Main Area and Open Discussion > General Software Discussion
Beware of download sites
superboyac:
Suggestion: Instead of "download sites" it might be better if we refer to them as file or download aggregators?
Almost anything can be a download site if it offers downloads. But aggregators are mostly or entirely nothing else but collections of downloadable files. Not everything aggregator sites list or do is at the behest (or even with the permission) of the software authors. So calling a site what it actually is goes a long way towards clearing up exactly where some of the lines of responsibility fall.
-40hz (January 13, 2015, 02:54 PM)
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reminds me of my days trobuleshooting problems such as, "The internet is broken!!" which could mean any of the following:
--power cable is unplugged
--forgot password to a login site
--the printer is not printing (true story)
anyway, just funny. yes, clear terminology helps.
TaoPhoenix:
Just linking stuff up, and one point Pillbug was contemplating a DLL to help intercept the worst effects of these download sites, but I think he put the project aside for a while.
But the basic need remains.
Welcome pillbug!
Please do start a new thread on it, and i think it would be wonderful if you took on this task.
In preparation for doing this I downloaded a few examples of "wrapped" installers, but that's all i've done so far, and I'd be happy to provide you with those.
I found wrapped examples from cnet, brothersoft and softonic.
I have some ideas about what the dll should do and how it should react, which we can talk about after you start the new thread.
-mouser (November 22, 2014, 12:33 PM)
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New spin on the theme:
Don't these sites *use the same template* "within themselves" for the wrapping? Aka Download.com would have the same five things? So what if someone made an "encapsulating app" that ran the installer but "looked for the things to disable", and automatically (maybe with step by step pausing and diagramming for the user), unchecked/clicked greyed things/custom-installed/etc?
bit:
How-To Geek has an interesting cautionary tale.
Why do nice things always have to go to crap?
-CWuestefeld (January 12, 2015, 10:54 AM)
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A friend once told me over a decade ago crapware that does not uninstall itself properly is 'not polite', and ^this is so far beyond that, words fail me.
I tried to make my own 'good - bad' download sites list, but I'm not so sure anymore, but here's what I compiled:
Crapware sites:
Softonic
Brothersoft
CNET installs crapware/malware/trojans;
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/CNET-CBS-Malware-Trojan-Nmap,news-13410.html
MajorGeeks is suspect.
Download.com
(possibly/maybe) Clean download sites:
http://LO4D.com
http://freewarebb.com
http://ninite.com
http://Softpedia.com
http://TechSpot.com
http://Filehippo.com
http://SnapFiles.com
http://fileforum.betanews.com
http://downloadcrew.com
http://www.techsupportalert.com/
I will cheerfully edit and amend my ^list according to approved comments.
Five stars: donationcoder
Installing Malwarebytes slowed my OS down so much that there is an 8 to 10 second pause after I click on any folder or program before it opens.
But after Malwarebytes rescued my machine from a few PUPs, I keep it installed permanently anyway in spite of the slowdown.
PS - as an afterthought, check out this thread.
KynloStephen66515:
PS - as an afterthought, check out this thread.
-CWuestefeld (January 12, 2015, 10:54 AM)
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-bit (January 13, 2015, 10:14 PM)
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https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=37632.new#new
(Fixing that link for you)
Renegade:
I don't think many people quite understand how hard it is for small software authors or small download site operators to do well.
If you want to do search engine ads, well... it may not even be possible as many terms are outright banned. You cannot bid on them at any price.
If you want to run ads on a download site... well... I have a hammer that I'll lend you so that you can bash your brains in. I promise it will be quicker and less painful.
Developing a business model has little to do with the quality of the software for a lot of small authors.
There are some good companies out there that can help, but the less ethical ones pay better.
As for download sites hijacking installers, well... no big surprise there. That started a very long time ago. It's around 10 years old now.
For anyone that actually wants to run a download site, the ONLY reason you should do it is because you love software and have a lot of passion for it. It will cost you money and time, and you will never be properly compensated for your efforts.
So, I get why the download sites are slipping in quality/ethics.
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