Grail Knight
Who Dares Wins
Premium
join:2003-05-31
 ·Verizon Online DSL
|  reply to Name Game
Re: The tendency of (pre-checked) toolbars
Interesting info.
Usually I download the full JRE package and manually install from desktop except this last update I allowed it to update from the program.
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"There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact". - Sherlock Holmes |
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TheWickerMan
join:2002-04-09
Enola, PA
| reply to Name Game
I find pre-checked toolbar installations in free products annoying, and ones in paid products inexcusable. But even those aren't as bad as ones that install the crap regardless of what you choose.
While this one wasn't a toolbar, I came cross something like this years ago with some kids' game I bought for my son when he was still little. During the installation, it asked me if I wanted to install something called "brodcast" (which I would later find out was also known as DssAgent.) The vague despcription of what it was for sounded like it just wanted to track my internet activity, so naturally, I chose "no." I was still on dialup at the time and wasn't using a firewall, but when I switched to cable, I installed one. Guess what it caught trying to connect to the internet? The same software I specifically told it NOT to install.
Just to make sure I wasn't mistaken, I installed the game on another machine, made sure I chose "no" when it asked to install the other junk, and checked again. Sure enough, it installed it anyway. |
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AB
Premium
join:2006-04-04
Leesburg, VA
| said by TheWickerMan  :. . I came cross something like this years ago with some kids' game I bought for my son when he was still little. During the installation, it asked me if I wanted to install something called "brodcast" (which I would later find out was also known as DssAgent.) The vague despcription of what it was for sounded like it just wanted to track my internet activity, so naturally, I chose "no." I was still on dialup at the time and wasn't using a firewall, but when I switched to cable, I installed one. Guess what it caught trying to connect to the internet? The same software I specifically told it NOT to install. Just to make sure I wasn't mistaken, I installed the game on another machine, made sure I chose "no" when it asked to install the other junk, and checked again. Sure enough, it installed it anyway. The technical term for that is 'spyware'. 
It usually doesn't take 'no' quietly for an answer-- or sometimes even for an answer at all, as you apparently found out.
Sounds like that 'game' was nothing more than an excuse to install the spyware, as any legitimate purveyor of software would not allow that type of installation behavior.
A bit devious or deceptive is one thing, flat-out lying or trickery quite another.
And why am I not surprised it was a game implementing this spyware . . . ? |
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Smokey Bear
veritas odium parit
Premium
join:2008-03-15
Annie's Pub
3 edits | reply to Name Game
Hi folks, interesting read
I will bring some brightness in the darkness, therefore i will introduce myself: the name is Smokey, author of the article "The tendency of (pre-checked) toolbars". |
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Cudni
La Merma - Vigilado
Premium,MVM
join:2003-12-20
Someshire
| reply to Name Game
Re: The tendency of (pre-checked) toolbars
one small benefit of the these bundled toolbars is that it serves as a warning of what might happen when not looking at what is being installed. This time asktoolbar next time...
Of course if these toolbars were such value for money they would be opt in rather than opt out with people purposely selecting to install them. Instead they take advantage of human nature.
On the other hand I can't and don't begrudge some freeware developers gaining some financial profit from bundling the toolbars most of which are easily and cleanly removable if installed in error or in oversight
Cudni
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"Mercifully, he hit him with the soft end of the pistol."
Help yourself so God can help you.
Microsoft MVP, 2006-2007 |
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La Luna
Surviving Ashraful
Premium
join:2001-07-12
Warwick, NY
clubs:
 ·Optimum Online
 ·Vonage
| reply to GroovyPhoenx
said by GroovyPhoenx :said by La Luna :No Google toolbar even offered with the last Sun Java update here. *shrug* While I understand the *conflict* of security apps wanting to install toolbars, and the fact that install is checked by default in some cases, as long as they don't install them without user knowledge at all, it doesn't really bother me. A LOT of people use, at the very least, the google and yahoo toolbars anyway. If it gets installed because someone didn't uncheck a box, they weren't paying attention. I have to disagree with this statement, in most cases the person is not fully aware they are installing this, if you use a "standard" install versus a "custom" install then most times these toolbars will be installed. (Its one reason experienced users should use custom) I usually use custom because I want to tell software where to go (tools under C:\tools, games under c:\games etc etc.) Point being default installs will not show up the toolbars in a lot of cases (Adobe for one) Hence, the reason why I said people don't pay attention, they install stuff willy nilly, as fast as they can.
Not *all* software has a "custom" option anyway. In most cases the toolbar install option is right there in your face.
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10,729 DEADLY TERROR ATTACKS SINCE 9/11~~TEAM DISCOVERY
Can't feel you anymore, don't need you anymore, don't believe you anymore, I don't need you anymore
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Smokey Bear
veritas odium parit
Premium
join:2008-03-15
Annie's Pub
| said by La Luna :said by GroovyPhoenx : I have to disagree with this statement, in most cases the person is not fully aware they are installing this, if you use a "standard" install versus a "custom" install then most times these toolbars will be installed. (Its one reason experienced users should use custom) I usually use custom because I want to tell software where to go (tools under C:\tools, games under c:\games etc etc.) Agree, most of the non-experienced users will think it is OK to hit the "standard" install button. Companies know this behavior very well and misuse this knowledge in a shameless way.
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