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

[Ryan Coleman]

On Dec 10, 2011, at 12:30 AM, Polytropon wrote:

> On Fri, 9 Dec 2011 13:05:05 -0600, Ryan Coleman wrote:
>> 
>> 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?
> 
> I've never installed something in "Windows" so my
> opinion has limited fact-backup here. I don't even
> see from your post _what_ they changed in FF4 - the
> default browser? The home page? Additional toolbars?
> Some advertising? Hmmm…

You no longer are prompted on first load of the program to change your default browser. That's done for you on the installation program.

Which is *EXACTLY WHAT I SAID*