38:
236:, and try-first downloads. Downloads are often rated and reviewed by editors and contain a summary of the file from the software publisher. Registered users may also write reviews and rate the product. Software publishers are permitted to distribute their titles via CNET's Upload.com site for free, or for a fee structure that offers enhancements.
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wrote of his strong dislike of the installation manager and the bundled software. His post was very popular on social networks, and was reported by a few dozen media. The main problem is the confusion between the content offered on
Download.com and the software offered by the original authors; the
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Up until 2015 CNet used Spigot Inc to monetize the traffic to download.com. According to Sean Murphy, then a
General Manager at CNet, "Spigot continues to be a great partner to Download.com, sharing our desire to balance customer experience with revenue."
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In August 2011, Download.com introduced an installation manager called CNET TechTracker for delivering many of the software titles from its catalog. This installer included trojans and
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However, in July 2016, How-To Geek discovered that
Download.com no longer included adware/malware in its downloads and that its Installer program had been discontinued.
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suggested that all free download portals bundled their downloads with potentially unwanted software, and that
Download.com was the worst offender.
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where the testers downloaded the Top 10 apps. These all contained crapware/malware; one example was the KMPlayer installer, which installed a
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A study done by How-To Geek in 2015 revealed that
Download.com was packaging malware inside their installers. The test was done in a
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256:. CNET admitted in their download FAQ that "a small number of security publishers have flagged the Installer as
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Another study done by How-To Geek in 2015 revealed that
Download.com was installing fake
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certificate. These fake certificates can completely compromise SSL encryption and allow
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or third-party servers. Videos are streams (at present) and music was all free
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accusations included deception as well as copyright and trademark violation.
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attracted at least 113 million visitors annually by 2008 according to a
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429:"Download App - Free download and software reviews - CNET Download.com"
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685:"Download.com and Others Bundle Superfish-Style HTTPS Breaking Adware"
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870:
321:
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662:"Here's What Happens When You Install The Top 10 Download.com Apps"
615:"Insecure AVG search tool shoved down users' throats, says US CERT"
450:"Download.com wraps downloads in bloatware, lies about motivations"
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787:
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591:"Download.com Caught Adding Malware to Nmap & Other Software"
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Sneaky 'foistware' downloads install things you never asked for
310:. Some downloads, specifically YTD, were completely blocked by
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474:. The Inquirer. Archived from the original on January 7, 2012
81:
186:
The offered content is available in four major categories:
509:"CNET Accused of Bundling Software Downloads with Trojans"
352:"Download.com WHOIS, DNS, & Domain Info - DomainTools"
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708:"Download.com Has Finally Stopped Bundling Crapware"
472:"Cnet is accused of bundling malware with downloads"
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378:"Download.com attracts over 100m visitors yearly"
306:named 'Pro PC Cleaner' and attempted to execute
601:we suggest avoiding CNET Download.com entirely
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639:"Mind the PUP: Top download portals to avoid"
8:
30:
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228:The Software section includes over 100,000
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560:"Download.com Bundling Toolbars, Trojans?"
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320:inside their installers, similar to the
970:Internet properties established in 1996
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221:or streams until it was replaced with
190:(including Windows, Mac and mobile),
158:. Initially it resided on the domain
7:
507:Parrish, Kevin (December 7, 2011).
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287:warned that via download.com's "
262:potentially unwanted application
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470:Neal, Dave (December 6, 2011).
683:Lowell Heddings (2015-02-23).
660:Lowell Heddings (2015-01-11).
271:, writing under his pseudonym
154:launched in 1996 as a part of
1:
965:Free music download websites
706:Chris Hoffman (2016-07-27).
613:Darren Pauli (2014-07-08).
214:downloads, or occasionally
202:, offered for download via
27:Internet download directory
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641:. EMSISOFT. March 11, 2015
531:"CNET Download Installer"
492:: CS1 maint: unfit URL (
329:man-in-the-middle attacks
35:
166:for a while, and is now
950:American music websites
114:; 28 years ago
112:February 24, 1996
244:Malware distribution
206:from Download.com's
403:"Search Extensions"
127:Current status
32:
814:Medical News Today
267:In December 2011,
955:Download websites
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564:Krebs on security
409:on March 16, 2015
168:download.cnet.com
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16:(Redirected from
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797:Healthline Media
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405:. Archived from
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164:download.com.com
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67:Created by
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617:. The Register
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687:. How-To Geek
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537:on 2019-05-18
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452:. ExtremeTech
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384:on 2011-08-13
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31:CNET Download
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960:File hosting
914:TechRepublic
828:Other assets
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757:Red Ventures
712:. Retrieved
701:
689:. Retrieved
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666:. Retrieved
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643:. Retrieved
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619:. Retrieved
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594:. Retrieved
567:. Retrieved
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539:. Retrieved
535:the original
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513:. Retrieved
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476:. Retrieved
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454:. Retrieved
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433:. Retrieved
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411:. Retrieved
407:the original
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386:. Retrieved
382:the original
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361:. Retrieved
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281:The Register
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172:download.com
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141:Download.com
140:
139:(originally
136:
135:
101:Registration
61:Red Ventures
46:Type of site
18:Download.com
880:Sold assets
866:MetroLyrics
587:Gordon Lyon
556:Brian Krebs
269:Gordon Lyon
176:Compete.com
162:, and then
934:Categories
909:Metacritic
902:Giant Bomb
809:Healthline
776:CNET Video
691:January 6,
621:2015-05-04
596:2015-05-04
569:2015-05-04
541:2019-05-18
456:2015-05-04
435:2015-05-04
431:. Cnet.com
388:2008-05-15
363:2016-07-20
338:References
252:, such as
150:directory
119:1996-02-24
93:Commercial
887:Chowhound
714:August 8,
325:Superfish
289:foistware
279:In 2014,
250:bloatware
234:shareware
51:Downloads
919:TV Guide
897:GameFAQs
892:GameSpot
835:Bankrate
804:Greatist
668:June 20,
488:cite web
293:Emsisoft
254:toolbars
230:freeware
188:software
182:Overview
148:download
145:Internet
143:) is an
109:Launched
104:Optional
82:download
850:Uswitch
285:US-CERT
223:last.fm
208:servers
178:study.
152:website
117: (
945:Adware
871:TV.com
645:May 4,
515:May 4,
478:May 4,
413:May 4,
322:Lenovo
312:Avast.
273:Fyodor
258:adware
200:videos
198:, and
130:Active
788:ZDNET
357:WHOIS
260:or a
196:games
192:music
84:.cnet
57:Owner
940:CNET
771:CNET
716:2016
693:2016
670:2015
647:2015
517:2015
494:link
480:2015
415:2015
283:and
219:WMAs
156:CNET
86:.com
71:CNET
264:".
212:MP3
204:FTP
96:Yes
77:URL
936::
624:.
599:.
578:^
562:.
490:}}
486:{{
354:.
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121:)
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
