Crapware being associated with caribe downloads

HappyChris · 07-13-2019, 01:29 PM

In case you don't know, the 'update calibre' web page is currently offering 'PDF Mac Master', a dubious vehicle for malware, they say. Google 'PDF Mac Master review' to check...

Seems bad company to keep.

phossler · 07-13-2019, 01:43 PM

I've always found the official Calibre site clean and free of such things:

https://calibre-ebook.com/download

Where did you see that?

jhowell · 07-13-2019, 02:06 PM

I see random ads there.

dwig · 07-13-2019, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phossler

I've always found the official Calibre site clean and free of such things:

Where did you see that?

Agreed. In fact, I just updated one of my Windows 10 devices from the official site last night and there was no evilness associated with it.

phossler · 07-13-2019, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwig

Agreed. In fact, I just updated one of my Windows 10 devices from the official site last night and there was no evilness associated with it.

I turned off my ad blocker and refreshed the download page.

Still clean and ad-free

DiapDealer · 07-13-2019, 02:16 PM

If you run an adblocker, then sure you probably don't see any ads on calibre's download page.

Otherwise, yes. There are ads displayed on calibre's download page (not that Kovid has any control over which ads get displayed).

phossler · 07-13-2019, 03:01 PM

I did try it without my adblocker:

Quote:

I turned off my ad blocker and refreshed the download page.

Is there something else to do force ads? I have a pretty good list of sites in my HOSTS to bypass, but since I'm happy, I'm reluctant mess with my config too much just to experiment

theducks · 07-13-2019, 03:26 PM

I see (and ignore) ads on the official download site.
Kovid has complained about inappropriate ads before.
I don't think the site ad purveyor can 'escape' if the ad leads directly to malware. There is lots of software sold that does thing poorly or you could do yourself (with a little effort) with existing tools.

DiapDealer · 07-13-2019, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phossler

I did try it without my adblocker:

Is there something else to do force ads? I have a pretty good list of sites in my HOSTS to bypass, but since I'm happy, I'm reluctant mess with my config too much just to experiment

It's probably your HOSTS file.

But regardless of how it's getting blocked in your browser, my main point is that Kovid (nor anyone who utilizes an ad service like this) can control the ads that get displayed. And no matter how well the ad service in question vets their content, ads for questionable content WILL slip through the cracks from time to time. I find the notion of calibre somehow being associated with the questionable content being displayed by the ad service to be complete nonsense. If that's the case, then every single website that displays ads is associated with "questionable content" at some point or another.

Block or ignore the ads, I say. Expecting Kovid to be able to ensure that the ad content that displays on his download page will always meet with everyone's personal notion of "not at all dubious" at all times is silly. Can't be done. And while I reserve the right to block any ad I want, I also have no beef with anyone who wants to create a revenue stream via ad content from an ad service.

phossler · 07-13-2019, 06:08 PM

Agree - everyone has to pay the bills

There's a kids cartoon site that I have to keep a close grandfather's eye on since it constantly serves up age 18+ very suggestive ads. I spend a fair amount of time trying to keep my HOSTS file ahead of them since even a good Ad Block Plus can't seem to suppress them all.

Many times it seems I can't even block them with my HOSTS

kovidgoyal · 07-13-2019, 10:47 PM

Yeah the ads on the calibre website come from google adsense -- not something I can realistically control.

HappyChris · 07-14-2019, 04:32 PM

Thank you for giving us your end of this mode of business, Kovid.

It must stick in your craw a bit to realise that your totally excellent product is tarnished in a users estimation when they find that they've been served a bit of Internet Evil for trusting the integrity of people they might think you approve of. This abrogation of responsibility by Google, et al, for being a major link in the supply chain for hoodlums' dodgy software can't last forever.

07-13-2019, 01:29 PM	#1
HappyChris Enthusiast Posts: 27 Karma: 7526 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Bristol, UK Device: Nexus 10 (2 of them), Nexus 5, iPhone, iPad, Kindle, iMac	Crapware being associated with caribe downloads In case you don't know, the 'update calibre' web page is currently offering 'PDF Mac Master', a dubious vehicle for malware, they say. Google 'PDF Mac Master review' to check... Seems bad company to keep.

07-13-2019, 01:43 PM	#2
phossler Wizard Posts: 1,087 Karma: 447222 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Valley Forge, PA, USA Device: Kindle Paperwhite	I've always found the official Calibre site clean and free of such things: https://calibre-ebook.com/download Where did you see that? Attached Thumbnails

07-13-2019, 02:06 PM	#3
jhowell Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,072 Karma: 91577715 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Charlottesville, VA Device: Kindles	I see random ads there. Attached Thumbnails

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07-13-2019, 02:16 PM	#6
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,571 Karma: 204127028 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	If you run an adblocker, then sure you probably don't see any ads on calibre's download page. Otherwise, yes. There are ads displayed on calibre's download page (not that Kovid has any control over which ads get displayed).

07-13-2019, 03:26 PM	#8
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,057 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	I see (and ignore) ads on the official download site. Kovid has complained about inappropriate ads before. I don't think the site ad purveyor can 'escape' if the ad leads directly to malware. There is lots of software sold that does thing poorly or you could do yourself (with a little effort) with existing tools.

07-13-2019, 06:08 PM	#10
phossler Wizard Posts: 1,087 Karma: 447222 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Valley Forge, PA, USA Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Agree - everyone has to pay the bills There's a kids cartoon site that I have to keep a close grandfather's eye on since it constantly serves up age 18+ very suggestive ads. I spend a fair amount of time trying to keep my HOSTS file ahead of them since even a good Ad Block Plus can't seem to suppress them all. Many times it seems I can't even block them with my HOSTS

07-13-2019, 10:47 PM	#11
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,353 Karma: 27182818 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Yeah the ads on the calibre website come from google adsense -- not something I can realistically control.

07-14-2019, 04:32 PM	#12
HappyChris Enthusiast Posts: 27 Karma: 7526 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Bristol, UK Device: Nexus 10 (2 of them), Nexus 5, iPhone, iPad, Kindle, iMac	Thank you for giving us your end of this mode of business, Kovid. It must stick in your craw a bit to realise that your totally excellent product is tarnished in a users estimation when they find that they've been served a bit of Internet Evil for trusting the integrity of people they might think you approve of. This abrogation of responsibility by Google, et al, for being a major link in the supply chain for hoodlums' dodgy software can't last forever.

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