GOTD: Please clarify policy on adware/spyware

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GOTD: Please clarify policy on adware/spyware

(62 posts) (20 voices)

Started 17 years ago by ChrisW
Latest reply from BuBBy

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ChrisW
Member

Every morning I open the GOTD page and see the cheerful green logo promising "100% Clean / No Adware! No Spyware!". Yet yesterday's software offering included a payload of two malware adware packages.

This generated a firestorm in the comments as well as this forum. Curiously, the GOTD staff have been completely silent on the topic. In the past they have responded promptly when problems like corrupt download files have occurred, so it's difficult to believe that they were unaware of this problem. Why, then, have they kept their heads in the sand over this?

So today there's a new software package that again claims to be clean.

Without hearing some explanation from the GOTD staff, how can I, and the other users, trust that this software, or tomorrow's is clean?

You need to give us an explanation. For the poor suckers who are now infected, you OWE them an explanation. I think that something as simple as "We're sorry, it got past our scanner because it was slipped into a last-minute revision." would suffice.

So how about it? Will you give us reason to continue trusting you?

Posted 17 years ago #
VampireRat
Member

I'll second that. I stayed out of yesterday's discussions, but I am no less the Happy Camper, and want it known.

Posted 17 years ago #
Archangel
Member

I'll third that too. I don't download much here on GOTD but frequent this little community. After all the "Firestorm" as ChrisW put it, I did download the setup file and decompiled it. If anyone is having trouble removing all the crap associated with yesterdays hehehe "GiveAway", I'll post everything that was associated with the setup all the way down to dll's associated with the software, but be carefull there folks.

Posted 17 years ago #
alexiussg
Member

then don't install the 2 other softwares that came with it!!! no one forces you to install them, saying that you must have it in order to run the photo morpher.

Posted 17 years ago #
Archangel
Member

Alex, there are so many people that don't take the time to even read the agreement much less select what or where it goes. Most just click next, next, next then finish.

Maybe this is a good lesson but also a painful one.

Posted 17 years ago #
Swan
Member

Alex, please,

Have a little compassion for new/inexperienced users as well. We were ALL new to the internet once and there will always be more to come.

Are we to condemn them too, rather than help them?
~ Swan

Posted 17 years ago #
ChrisW
Member

Alexi: no one is arguing (in this thread) whether such a business model should be allowed. The question is primarily regarding whether we can expect to be wary against future GOTD offerings, and secondarily regarding whether the Morpheus app was known beforehand to be malware.

I'm guessing that the reason the GOTD team hasn't responded yet is that they're still talking to their lawyers. There are probably questions of legal liability here. If anyone suffered damages (e.g., messed up computer interfering with their ability to work) as a result of installing software that was touted as "100% Clean / No Adware! No Spyware!", then GOTD may be liable. Even if there were no measurable damages, if GOTD had foreknowledge of the malware they may be culpable for fraud in inducing their user-customers to install software based on false claims. (I Am Not A Lawyer but I read the Volokh Conspiracy :)

Like people on TV always say when cameras are shoved in their faces, they can't comment on the case, because they might accidentally say something out of ignorance or misunderstanding of the law that could prejudice the outcome.

So my guess is that they're talking to their lawyers and Morpheus right now to see who will be in trouble, although we may never hear about what happens in these backroom conversations.

Posted 17 years ago #
ChrisW
Member

I did a little more fishing around for anything resembling an official statement regarding malware. Here's a quote from "admin":

I have 2 scanners, and I scan all incoming files, our tech manager runs another scanner (not the same as mine) to check files again.

I simply can't see how to square that statement with the software download we saw yesterday.

Posted 17 years ago #
Anonymous
Unregistered

It quite clearly asks you to accept or not except both instances.

They are: Dealio & Snap, both on seperate screens.

Thats why there is a licencing agreement, which you are supposed to read and accept or decline.

If you decline them both you can still install the app.

You cannot blame anyone else except yourselves if you installed the toolbars.

I install applications I have paid a lot of money for and they usually come with a google toolbar or ask toolbar and I decline them after reading the licencing agreement.

Nero has a toolbar in it which you can accept or decline, so does Norton Internet Security 2007.

These two apps are expensive so I feel mythed they ask you to install a toolbar, but, I decline anyway.

All google freeware also asks you to install a google toolbar, well the ones I have, which are Google Earth and Google SketchUp.

Remember campers, read the agreement and stop getting so over excited or you might make a hash of it.

Posted 17 years ago #
maz
Member

There it is every day by every download: 100% CLEAN. NO ADWARE. NO SPYWARE.
Well, the Morpheus download was not 100% clean, so as far as I'm concerned, GOTD should apologise for breaking their promise.
Lose users' trust, and it will be very hard to re-establish that trust.
I think GOTD, in their own interests, should respond to this situation as soon as possible. It may be that the developers misled them ( I think this has happened before) about the nature of the program, but if they advertise the 100% clean feature, it is their responsibility ultimately to see that this promise is kept. So that's why they should apologise.

Posted 17 years ago #
Hadeda
Member

I agree with you maz... GOTD should give a sorry note or take away this picture

http://giveawayoftheday.com/img/noadware.gif

Posted 17 years ago #
Anonymous
Unregistered

No adaware or spyware means that it's known that it's not in the main app.

If it was in the main app without your knowledge during install then fair enough they should say soweee.

You were given a choice.

Posted 17 years ago #
maz
Member

"No adaware or spyware means that it's known that it's not in the main app."
Lee, that's not my understanding of 100% free, and I doubt if it's many other peoples' interpretation, either.
GOTD CHOSE to advertise this promise to encourage people to trust the downloads, and yesterday's download broke that promise.

Posted 17 years ago #
ChrisW
Member

Leaving behind the specifics of the Morpheus debacle (there's already another thread about that), what is the position of GOTD on malware?

Is Lee correctly describing company policy, that so long as it's an optional install, anything is OK?

Posted 17 years ago #
Anonymous
Unregistered

It is an optional install. It is quite clearly seen.

Posted 17 years ago #
AlexSJ
Member

Well this might not be directly related, but we've all seen the storm of comments when the install asks for e-mail addresses. Guess what, just today I got e-mail from the Bank of Nigeria and UK National Award Dept on 2 different e-mail addresses given to the maker of Smart To Do.
Not to worry, the e-mails given all end in something non-committal, but perhaps that business model ain't too nice either.
Pura vida!

Posted 17 years ago #
jeremiah
Member

Webster's New Millenium Dictionary of English defines adware as follows:
1 - a software application in which advertisements are displayed while the program is running, esp. in pop-up windows or banners, and which often is installed without the user's knowledge or consent; also called [advertising-supported software]
2 - a form of spyware that collects information about the computer user's online behavior in order to display targeted advertisements in the Web browser
I know nothing about Dealio or Snap but if they fit into either one of these categories, especially the 2nd, then GaOTD has no business including them in a giveaway. It's their own stated policy so the fact that installation was optional is irrelevant.

Posted 17 years ago #
Jucati
Member

Just tossing my 2 cents in (particularly for Lee who seems to be missing or at least avoiding the point),

it doesn't matter if this adware was optional, GOTD is supposed to be trustworthy enough that you can just click through the installation without worrying about it. That's the problem with this.

Posted 17 years ago #
kevinyunlai
Member

hmmmm
I say that the next release should be a program with 1000 toolbars and spyware ALL optional for you to install,
the agreement is
by installing this FREE program, you also allow this company to install 1000 toolbars spyware, if you don't agree, don't install it
or
install/next/spyware,toolbar/ next
it does not matter if it is optional, the point is that it was in the download and it is spyware/toolbar

Posted 17 years ago #
BuBBy
Teh adnim

@kevin - I've passed your request on to the PTB.

Posted 17 years ago #
Archangel
Member

Well I hate to blow on the ambers but......................

I was busy yesterday but early this morning I examined the software after disassembly. Just my opinion but there was nothing special about it.

Here is the kicker. I install the program without the other 2 pieces of crap. Low and behold, my antivirus found one malware program. In fact it was listed as a "Brand New type of Malware". Its name is service.exe. My antivirus software could not clean it so it deleted it with no problem. Yours will to.

And before anyone asks, yes it was included in the package. When I did the intial scan before installing it, it was not detected as malware. After installion and that little devil went to work it did or it was detected by McAffee after it did its usual update that I have set in the early hours of the morning. (don't know which but it happened while I was still going over yesterday's hehehe "GiveAway")

My points are as follows:
1. Make sure you keep your antivirus software updated constantly.
2. I wouldn't take (much less purchase) any software from this company or anyone associated with it.

Posted 17 years ago #
kevinyunlai
Member

what request?
PTB is ???
am I in trouble?

Posted 17 years ago #
Archangel
Member

He was just poking a little fun at you kevinyunlai.

Posted 17 years ago #
maz
Member

Kevunyunlai,
I read the PTB as an acronym for the Powers That Be...but I could be wrong.

Posted 17 years ago #
BuBBy
Teh adnim

@maz - correct.

Posted 17 years ago #
kevinyunlai
Member

lol

Posted 17 years ago #
Hempman
Member

100% NO SPYWARE 100% NO ADWARE - that does not equal "Spyware/adware included but you'll have to be vigilant and click on things to not get trashed." Also, service.exe is included, as well as a trojan (Spybot found it) called BlackCore.

Yes, Morpheus will be branded. But, so will Giveawayoftheday - Not only for allowing adware in clear violation of thier own policy (despite any ridiculous dancings and foolish prancings to the contrary), but Morpheus also contained other malware AND a trojan.

GOTD will also be branded for allowing false advertising - almost nothing of the advertised functions of Morpheus were available. That was clearly done to get people to download inferior software with included spyware and adware.

That is partly the fault of the Morpheus publishers, but ultimately the reponsibility lays squarely with GOTD for allowing it to go on ALL DAY LONG. I can't see how the trojan BlackCore made it past all your scans, or the service.exe that was also installed with no choice to opt out. As soon as the malware was publicly known, the download should have been pulled.

GOTD will pay (and from the numbers I am watching today already is) with fewer visits, fewer downloads and a permanent question in everyone's mind - When will GOTD allow something like this to happen again, and next time, will it be even worse? Particularly given the ridiculous excuse that one could "opt out" - again, 100% adware/spyware free means exactly that, no equivocation can excuse the inclusing of all that garnage - NONE.

There is no shirking responsibility, GOTD is ultimately responsible for allowing Morpheus to post adware/spyware AND a trojan, as well as falsely advertising the capabilities of the software offering.

The fact that GOTD has not made ANY official statement will only exacerbate the impact, since thier complete silence is proof in itself of collusion with Morpheus' evil actions.

Posted 17 years ago #
kirby145
Member

I'm new to the site and though I was expecting, I have not seen the admins post anywhere at all in the forums, however the moderators are active and doing a great job

Posted 17 years ago #
BuBBy
Teh adnim

Why thank you Kirby145, and welcome to the forums.

Posted 17 years ago #
alexiussg
Member

well, GAOTD says that it is "100% Clean / No Adware! No Spyware!", but doesn't certify that any other software included with the publisher's software it is really, totally, extremely cleared. For example, when you install winzip, it also asks you if you want to include google toolbar and google desktop. So, the next time you install anything d/l from internet, read the instructions carefully.

Posted 17 years ago #