Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPS), have been infesting our machines for years but certainly not in the same quantity and frequency as today. Unfortunately, freeware developers appear to have cottoned on to this shabby method for creating additional income in droves, to the point where, in this day and age, unpolluted freeware is becoming a genuine […]
It appears yet another once trusted source for downloads has succumbed to the dark side. FileHippo has decided to join the ranks of CNET Download.com and others, and is now offering software downloads via its own Download Manager, which includes adware offers. This story first came to light a couple of months ago but until […]
Last week we published several articles dealing with the additional crapware which so often accompanies software installations, including a review of the freeware Unchecky. Following a couple of comments from our readers, I thought this was a topic which could certainly be expanded upon. DCT reader “Tracy” suggested using ninite.com to avoid crapware, and I […]
When was the last time you downloaded a software update, only to find you also invited half the street to join in the fun? You see, personal computing today can be akin to throwing a party and spending the rest of the evening fighting off hordes of gatecrashers. Everyone wants a piece of the action […]
While the ImgBurn disc burning software might be a tad complex to suit everyone’s needs, it has gained a well earned respect among burning enthusiasts. It’s been quite some time since I’ve used ImgBurn, or even installed it on my system for that matter. Over the years I’ve backed up my DVD’s using a combination […]
Last week I published an article regarding my freeware reviews, you can catch up with that article here: Freeware Reviews: The do’s and don’ts. The article elicited a couple of interesting comments regarding what actually constitutes freeware these days. One reader mentioned that “The definition of ‘FREEware’ is no longer what it used to be” […]
We let you know about the good software here at DCT, but we also warn about the not so good. The prolific software company IObit has recently released an anti-malware freeware called ‘IObit Malware Fighter 2’ which, it claims, includes real time protection. Free tools of this type which also include real time protection are […]
For the uninitiated; SourceForge is the primary repository for open source software, hosting more than 300,00 projects. By extension, this means that SourceForge has also become the primary download source for open source software. Apparently, SourceForge has now decided to offer developers the opportunity to monetize their projects per medium of a new revenue sharing […]
[important]This article was written by Bill Pytlovany and has been reposted here with his kind permission. Bill is the developer of the well known WinPatrol security program, he is among the original cyber-security researchers and one of the founding fathers of the Internet as we know it today.[/important] Intro by Jim: If you are a […]
Yes folks, yet another freeware developer has gone over to the dark side, bundling undesirable software with its products. I have stated on many occasions that I have no problem with developers wishing to monetize their efforts, anything which helps keep our favorite freeware free can only be a good thing, right. But there are […]
I guess most people would be aware of OpenCandy by now, for those who are not, here is a short explanation compliments of Wikipedia: OpenCandy is an advertising software module consisting of a Microsoft Windows library that can be incorporated into a Windows installer. When a user installs an application that includes the OpenCandy library, […]
It seems more and more developers are insisting on bundling extras with their freeware; toolbars are becoming common place as well as changes to home pages and search engines. Some are open and up front about it, many adopt a more sneaky approach – such as including automatic approval for additional installations/changes in a license […]