OT: C|Net's Download.com adware, spyware, malware hijinkx.

[Ryan Coleman]

On Dec 9, 2011, at 12:03 PM, Polytropon wrote:

> On Fri, 9 Dec 2011 09:38:59 -0600, Ryan Coleman wrote:
>> It's still not malware, it's bloatware. Why would you
>> not go to the development website to get the program anyway?
> 
> Uninvitedly adding toolbars, changing web browser
> home page and default search engine are - in my
> opinion - malicious acts, so the term "malware"
> may be correct here. Maybe the term "spyware" is
> also appropriate, depending on what the "additions"
> actually do behind the curtain.
> 
> Note an important thing: When careless users will
> notice the change, they will maybe blame the authors
> of the original software, not the distributor.
> This could do damage to F/O products, at least
> in "Windows" land.
> 
> Luckily, those who build from source or use
> precompiled packages from a trustworthy
> vendor don't have to care for that stuff. :-)

So, wait, Firefox is Malware? Did you notice that with FF4 they changed it so that you didn't get prompted on launch it overrides your default but instead it's a checkbox inside the installer?

--
Ryan