Quote:
Originally posted by Hooper@Apr 29 2004, 03:11 PM
click the "help my menubar is locked" faq and follow those instructions.
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already did it, I had seen that ref in my google search for isearch toolbar....fixed it up.
So.. My whole reason for all of this was to see if there is creedence in what is being said here and on GFY...
Forst of all, if you do a google on "isearch toolbar" you will get a bit over 10,000 results, most of which seem to be complaints about it, how to remove it, installed without my permission, all that.
Hooper, you claim that "The uninstall is easy and automatic.". This is not a true statement. First of all, the uninstall should be able to be reached through the software removal option on the windows control panel, it is not. Secondly, the uninstall requires a return trip to the site (I did not check inside the toolbar itself to see if a link was there because I already knew where the uninstall instructions and download were). The uninstaller that I downloaded from the isearch website did not work. I had to remove a dll file and several registry entries to remove the software then I had to go download the unlocking entries for the registry as a seperate download. While this was all relatively painless for me, for the average surfer/computer user, this would have been a many hour exercise.
If your software is legit, then make it easy to uninstall, what are you worried about ?
As I previously stated, there was no place that indicated what I was installing with the exception of a brief explanation on the website and the fact that the download file was labeled as a "Free Popup Blocker". I did not agree to any terms and conditions, I did not see any feature list. It was basically a blind download and one that if I did not have your ear on it, I would not have done it. Again, if you are wanting to be/look legit I would state the features and exactly what is going to be downloaded on to the machine. Get the surfers expilicit agreement to make the changes and you are that much more on the side of legality. When a case of spyware/malware/adware auto install finally gets into court, the argument that you downloaded the program so you therefore agreed to everything will not stand up.
On the plus side for you, all certficates seemed in order, I could tell who to complain to if I needed to, so that was all good.
The locking of the toolbars is an unnecessary "piss off the surfer" item. On the FAQ for the uninstall on the isearch site
http://toolbar.isearch.com/uninstall/ you state "If you would prefer to maintain control of your Internet Explorer toolbar it's as easy as downloading this file, selecting "Open", and selecting "Yes" when asked if you would like to merge the data. After doing this, close internet explorer and re-open it.". Well, the fact of the matter is that you never asked me if I wanted to maintain control of my toolbars and of course I do. Downloading software does not give the software owners/authors/distributors the right to hijack my machine in any way, shape or form. Doesn't matter if the software is form you, gator or microsoft. Making changes without notifying me and giving me the option to not make the change is a hijack. (and yes, I know microsoft and windows update does this all the time and I have issues about that too... Just because johnny down the street jumps off the bridge doesn't mean you should).
Anyway, long long story short. I found the software to be riding the edge a little bit. It des not seem to be a malevolent package, it si not what I would call spyware, it is more like an adware package than a spyware package. There are some issues that could be easily addressed that would make it much more acceptable to the general population and would make it appear much more legit.
If you are advocating (by ignoring, paying or assisting) affiliates to do an blind auto load of the software, than you should be shot. I would hope that you are treating incidents like this as any sponsor would treat incidents of cheating and are wiping the affiliates account out.
The porngraph download was accomplished, apparently, using an IE hole that allowed a chm file to be downloaded which then launched an auotinstaller. This is a scumware/malware/spyware tactic. If you stand behind your product as you seem to be claiming then I would hope that you would take porngraph to task very publically and loudly for this behaviour.
Thats all I go to say
