12 Downloads That Sneak Unwanted Software Into Your PC

[Guest]

You'd expect no-name software to bundle in adware and other unwanted programs, but many top software companies also distribute them.

12 Downloads That Sneak Unwanted Software Into Your PC : Read more

 

[de5_Roy]

google chrome is a p.u.p. as well. ccleaner and piriform's other utilities try to install google chrome.

 

[pjmelect]

The number of free software utilities that try and install conduit is annoying. Conduit can stop Internet explorer from working. I have lost count of the number of times that I have removed this particular piece of software from customers computers.

 

[OrionBlastar]

This is why I switched to GNU/Linux. http/lubuntu.net

 

[virtualban]

My way of defending, partially: installing the free software on to a virtual machine, then take the extracted files and see if they work (mostly yes) on to the host machine or another virtual machine, and if they try to sneak in stuff. It is a pain when the program tries for updates later, but not too much.

I wish the OS was built in such a way that the program will reach resources only to basic show itself and basic folder permissions, without needing registry entries, files present in special system folders, startup entries and whatnot. That way, even if a bundle installs 2 programs, I can just delete the other program (simple delete), and if the other program is somehow 'needed', maybe I will re-evaluate if I need the original program in the first place.