Avast recommends download from CNET - good idea?

[acr1965]

I seen this post on the Avast Facebook page which recommends downloading from either Avast directly or from CNET. A few questions- does the download from CNET include the wrapper which has been talked about in the past? Also, if the wrapper is included does Avast detect it as a PUP or any other type of detection, such as adware (assuming that PUP detection is enabled in Avast) ?

Does anyone has info on the problems Avast had with downloading from other sites?

Thanks

[Brandonn2010]

I'd just get it from Softpedia, though I don't see why any AV company wouldn't offer a direct download.

[SweX]

IMO. No it's Not a good idea.

[RejZoR]

Originally Posted by SweX

IMO. No it's Not a good idea.

And you happen to know that basses on what? avast! installer found on CNET page is exactly the same as on ANY other webpage. It's just that they added word "cnet" to the installer name and that's it.
As much as i dislike CNET, there is nothing wrong with the avast! download specifically (it's not packed into some stupid cnet installer like some other software). So i don't see any reason to send potential users away from there as it's perfectly fine.

[SweX]

Originally Posted by RejZoR

And you happen to know that basses on what? avast! installer found on CNET page is exactly the same as on ANY other webpage. It's just that they added word "cnet" to the installer name and that's it.
As much as i dislike CNET, there is nothing wrong with the avast! download specifically (it's not packed into some stupid cnet installer like some other software). So i don't see any reason to send potential users away from there as it's perfectly fine.

That's fine.

But I don't like Cnet anymore (even though some installers like the avast! one may be perfectly fine to download) therefore I will never download anything from them again since there are better choices around. I usually download from Majorgeeks these days, if the download isn't available on the vendors site of course.

[BoerenkoolMetWorst]

Cnet has gone to the dark side..
Btw, no need to download Avast from 3rd party

Free AV: http://files.avast.com/iavs5x/setup_av_free.exe
Pro AV: http://files.avast.com/iavs5x/setup_av_pro.exe
IS: http://files.avast.com/iavs5x/setup_ais.exe

[mick92z]

Can you get the free version from Avast ? When you click on the free option, nothing happens http://www.avast.com/en-gb/free-antivirus-download

[acr1965]

Originally Posted by mick92z

Can you get the free version from Avast ? When you click on the free option, nothing happens http://www.avast.com/en-gb/free-antivirus-download

Looks like the free download link just redirects to CNET. Does Avast detect the CNET wrapper when it is downloaded with other products or is it white listed?

[Vladimyr]

It should take you here: http://download.cnet.com/Avast-Free-...=dl&tag=button via what looks like a Java overlay (below).

Do you have Java disabled?

[BoerenkoolMetWorst]

Originally Posted by mick92z

Can you get the free version from Avast ? When you click on the free option, nothing happens http://www.avast.com/en-gb/free-antivirus-download

Just use the direct links from my post #6

[chriswiles]

Sad times. It's not great when you see companies such as Avast publicly tell people to get their software from CNET (same way that AVG Free encourages you to go to CNET).

They want to do this as they want to push their ranking higher on Download.com, nothing more nothing less. There are no "technical issues". Most reputable downloads sites simply link to the direct links listed above.

However, security companies have an obsession about being high up on the Download.com "Most Popular" list. Seriously. They love it. Why? As Download.com users are those most likely to be influenced. They are, generally, novice users. So, get yourself high up the Download.com ranking and, you receive increased sales.

It's just really sad when a company encourages users to ditch other download sites and only go to Download.com - what a really poor short term strategy.

[DavidCo]

As posted by BoerenkoolMetWorst CNET has started to 'package' dowwnloads

http://www.networkworld.com/news/201...er-253840.html

[virtumonde]

Not sure what the problem is,seems good marketing... Like said before in this thread the cnet download of Avast is the same as those provided by BoerenkoolMetWorst links... The installer is digitally signed..
Cnet sucks now...maybe so...but for now that doesn't have to do anything with Avast & other companies who did not agreed with a bundled installer

[DavidCo]

It seems to be getting worse

From seclists.org

In fact, if we UPX-unpack the Trojan CNet
executable and send it to VirusTotal.com, it is detected as malware by
Panda, McAfee, F-Secure, etc:

From extremetech.com

Not every program is currently being wrapped — but they will be wrapped once a new version of a program is uploaded and distributed via Download.com. If the downloaded filename begins with “cnet_” then look elsewhere for the download. As you can see from the image above, even the GPL’d free-as-in-speech-and-beer VLC is wrapped by Cnet.

rant over - I just hate this sort of thing

[acuariano]

i download from filehippo

[acr1965]

Originally Posted by DavidCo

It seems to be getting worse

From seclists.org

Thanks for the info. What I'm wondering is if there is some agreement between CNET / Download.com that they will allow a security program to be listed on their site in exchange for the security program not detecting the wrapper (aka white listing the wrapper).

[Technical]

Originally Posted by RejZoR

And you happen to know that basses on what? avast! installer found on CNET page is exactly the same as on ANY other webpage. It's just that they added word "cnet" to the installer name and that's it.
As much as i dislike CNET, there is nothing wrong with the avast! download specifically (it's not packed into some stupid cnet installer like some other software). So i don't see any reason to send potential users away from there as it's perfectly fine.

Exactly what I thought as an end user

[kupo]

What I'm wondering is that I download some files from cnet and they do not come with the cnet installer.

[Noob]

Since a few years ago i always try to avoid CNET to download files, not because i'm scared of malware but for some reason all downloads i get from CNET are SLOOOOOOOW

[STV0726]

Shame on CNET and Avast.

Maybe THIS was the thread for me to start praising MSE / Comodo ...

[RejZoR]

And why should avast! be ashamed of anything? CNET is a good starting point for ppl to get to know avast! and since its installer isn't packed into CNET garbage, i don't see anything wrong about it at all. If anyone has to be ashamed of anything its CNET's business practice, for which, AVAST Software isn't responsible.

[Noob]

I was never against Avast! nor CNET, my only complaint is my download speeds when downloading files from CNET!

[Doraemon]

Thank god my OpenDNS blocks automatically CNET.

[dr pan k]

a few years back, during the launch of iphone (the original 1 st generation) i visited download.com only to see my pc getting attacked by some trojan-virus coming from the banners..

since then i lost faith to a site that "promotes" security and cant handle their own banners

good thing i had my fido AV protecting my ~ Snipped as per TOS ~....

[sg09]

Originally Posted by Noob

I was never against Avast! nor CNET, my only complaint is my download speeds when downloading files from CNET!

Same here....