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What Happens When You Install the Top Download.com Apps

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Re: What Happens When You Install the Top Download.com Apps

#211

Post by omaranto »

rmc wrote: post #43
cturhan wrote: post #39

I really wonder why people prefer some other websites to download the product instead of its own website. When you type "ccleaner", "kmplayer" etc on google, the first one is always the product website. The second and third ones are the websites distributing product with adware/spywares.

I've seen non-technically people enter "www.facebook.com" into the google search bar.

Anyone can do that, even people that know where they should type the URL! Do you always carefully check that the right box has the keyboard focus before you start typing?

Re: What Happens When You Install the Top Download.com Apps

#212

Post by unreal37 »

username223 wrote: post #126
guycook wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pretty much, yes - if there's a buck to be made and the law isn't being broken (in a way that will be meaningfully prosecuted), someone will do it. To answer your first question, someone from HN should surely about this given: http://www.istartedsomething.com/20130115/y-combinator-is-fu... Extensive commentary at https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5059806

pg "investigated" that crapware company a couple of years ago [1], but they still apparently exist, and continue to collect MAC addresses. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5062133

What was the result of that investigation? Can't find any info in the original thread.

Re: What Happens When You Install the Top Download.com Apps

#213

Post by cdr »

jacquesm wrote: post #198
route3 wrote: post #156

In 2012, YC invested in a company InstallMonetizer[0] which, from my understanding, helps align software products with bundling other installers for additional revenue. [0] http://www.crunchbase.com/organization/installmonetizer

That's by far the worst company they ever invested in. See here for PG's take on this: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5092711

I dunno, there's a few contenders. Scribd was pretty bad. RapGenius was pretty bad in terms of the people.

Edit: Oh, and Quora, even if that wasn't much more than YC lending its name.

Re: What Happens When You Install the Top Download.com Apps

#214

Post by jacquesm »

cdr wrote: post #213
jacquesm wrote: post #198

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's by far the worst company they ever invested in. See here for PG's take on this: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5092711

I dunno, there's a few contenders. Scribd was pretty bad. RapGenius was pretty bad in terms of the people. Edit: Oh, and Quora, even if that wasn't much more than YC lending its name.

Impossible to have so many investments and not have a few bad apples. Still surprised PG did not distance himself further from installmonetizer, otoh props for standing by his investment and doing damage control for them at the expense of the YC cachet.

Re: What Happens When You Install the Top Download.com Apps

#215

Post by TeMPOraL »

uptown wrote: post #190
TeMPOraL wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It amazes me how people just put up with random browser windows popping up and having to search via some random search engine that has been imposed on them. I believe they just feel helpless, they don't know to do - but they are annoyed, because from my experience they'll ask for help the first computer-savvy person they see, even if they don't know them well. Funnily, situation is actually a perfect dating opportuni…

It's always wise to begin all relationships with an open and honest conversation about any viruses each person may have.

For some getting to the point of actual conversation might be a difficult thing; fixing someone's computer serves as a good social object.

Re: What Happens When You Install the Top Download.com Apps

#217

Post by snowwrestler »

Kiro wrote: post #7

How can these be legal?

The law allows people to install whatever they want on their own computers. Note that even the nasty browser hijacks notified the user of their existence and provided an opt-out checkbox.

This is bad for non-savvy users, because they can get fooled into installing stuff they don't want.

But on balance I think it is good. It's extremely difficult to create legal limits on personal behavior that affect only bad activity. There are always unintended consequences, and occasionally it becomes a wedge for political control of personal decisions.

Imagine if the federal government had the power to make it illegal for you to install certain software on your own machine. And then some companies convinced the regulators that BitTorrent and Tor should be on the "not allowed" list because they can be used for piracy and crime.

Re: What Happens When You Install the Top Download.com Apps

#219

Post by detaro »

pjc50 wrote: post #120
0942v8653 wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What does download.com have to do with this? Anyone in their right mind will figure out that it's terrible. I don't think the App Store really competes with download.com. It competes with independent websites that use PayPal downloads and license keys. Download.com, macUpdate, softpedia, download.cnet.com, and the like don't give anyone an excuse to lock down their platform this tight. The cure is worse than the dise…

independent websites that use PayPal downloads and license keys As of 1 Jan this is now economically infeasible in the EU (see "VATMOSS").

Using the number given in the Pinegrow thread today: It is economically infeasible to pay your payment processor 5 percent instead of 3? It's annoying, sure, but infeasible?

Re: What Happens When You Install the Top Download.com Apps

#220

Post by anon1385 »

jacquesm wrote: post #198
route3 wrote: post #156

In 2012, YC invested in a company InstallMonetizer[0] which, from my understanding, helps align software products with bundling other installers for additional revenue. [0] http://www.crunchbase.com/organization/installmonetizer

That's by far the worst company they ever invested in. See here for PG's take on this: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5092711

Which basically boiled down to him trying to argue that people must want malware because they clicked through a deviously worded dialog box.

From building spam filters to funding a spam company. Building things people want? Ha!

I guess it's worth noting other YC partners in that thread also defending malware, for example Garry Tan: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5093746

It seems like the culture of spam and malware is deeply embedded in YC these days.

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