Do you install freeware? You need this.
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- Fairportfan
- Posts: 3283
- Joined: Wed Aug 01, 2012 12:14 am
- Location: Atlanta (well, Gainesville)
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Do you install freeware? You need this.
Unchecky is a small background program that watches what you're installing and automatically deselects and/or warns you about bundled adware, shovelware or toolbars in the installer.
This stuff is not necessarily malware - though the Ask toolbar is so close that it's hard to see daylight between them (and damnably hard to get rid of) - but it's stuff the freeware distributor includes because they get a small payoff every time someone installs it.
They are generally set up so that you can opt out - often so that you have to opt out to avoid installing it - while installing the software you actually want.
Unchecky watches for that stuff, and, in most cases, deals with it.
I like it, and i've been meaning to mention it here for a while.
(The link takes you to the writeup on Gizmo's Freeware i first heard about it from.)
This stuff is not necessarily malware - though the Ask toolbar is so close that it's hard to see daylight between them (and damnably hard to get rid of) - but it's stuff the freeware distributor includes because they get a small payoff every time someone installs it.
They are generally set up so that you can opt out - often so that you have to opt out to avoid installing it - while installing the software you actually want.
Unchecky watches for that stuff, and, in most cases, deals with it.
I like it, and i've been meaning to mention it here for a while.
(The link takes you to the writeup on Gizmo's Freeware i first heard about it from.)
Not even duct tape can fix stupid. But it can muffle the noise.
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Peace through superior firepower - ain't nothin' more peaceful than a dead troublemaker.
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mike weber
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Peace through superior firepower - ain't nothin' more peaceful than a dead troublemaker.
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mike weber
- MerchManDan
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Re: Do you install freeware? You need this.
Neato! I'm kind of a freeware junkie, so this is relevant to my interests. Thanks Fpf!
"Give orange me give eat orange me eat orange give me eat orange give me you." - Nim the chimp
Animation courtesy of shadowinthelight (thanks again!)
Animation courtesy of shadowinthelight (thanks again!)
- Fairportfan
- Posts: 3283
- Joined: Wed Aug 01, 2012 12:14 am
- Location: Atlanta (well, Gainesville)
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Re: Do you install freeware? You need this.
Been meaning to mention it ever since the GF page went up - 2 January - and keep forgetting.
Not even duct tape can fix stupid. But it can muffle the noise.
=====================
Peace through superior firepower - ain't nothin' more peaceful than a dead troublemaker.
=====================
mike weber
=====================
Peace through superior firepower - ain't nothin' more peaceful than a dead troublemaker.
=====================
mike weber
- Jabberwonky
- Posts: 2963
- Joined: Sun Aug 12, 2012 8:11 am
- Location: Houston, Texas
Re: Do you install freeware? You need this.
Any help with that sort of sneakware is appreciated, thanks FP.
"The price of perfection is prohibitive." - Anonymous
Re: Do you install freeware? You need this.
Groovy! I'll have to check/try it out. in some cases, I've ended up just avoiding some really good stuff because the adsneaks are so many.
- shadowinthelight
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Re: Do you install freeware? You need this.
One trick is to disconnect from the internet while running installers. It prevents them from connecting to the ad networks some load dynamically and skip straight to the real stuff.
Julie, about Wapsi Square wrote:Oh goodness yes. So much paranormal!
My deviantART and YouTube.
I'm done thinking for today! It's caused me enough trouble!
- DinkyInky
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Re: Do you install freeware? You need this.
Except for WinBLOWS 8. It's so {insert many colourful expletives here}, that if I try to install without internet, it auto-cancels my downloads. Apparently it's because it auto-backs up your WinBLOWS settings(whether you want it to or not, and I have yet to find a way that works to shut it down. Even compatibility mode fails to do so. If I did not have a killer warranty on the machine with it on, I'd so be using Penguin...shadowinthelight wrote:One trick is to disconnect from the internet while running installers. It prevents them from connecting to the ad networks some load dynamically and skip straight to the real stuff.
Yanno how some people have Angels/Devils for a conscience? I have a Dark Elf ShadowKnight and a Half Elf Ranger for mine. The really bad part is when they agree on something.
Aphyon chu kissa whol l'jaed.
--Safyr Drathmir
Aphyon chu kissa whol l'jaed.
--Safyr Drathmir
- scantrontb
- Posts: 1000
- Joined: Tue Jul 31, 2012 12:44 am
Re: Do you install freeware? You need this.
one of the problems with that strategy is that more and more crapware will just save the settings and the next time you do go online, it will auto download the junk at that time by doing it in the background, while you go to the website you wanted to go to, and you never realize that it's doing it in the first place... and by the time you do realize, it's too late.shadowinthelight wrote:One trick is to disconnect from the internet while running installers. It prevents them from connecting to the ad networks some load dynamically and skip straight to the real stuff.
Don't planto mihi adveho illac
- shadowinthelight
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Re: Do you install freeware? You need this.
Many installers will make it confusing to opt out of the extra crap. A few nasty ones will refuse to continue if you don't say yes or install something even if you say no. I've never had to deal with the behavior you describe. It pays to read reviews of unfamiliar programs before downloading to see what dangers people have run into. Trying to stick to open source helps a bit as it limits any shenanigans to the installers and not the desired programs themselves. The best example I can think of is DAEMON Tools which is probably the best virtual optical drive. Their ad partner was (still is?) doing the shady install stuff even if you say no thing. Disconnecting before running the installer made the "optional" software never even come up. My system is clean as a whistle right now.scantrontb wrote:one of the problems with that strategy is that more and more crapware will just save the settings and the next time you do go online, it will auto download the junk at that time by doing it in the background, while you go to the website you wanted to go to, and you never realize that it's doing it in the first place... and by the time you do realize, it's too late.
Julie, about Wapsi Square wrote:Oh goodness yes. So much paranormal!
My deviantART and YouTube.
I'm done thinking for today! It's caused me enough trouble!