FileHippo is testing an Adware distributing “Download Manager”

Published on July 8, 2014 By DrJBHL In Personal Computing

Why? Because it’s a great way to make money. FileHippo is testing it now. Several download portals have started to use services like Open Candy in their installers to earn money.

Remember when c|net undled home page switchers, toolbars and browser changers? Same song, different singer. You can read about the downloader here.

“After launching the FileHippo Download Manager from your Downloads folder, just double click on the file that will be clearly named and then follow the instructions. The Download Manager may show offers for other free applications and you get to choose whether you accept these or not. No offers are ever automatically installed without your acceptance. If you choose to pause/cancel the download, the Download Manager will place a shortcut on your desktop so you can resume this at a later time.” – FileHippo

There will be a download option for the software you want…DON’T use the “Download Manager Enabled” option. Under it there’s a “Direct Download” in smaller print (of course). That’s the one you want.

If you use the download manager, the next screen will be the ‘wrapped items’ such as:

Make Yahoo! the default search engine.
Make Yahoo! the new default homepage.
Make Speedial the new tab page.

In which case, uncheck the boxes and click on the grey “Skip All” – deliberately grey to make you think it’s disabled and deliberate choice of language to make you think that if you do turn them down, you won’t get the software you wanted. WRONG! You will still get your desired software.

My feeling? This sucks, because unless you’re savvy, you get it stuck to you.

Download sites still safe from this crap: Softpedia, Major Geeks and Freeware Files.

Download sites that use adware installers: Brothersoft, c|net's Download.com, FileHippo, Softonic, Sourceforge, Tucows.

Good tips:

1. Download from the dev’s/company’s site if possible (watch out for the tons of ads on those pages). If not, download from one of the sites above.

2. You can spot files with ‘wrapped crapware’ – they have added text to the file name (like cbsidlm-cbsi-File Name.exe) or an icon (a download icon like a green button with 2 arrows pointing down).

Source:

http://www.ghacks.net/2014/07/08/beware-filehippo-tests-adware-distributing-download-manager/?_m=3n%2e0038%2e1299%2ehj0ao01hy5%2e1ci9

Comments

LightStar

on Jul 08, 2014

Well, they won't get any of my business if they do this for sure, and neither will any software vendor that allows FileHippo to do it!

Leo the Lion

on Jul 08, 2014

Good to know, Doc.........Thanks for the 'heads-up'

Heavenfall

on Jul 09, 2014

If I have to download a .exe just to get a non-.exe file, I'm just going to get it somewhere else. They just placed themselves firmly in the sled racing down the slippery slope.

ElanaAhova

on Jul 13, 2014

Thanks doc for helping us get hip to the filehippo.

DrJBHL

on Jul 13, 2014

Heavenfall

reply 3

If I have to download a .exe just to get a non-.exe file, I'm just going to get it somewhere else. They just placed themselves firmly in the sled racing down the slippery slope.

Heavenfall... I wrote:

There will be a download option for the software you want…DON’T use the “Download Manager Enabled” option. Under it there’s a “Direct Download” in smaller print (of course). That’s the one you want.

So you don't have to do that, o.k.?

@Elana:

You're welcome.

Quicksilver007

on Jul 13, 2014

Thanks Doc!

DrJBHL

on Jul 13, 2014

Welcome, Lorenzo!

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