16 replies to this topic

[Claw]

It seems like everything I look at or download or just think about or recommend ,,has a Toolbar !!!! I have had the last four software installations try and hook me on a toolbar. At least Ashampoo has their own,, just like Auslogics. Just today looking at my Registry ,,I found Ask.com.!!!! Weaseled its way in there somehow,and I never even had a toolbar. I spend more time unchecking the damn little boxes and hitting the "skip" button than I do using the program it's sneaking in on!!!! How would they like it if I kept trying to ram something they don't want down their throats or up their (never mind). Well,, now I got that off my chest,,I'll just wait to see what's going to "TICK" me off tomorrow!!!!!!!!!

[marko]

It is an unfortunate part of today's "freeware" world claw, and although none of us would deny the potential for developers to make some cash back from their creations it would appear that more and more trickery has to be employed to get results.   It's not that I necessarily blame the developers if I'm honest - I blame those who have brought us all to this stage, those greedy and irresponsible people who want to make a quick buck from anything they can and used all manner of deceit to get it .. honest developers then sometimes get tarred with the same brush unfortunately, especially those who may be unaware they are doing anything wrong, but there has to be a line and anyone crossing over it here on our site will feel the consequences, innocent or not - we have a duty to protect OUR users and that's exactly what we'll continue to do.

For the smaller, genuine and honest freeware developer, they have nothing to worry about - it's the bigger guys who are in it for the cash who often include garbage in their installers because it's those guys who have to make some cash back to produce other, possibly limited freeware with the intention of selling it's extra functionality.   We've seen all the tricks and the trends and if I'm completely honest .... it's not looking good

[Gremlinn]

Agreed. I feel that as long as they give us the option to decline, it's all good. There are some really good software out there and if the toolbar or whatever can make the dev some money, i say go for it!

[Claw]

You got that on the money Marko,,like my buddy Gremlinn says ,as long as there's an option ,,but for some users that "option" gets past them. Also,,I have many times had users bring me in their computers because Malwarebytes has pick up a "PUP". After running a full scan in safe mode it ends up being "My websearch toolbar ,,,which came in somehow "WITHOUT" an option to opt out!!!! My son installed a program to enhance his browser speed (can't recall the name) and I watched him install it and guess what???? Babylon Toolbar and NO opt out!!!! And Marko,,you know it's not only toolbars,,if you have itunes on your computer,,check add/remove at all the programs taking up resources that you didn't ask for ,like Mobile Me Control Panel ,,Bonjour,etc. They may be useful for some but not others,,but the Toobars are the worst,,especially things like "White Smoke" which gives you a Toolbar and a new Homepage,,then takes forever to get off and out of your system. Thanks for letting me get this off my chest!!!!

[James (Jim) Hillier]

Bearing in mind that the vast majority of my clientele range from 'wouldn't have a clue' to ' absolute novice'; every machine I visit has a plethora of toolbars installed. Some instances are so bad that one can hardly see any of the actual webpage without scrolling because the toolbars are taking up so much real estate. Invariably, whenever I ask a customer about the toolbars, they have absolutely no idea what they do nor where they came from. The fact of the matter is that many people simply click on through installations with no thoughts of caution or double checking for extras - and that's exactly what the software developers/distributors are relying on.

The simple solution would be to enforce an opt-in system, but who would then police it? Seeing how the industry is obviously not interested in any form of self-regulation, perhaps it's time some sort of official industry watchdog was established. Governmental controls would not be practicable; software sources are global so transcend individual governmental boundaries, besides which, governments are hopeless at that sort of thing anyway. So the only viable solution would appear to be a private consortium of concerned users. It could be setup as a 'stamp of approval' type system where a criteria is set and those who meet the necessary regulations then receive the official 'stamp of approval' for their software and those who refuse to comply do not.

Say the consortium was formed as "CIFOSS" (Citizens In Favor Of Safe Software). Software offered for download could then carry the "CIFOSS" logo denoting it has passed the Safe Software test. Those who refused to comply would not have access to the "CIFOSS" logo, thereby clearly indicating that their software is not to be trusted. The CIFOSS consortium would be compensated by charging a small fee per certificate of compliance. The system would certainly not be easy to setup and difficulties/obstacles would need to be overcome but once up and running and with the right publicity would surely make the medium to big developers sit up and take notice.

[jjj]

[ Some instances are so bad that one can hardly see any of the actual webpage ]  I was going to say the same thing Jim !
-    and then they fill their computers with software from companies such as IOBit or Uniblue to make it run better.
   Even at home I  need to spend time uninstalling stuff - lately a free scan from Norton is really starting to annoy me - so even the better known firms are getting into the act.
              Could we start "CIFOSS" here in a new forum?

[James (Jim) Hillier]

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Could we start "CIFOSS" here in a new forum?

Hey jjj - Well we (FreewareBB that is) already apply standards very similar to a proposed "CIFOSS". The problem being that those standards are limited to FreewareBB and not being applied universally right across the industry, so only FreewareBB users are currently being advantaged.

However, I do feel there is scope for FreewareBB to maybe expand its influence in this area, Marko and I are pondering the possibilities.

Cheers...Jim

[Claw]

Where do I sign up at???? I want to be on the front line. this is almost like what a con man does,,,takes advantage of the users who don't pay close enough attention or as Jim says ,,"the novice"  !!!! One way we at FreewareBB can help fight this is to report any software we find following these low down ,under handed practices.Sign me up as a member of the "CIFOSS". That's one badge I'll wear proudly!!!!

[marko]

This could absolutely work, I've already thought of a few potential issues but wouldn't take much to overcome - Jimbo and I will bash some idea's around on this one over the coming weeks and will hopefully have some exciting news ahead

[jjj]

The following link is to an article written by a developer  of freeware featured recently in FBB and may be of interest as it gives some insight into the commercialising of free software from their perspective -

http://www.obviousidea.com/post-default/

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ObviousIdea and ads,offers and bundle – the truth about the ideal business model.