Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2011 07:30:17 +0100 From: Polytropon <freebsd@edvax.de> To: Ryan Coleman <editor@d3photography.com> Cc: FreeBSD Questions <freebsd-questions@freebsd.org> Subject: Re: OT: C|Net's Download.com adware, spyware, malware hijinkx. Message-ID: <20111210073017.7e24a5aa.freebsd@edvax.de> In-Reply-To: <49B5BAFE-22AE-4AB0-A3FD-51FF9B1722DC@d3photography.com> References: <CANLX3yhxwO-ExLOFpXJOJ5n6B0shtEz8FN_7sQZSeOf12_pKwA@mail.gmail.com> <258382C6-4904-44EE-86D4-1F8F97559983@d3photography.com> <20111209190305.c6bc60cf.freebsd@edvax.de> <49B5BAFE-22AE-4AB0-A3FD-51FF9B1722DC@d3photography.com>
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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... However, installing proprietary stuff "along with" the desired F/O software and changing user settings without dialog or notification _could_ deserve the term "malware" to apply. It's _not_ that those are a dependency! -- Polytropon Magdeburg, Germany Happy FreeBSD user since 4.0 Andra moi ennepe, Mousa, ...
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