G+_Harold Crews Posted July 14, 2013 Share Posted July 14, 2013 Leo on The Tech Guy! is talking to a caller who got malware from CNET. I had the same problem when I installed DVDShrink from CNET. It changed my default search engine and it was very difficult to remove. That was the last time I visited CNET. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Tom Wisniewski Posted July 14, 2013 Share Posted July 14, 2013 I heard of a case where someone modified vlc and posted it on cnet with malware. I always say, use cnet to find the program you want and then go to the developers website to get the binaries. Much safer unless of course the author is spreading malware himself :-P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_james crittenden Posted July 14, 2013 Share Posted July 14, 2013 Harold Crews great! So now CNET is not smoke testing applications that they recommend? Glad you mentioned cause I am watching The Tech Guy too but Leo was talking about his feet :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Harold Crews Posted July 14, 2013 Author Share Posted July 14, 2013 CNET might be useful for reviews or providing links to the software author but that would be about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Yonas A (eriman) Posted July 14, 2013 Share Posted July 14, 2013 You have to understand there is no free lunch. When you install for free you have to give up something Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Tom Wisniewski Posted July 14, 2013 Share Posted July 14, 2013 Yonas Abraham still doesn't justify making system changes without letting the user know. That's malware. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Harold Crews Posted July 14, 2013 Author Share Posted July 14, 2013 Yonas, when someone sticks out a sign saying 'free lunch' that is exactly what I reasonably expect. If they want to charge me on the way out for table or cutlery rent they need to say something before I sit down to eat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Tom Wisniewski Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 I listened to Twit this morning and they discussed this cnet thing. Turns out the user is prompted for all the changes and has to actually opt out of the installs/changes. So not as sneaky as malware, but still shady. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts