Download.com and Calibre

sassanik · 02-18-2013, 02:10 PM

Download.com has a new installer program that installs malware in addition to the downloaded software. I had to reinstall from a backup and went to download.com to save time, since I had so many programs that I needed reinstalled. Anyway I discovered that they have a new installer/downloader program that contains malware.
I have no idea if Calibre can be removed from that site, or if Kovid would want to, but I did want him to know about it.
It is the same with Sigil at download.com.
Its a shame because the site used to be good, but apparently they got greedy.

Amy

kovidgoyal · 02-18-2013, 02:25 PM

There are lots of such sites that redistribute calibre (which may be illegal if they dont also redistribute the calibre source code). There are even sites that offer calibre for download with a zipped up library full of pirated books. Unfortunately, I haven't the time or resources to track them all down.

theducks · 02-18-2013, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

There are lots of such sites that redistribute calibre (which may be illegal if they dont also redistribute the calibre source code). There are even sites that offer calibre for download with a zipped up library full of pirated books. Unfortunately, I haven't the time or resources to track them all down.

Download.com is owned by CBS Interactive (the CNET folk)
They may load up with the crapware, but Malware would really be legally unforgivible

taustin · 02-18-2013, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

Download.com is owned by CBS Interactive (the CNET folk)
They may load up with the crapware, but Malware would really be legally unforgivible

While I agree with your sentiment, this isn't the first time download.com has been accused of that, more often than not by notable professional technical blog writers. They really have gone over to the dark side.

I'm curious: what is it this time? IIRC, last time it was a browser hijacking tool bar (which is, inevitably, so poorly written as to crash Windows, or at least, the browser) that couldn't be uninstalled in any normal way.

sassanik · 02-18-2013, 07:58 PM

They are loading in coupon companion and a couple of other programs as far as I have heard. I got one with coupon companion in it.
As soon as I saw that it was trying to install something extra I use the close window button but apparently that does not stop the install! Which is a just crap!
Anyway I know Kovid's program is good and would not want people to think that it was Calibre that caused the malware, when it was the download site.

Amy

DoctorOhh · 02-18-2013, 08:09 PM

The solution is simple, download from one of the two sites specified by calibre, here or here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sassanik

I had to reinstall from a backup and went to download.com to save time, since I had so many programs that I needed reinstalled.

You didn't really save time, did you? It takes as long to google the official site as it does to go to unofficial sites.

Thanks for sharing your experience it should benefit many.

BetterRed · 02-19-2013, 03:07 AM

FWIW : I keep the latest 2 versions of my downloaded software on spinning data drive, with a replica on a 4GB thumb. Saves me a lot of hassle if I need to reinstall.

My experience is that the freeloaders almost always have some sort of opt-out, but they can be tricky to understand, and hard to find. I recently found one buried in the License Agreement that was displayed during the install.

And its not just download sites like CNET that peddle this rubbish, some well known so called 'open source' packages have also started feature bloat in their installs. They seem to prefer Bunndle to Open Candy, and my experience is that its much harder to eradicate Bunndle than it is Open Candy.

BR

kovidgoyal · 02-19-2013, 03:24 AM

I get emails from people trying to convince me to get rich by adding crap to the calibre installer every little while. People find it really hard to believe I dont want to get rich at any cost.

HarryT · 02-19-2013, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sassanik

Download.com has a new installer program that installs malware in addition to the downloaded software. I had to reinstall from a backup and went to download.com to save time, since I had so many programs that I needed reinstalled. Anyway I discovered that they have a new installer/downloader program that contains malware.
I have no idea if Calibre can be removed from that site, or if Kovid would want to, but I did want him to know about it.
It is the same with Sigil at download.com.
Its a shame because the site used to be good, but apparently they got greedy.

Amy

Why didn't you download from the Calibre site directly? I'd never dream of downloading something like Calibre from a third-party site.

taustin · 02-19-2013, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

I get emails from people trying to convince me to get rich by adding crap to the calibre installer every little while. People find it really hard to believe I dont want to get rich at any cost.

Some people might have it hard to believe, and certainly you're unusual in the grand scheme of things.

But it's good to know that not everyone is a douche.

Apache · 02-19-2013, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

I get emails from people trying to convince me to get rich by adding crap to the calibre installer every little while. People find it really hard to believe I dont want to get rich at any cost.

And I, for one, thank you.

Apache

02-18-2013, 02:10 PM	#1
sassanik Guru Posts: 774 Karma: 1211741 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Oregon Device: EB1150, iPhone, Cool-er Purple, Pocketbook 360, Kindle Fire	Download.com and Calibre Download.com has a new installer program that installs malware in addition to the downloaded software. I had to reinstall from a backup and went to download.com to save time, since I had so many programs that I needed reinstalled. Anyway I discovered that they have a new installer/downloader program that contains malware. I have no idea if Calibre can be removed from that site, or if Kovid would want to, but I did want him to know about it. It is the same with Sigil at download.com. Its a shame because the site used to be good, but apparently they got greedy. Amy

02-18-2013, 07:58 PM	#5
sassanik Guru Posts: 774 Karma: 1211741 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Oregon Device: EB1150, iPhone, Cool-er Purple, Pocketbook 360, Kindle Fire	coupon companion They are loading in coupon companion and a couple of other programs as far as I have heard. I got one with coupon companion in it. As soon as I saw that it was trying to install something extra I use the close window button but apparently that does not stop the install! Which is a just crap! Anyway I know Kovid's program is good and would not want people to think that it was Calibre that caused the malware, when it was the download site. Amy

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02-18-2013, 02:25 PM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,373 Karma: 27230406 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	There are lots of such sites that redistribute calibre (which may be illegal if they dont also redistribute the calibre source code). There are even sites that offer calibre for download with a zipped up library full of pirated books. Unfortunately, I haven't the time or resources to track them all down.

02-19-2013, 03:07 AM	#7
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,740 Karma: 30237526 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	FWIW : I keep the latest 2 versions of my downloaded software on spinning data drive, with a replica on a 4GB thumb. Saves me a lot of hassle if I need to reinstall. My experience is that the freeloaders almost always have some sort of opt-out, but they can be tricky to understand, and hard to find. I recently found one buried in the License Agreement that was displayed during the install. And its not just download sites like CNET that peddle this rubbish, some well known so called 'open source' packages have also started feature bloat in their installs. They seem to prefer Bunndle to Open Candy, and my experience is that its much harder to eradicate Bunndle than it is Open Candy. BR

02-19-2013, 03:24 AM	#8
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,373 Karma: 27230406 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	I get emails from people trying to convince me to get rich by adding crap to the calibre installer every little while. People find it really hard to believe I dont want to get rich at any cost.