Crapware

[jimmers]

Just read this on How to Geek, could be important??

http://http.cdnlayer.com/howtogeek/thumbcache/190/115/e3fce3c094883d7eac3e4b352a85e9de/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/image106.png

[WorMzy]

That's an image?

Something about VLC?

Haters gonna hate.

But I use SMPlayer instead anyway.

[Enigmapond]

Not sure where this is going? You read a png image?

[flipper T]

perhaps meant this

http://www.howtogeek.com/59103/important-warning-be-careful-downloading-open-source-apps-via-search/

[jimmers]

Sorry try this, from "How to Geek" a message to us all use the repos whenever possible, or be be very vigilant

Important Warning: Be Careful Downloading Open Source Apps via Search (http://www.howtogeek.com/59103/important-warning-be-careful-downloading-open-source-apps-via-search/)

http://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/image106.png
We’ve always been big proponents of open source software, but lately we’ve noticed a disturbing trend: open source software is being wrapped in crapware-laden installers and Google / Bing / Yahoo ads designed to trick people. Here’s the details.
If you Google (or Bing) for any number of open source applications, the first result will be an ad at the top that takes you somewhere other than the real site. Here’s just a few of the applications we’ve noticed this happening on, but there’s a ton of others.


Audacity
VLC
Gimp
MPlayer
7-Zip
CCleaner
…and loads of others

Once you’ve searched for one of those, you’ll see something like this. I’ve labeled them clearly so you can see the difference:
http://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/image110.png
The same thing happens on Bing:
http://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/image111.png
And on Yahoo…
http://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/image112.png
The really disturbing problem? Google Instant makes that ad the first result. So if you accidentally hit the Enter key, you’re taken to the crapware ad page. Don’t believe me? Check out where the “cursor” is:
http://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/image113.png
Make sure to share this with everybody you know! Tweet it, post it on Facebook, and tell people.
The Crapware

If you do go to the wrong site and download the application from them, you’ll be presented with this alternate installer, which tries to install their “Updater”…
http://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/image104.png
And then you’re presented with crapware, and a confusing dialog. You’re actually supposed to hit Decline to avoid installing it, but many users are going to assume that you have to hit Accept to get through the wizard.
http://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/image105.png
So make sure you beware when downloading yourself, but especially when you tell your less-savvy friends to download open source software. Don’t just tell them to Google for it anymore – you have to actually give them the real link.
And again, make sure to share this with as many people as possible.

[uRock]

Please do not start joke threads in the General Help sub-forums.

Moved to the Cafe.

[flipper T]

you just started a duplicate thread

naughty, naughty

[uRock]

Duplicate threads merged.

[jerenept]

Lrn2DuckDuckGo.

Problem solved. (http://duckduckgo.com/VLC_media_player)

[Spr0k3t]

Just me, I always thought crapware was the junk that comes preinstalled on some windows computer system to subsidize the cost of distribution. Add-onware was the stuff that wraps the installation utilities with their own useless (or sometimes not) junk.

Take a look at any HP/Compaq computer and the massive list of crap that's preinstalled from the factory. Several pages of junk that can be removed completely without changing the way the delivered OS functions. Kind of sad if you ask me. There's even an application designed to remove the junk that comes preinstalled... it's appropriately named "Decrapifier".

[Simian Man]

Google takes me to the right place for "vlc". Maybe they changed this behavior since the article came out?

[forrestcupp]

Pretty interesting that Google and Bing put links to crapware versions instead of the official site in the featured links.

I almost never even look at any of the featured links. I always start looking below them. I know that those featured links are only there to make money.

[el_koraco]

you should probably post this on a windows forum?

[jerenept]

Google takes me to the right place for "vlc". Maybe they changed this behavior since the article came out?

turn off adblock

[~Plue]

turn off adblock
no difference

[alaukikyo]

ubuntu software center FTW!!

[Simian Man]

turn off adblock

That wasn't it. Also if I use "I'm feeling Lucky" it takes me to the correct site - that shouldn't have anything to with Ad Block.

[CraigPaleo]

I don't see it at all when I'm logged in but I'm not using instant. I have it set to 100 results.

When I use another browser with default Google settings i.e instant and 10 results, I only get the featured result on the second page. I ignore them also.

[jerenept]

Well, now that you say that, I'm thinking that uRock is correct.

(still use duckduckgo though)

[Puppyite]

My solution: Scroogle.org (http://www.scroogle.org/cgi-bin/scraper.htm) It's Google sans privacy risks and ads. Way faster than Google too! :biggrin:

[alaukikyo]

My solution: Scroogle.org (http://www.scroogle.org/cgi-bin/scraper.htm) It's Google sans privacy risks and ads. Way faster than Google too! :biggrin:

duckduckgo is better

[psusi]

This certainly is alarming. What this gofree.com web site is doing is a blatent violation of copyright and the open source licences. I have notified the FSF and hopefully they will sue these clowns out of existence.

[forrestcupp]

you should probably post this on a windows forum?

Is there nothing out there that installs toolbars in a Linux browser? Annoying toolbars aren't limited to Windows.

[3Miro]

ubuntu software center FTW!!

+1. Problem solved!

[Spice Weasel]

+1. Problem solved!

Unless Canonical create a port of the Ubuntu Software Centre for Windows (and I don't see that happening ever) which comes preinstalled on all Windows PCs that doesn't solve any problems. This is a problem because people who have recently found out about a good free program get infected with viruses when they Google for a download link.

Google's site theme which (I'm guessing deliberately) makes it hard to tell the difference between ads and search results doesn't help much either.

[el_koraco]

Is there nothing out there that installs toolbars in a Linux browser? Annoying toolbars aren't limited to Windows.

Well, the pictures were showing .exe installations, so i thought the topic should be brought to an audience that might be more affected. Perhaps I should have wrote post it to Windows forums as well.