cnet / download.com #bloatware

[old.Osy]

Download.com wraps downloads in bloatware, lies about motivations | ExtremeTech


Discuss.

 

[caLLous]

I haven't used that site for years unless I've absolutely had to, I just haven't liked the look of it. This doesn't surprise me.

 

[Tuthmes]

Haven't used that site for years aswell. Shame, way back in the past you could perfectly browse there for new software, etc.

 

[MYstIC G]

Download.com was always awful. I stopped using it when it continually asked me to download WinZip no matter what I wanted to actually download.

 

[Jeros]

But yeah, its getting rather common now. "CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD OUR FILE DOWNLOADER!" Er now how about you fuck off and I download from somewhere else direct eh?

 

[caLLous]

It pisses me off that I need to download the Adobe Download Manager or whatever it calls itself, in order to download a Flash update or something.

And it's not like it even tells you - it comes up and says "hey m8 you need to update your flash, k?", and I'm like "oh jeez ok" and then it downloads something that isn't Flash, which I then need to install in order to download Flash.

 

[Zenith.UK]

Then it's the same thing happening with Download.com/cNet

One thing I will not abide is an installer that tries to hijack search settings, install toolbars or other software that I didn't ask for. This does all three, so Download.com is now off my list of sites.

In fact I'll add some exclusions to my HOSTS file.

127.0.0.1 download.com
127.0.0.1 cnet.com
127.0.0.1 dw.com.com

 

[Killswitch]

My boss asked me today if we could save money by hosting our product downloads on CNET...

I said no.

Hopefully that's the end of it.

 

[dysfunction]

haha!

I bet they still do it!

 

[Ch3tan]

It's weird that cnet do not do this with every download, quite a few you can still download the actual file you want.

 

[Killswitch]

It's weird that cnet do not do this with every download, quite a few you can still download the actual file you want.

Rome wasn't violently and abusively penetrated repeatedly in a day you know. It takes time and effort to do things this badly.

 

[StRaNgEdAyS]

But yeah, its getting rather common now. "CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD OUR FILE DOWNLOADER!" Er now how about you fuck off and I download from somewhere else direct eh?