-base.

Recommended in comments.
http://www.filehorse.com/
http://www.pcauthority.com.au/

In other comments:
http://www.techspot.com/downloads/
http://www.freewaregeeks.com/

================================

[Ask dotTechies] Best download website? - March, 2012
http://dottech.org/2...st-download-website/

Best Freeware Download Sites - June, 2014
http://www.techsuppo...e-download-sites.htm

Lists as "specialized" sites:

NirSoft
Free Microsoft Downloads
Last Freeware Version
OldApps.com
The Portable Freeware Collection Do you like prog

In the comments, specialized - http://www.videohelp.com/

================================

Steven

wetsmellydog · « **Reply #32 on:** February 05, 2015, 11:47 AM »

I had some fun with this awhile ago. I found a program called Reboot Restore RX which will reset a windows machine back to a set baseline. I installed a virtual XP machine without any virus software. I then went trolling installing everything that popped up on downloaded programs and websites. I would click yes to every offer. I could bring the system to a crawl within a few minutes. The browser would become unusable in the first few downloads. I certainly learned a lot in a small amount of time.

Andem · « **Reply #33 on:** February 24, 2015, 09:03 PM »

The following have one or more Uniblue programs - (Perhaps they should be contacted.)

Download Crew
FileForum -
Lo4d
Softpedia
TechSpot
-Steven Avery (January 26, 2015, 02:00 AM)

It's been removed from LO4D.com. Thanks for pointing that out.

- Christopher

dluby · « **Reply #34 on:** February 25, 2015, 06:38 AM »

This posting in Google Online Security seems relevant to the discussion.

IainB · « **Reply #35 on:** February 25, 2015, 11:23 AM »

^^ I guess that covers PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Software"), but not NSAware of course - because the latter isn't harmful per se.

"Do no evil"

Yeah, right.

All's fair in love and war.

wraith808 · « **Reply #36 on:** February 25, 2015, 12:24 PM »

^^ I guess that covers PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Software"), but not NSAware of course - because the latter isn't harmful per se.
"Do no evil"

Yeah, right.

All's fair in love and war.
-IainB (February 25, 2015, 11:23 AM)

You didn't get the memo? They ninja removed it a while ago. This is the full blown evil Google generation.

ilikefree09 · « **Reply #37 on:** March 04, 2015, 02:02 AM »

I have a download site (small) don't bundle software, don't have adverts, no cookies, no logon
It was really a site with a few guides on using free software
I don't record who comes to my site (I really don't care who comes)
I am unable to say if my hosting site (Go Daddy) tracks or records anything as I don't know but I expect they must record the traffic to my site

http://ilikefree.co/

grandpastan · « **Reply #38 on:** March 04, 2015, 10:10 AM »

As far as the saying "Don't believe anything you read and half of what you see." goes, it is totally false now too. You can't believe anything you hear and only at most 10% of what you see. Or can you trust any photos etc on the internet?

MilesAhead · « **Reply #39 on:** March 04, 2015, 10:35 AM »

As far as the saying "Don't believe anything you read and half of what you see." goes, it is totally false now too. You can't believe anything you hear and only at most 10% of what you see. Or can you trust any photos etc on the internet?
-grandpastan (March 04, 2015, 10:10 AM)

Or, as Chico Marx said in Duck Soup

"Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes?"

chris90 · « **Reply #40 on:** November 08, 2015, 03:34 PM »

Nobody likes toolbars and adware

My trusted list:
http://TechSpot.com
http://Filehippo.com
http://Digitalrelated.com (i post software there)
http://Softpedia.com
Of course, the safest thing is to get the application from it's developer's website.

Curt · « **Reply #41 on:** November 08, 2015, 03:59 PM »

^

No more Filehippo for me

Curt · « **Reply #42 on:** November 08, 2015, 05:02 PM »

My trusted list:
http://Digitalrelated.com
-chris90 (November 08, 2015, 03:34 PM)

Congratulations on the first 2½ weeks with your site. Are you running it all by yourself? It's really nice work.

Actually, we have a section especially for announcing one's new homepage or software: Announce Your Software/Service/Product - DonationCoder.com. You're welcome to use it

- you are welcome anyway!

Forgive me if the following is giving a wrong picture different from any other normal day on digitalrelated, but I just read this on the front page:

DirectX 11 Download
Chris November 2, 2015 0 Comments
DirectX 11 download latest version for Windows 32/64 bit. Get DirectX 11 offline standalone installer. Software version: 11.2
-digitalrelated

^ the latest version is version 12. Together with version 11.3 (not 11.2) version 12 comes with Windows 10. Why on earth is the post November 2 saying that 11.2 is the latest version? 11.2 is older than Windows 10, so why are there no comments to such an erroneous info? Forgive me for being so pedantic about something this unimportant, but I was disappointed.

But maybe with this post you are "telling" that you have not upgraded to Windows 10? Is that the simple answer?

jadinolf · « **Reply #43 on:** November 08, 2015, 06:01 PM »

I fear these sites like I fear the Devil.

What has happened to the Internet that we once knew?

ilikefree09 · « **Reply #44 on:** November 09, 2015, 02:32 AM »

I fear these sites like I fear the Devil.

What has happened to the Internet that we once knew?
-jadinolf (November 08, 2015, 06:01 PM)

It died when Google stopped being a search engine and became an advertising company

Dwt1966 · « **Reply #45 on:** December 02, 2015, 07:40 AM »

I use Majorgeeks.com and torrents.Never a problem from here