CNet's Download.com Caught Adding Malware to Nmap & Other Software

Posted by henke54 on Dec 17, 2011 12:07 AM EDT
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In August 2011, Download.com was taken on a new path by their General Manager and V.P. Sean Murphy. They started wrapping legitimate 3rd party software into their own installer which by default installs a wide variety of adware and other questionable software on users machines. It also does things like redirect user search queries and change their Internet home page. At first their installer forced people to accept the malware or close the installer (see screen shot of infected VLC installer in this article). Later they added a non-default "decline" button hidden way on the left side of the panel. Also, the initial installer shown in the previous screen shot claimed the software was “SAFE, TRUSTED, AND SPYWARE FREE”. In an unusual show of honesty, they removed that claim from the rogue installer.

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Where to turn? (Recommendations requested). BernardSwiss 3 1,537 Dec 19, 2011 7:46 AM
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