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Thread ID: 135135 2013-09-29 18:52:00 C**Ware pctek (84) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1354605 2013-09-29 18:52:00 Repaired a couple of PCs on the weekend, the usual toolbars, fake help your PC run better stuff....

So, after cleaning downloaded a few things - VLC, LibreOffice, Foxit and so on....

I did have most of them but thought might as well go with the new versions.....and my god, the number of them that now want to install junk along with themselves!

No wonder people end up with all this trash on their PCs.....considering most people install as is, and don't think to change to advanced or custom install mode....
Think I'll stick to my old versions...
pctek (84)
1354606 2013-09-29 19:24:00 yep, "free" software often has a hidden cost with it these days. You've got to have your wits about you when installing software :D

I dropped Foxit because some recent versions had no way to avoid installing some toolbar.
autechre (266)
1354607 2013-09-29 20:33:00 Yeah same I noticed FoxIt recently has some nasty addons that come with it, can't be bothered... It's no longer as lightweight as it once was and I've been looking for alternatives. Not too bad coz I usually just open things in Google Drive or Chrome itself opens them. Chilling_Silence (9)
1354608 2013-09-29 20:38:00 ninite.com, doesn't install any of the toolbars. Alex B (15479)
1354609 2013-09-29 21:01:00 Obviously the companies that make these toolbars etc pay to have them included and that helps fund the "free" software.
But bloody hell is it effective, some people are totally incapable of not installing this stuff it seems. A friend's PC had so many toolbars the top bar of her browser had expanded to 3 times it's original size.

I think a law should be imposed similar to what happened to banks and credit card companies a while back meaning you have to opt in to get this rubbish not opt out to avoid it. You may or may not recall credit card limits used to go up automatically if you didn't respond to your mail, now they are not allowed to.
dugimodo (138)
1354610 2013-09-29 21:15:00 Yeah same I noticed FoxIt recently has some nasty addons that come with it, can't be bothered... It's no longer as lightweight as it once was and I've been looking for alternatives. Not too bad coz I usually just open things in Google Drive or Chrome itself opens them.

Sumatra PDF is what I use now. Opens quite a bit more than PDF too.
Agent_24 (57)
1354611 2013-09-29 23:53:00 Noticed the same over the last year,one example is Freemake Video converter which of late wants to add heaps of dodgy software but most free software is the same

Have used Junkware Removel Tool in a few cases with surprising results www.bleepingcomputer.com

Can see it may have a detrimental effect on a compromised comp
Lawrence (2987)
1354612 2013-09-30 01:40:00 Looking at those suggestions......Ta.

Even VLC! The horror.......pollution from everywhere these days.....
pctek (84)
1354613 2013-09-30 03:37:00 Have used Junkware Removel Tool in a few cases with surprising results www.bleepingcomputer.com



I love it! Not 100% but hey, another useful tool to add to the arsenal.
It even found 2 entries on my PC.....(harmless but annoying)
pctek (84)
1354614 2013-09-30 04:23:00 Yer,I can see where things can go wrong with this Tool with some of the things it removes from the registry
First uninstall what you can see in Programs then use this Tool

Used on a friends Laptop that had issues last week and it wanted to remove heaps,thought this may not end well but no problems in the end
Lawrence (2987)
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