Emsisoft: ALL free AVs (except BD Free) try to install PUPs on your PC

Discussion in 'other anti-virus software' started by chillstream, Jan 18, 2015.

  1. chillstream

    chillstream Registered Member

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  2. siketa

    siketa Registered Member

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    Not ALL...what about
    • 360TS/IS
    • Baidu
    • Fortinet
    • Microsoft Security Essentials
    • Roboscan
    • Unthreat, etc.?
     
  3. guest

    guest Guest

    They are talking about free AV's why Emsisoft doesn't offer a completely free AV without any PUP to choose during installation?. This is a hypocrite post. First do it and then you can talk about how other vendors fund their free products.
    And most of the free av's with PUPs if not all allow you to easily not to install the PUPs during installation.
     
  4. chillstream

    chillstream Registered Member

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    Their words, not mine:
    "ALL free Antivirus programs come with toolbars or PUPs of some sort – except Bitdefender Free. A lot of them have a “rebranded” Ask toolbar that generates considerable pay per install (PPI) revenues while they’re labeled as part of the vendors own security solution. Some disclose they use Ask (for example Avira), others like AVG go as far as adding pops with coupon deals."

    They offer a completely free and PUP-free standalone scanner - Emsisoft Emergency Kit.
     
  5. Behold Eck

    Behold Eck Registered Member

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    It would be interesting to see what they would try to install alongside it if they did do a free version.Probably end up the worst offender.:rolleyes:

    Regards Eck:)
     
  6. siketa

    siketa Registered Member

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  7. FleischmannTV

    FleischmannTV Registered Member

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    Not all free AVs need to install PUPs on your computer in order to monetize your data. I suppose some just collect it directly through the AV product. That doesn't mean they're even one iota more trustworthy then those who install PUPs.
     
  8. Mortal Raptor

    Mortal Raptor Banned

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    Thats why most the programs I own are paid. If I have a choice for example between a free image screenshot catpture tool, I use the paid one, in this case, FastStone Capture.

    Free has become VIRUSes nowadays, or PUPs with bundled crap if you wanna be precise
     
  9. Nightwalker

    Nightwalker Registered Member

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    Baidu is one of the worst offender out there (Hao123/hard to removal/adware downloader), I really dont know how Wilders members can consider to use it.

    Roboscan and 360TS have Bitdefender engine and I know that 360 makes money with online advertising (360 Startup Page).

    Fortinet offers a very limited free version, they make money with their Enterprise solutions. Microsoft is Microsoft ...

    Really Emsisoft has a good point, PUPs are now a serious problem.
     
  10. Nightwalker

    Nightwalker Registered Member

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    They do offer on demand scan for free and great support on forum.
     
  11. Behold Eck

    Behold Eck Registered Member

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    Yup, they are very good.;)

    Regards Eck:)
     
  12. Solarlynx

    Solarlynx Registered Member

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    No surprise that this article is written by Emsisoft. Their EEK and AV are very good at removing PUP.
     
  13. DX2

    DX2 Guest

    Avira free doesn't that I know of...
     
  14. chabbo

    chabbo Registered Member

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    panda free?
     
  15. blacknight

    blacknight Registered Member

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    If a software house offer his av free, and during the installation process asks clearly if you want optional toolbar or search engine, and you can easy say No, I don't see the matter.
     
  16. WildByDesign

    WildByDesign Registered Member

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    Well said, I agree. But I underlined the most important part of what you said. Software that tries to trick users is the ones that bother me the most since a lot of those everyday users fall for that kind of trickery. As you said, I respect software companies so long as they make it clear to the user and give the user the option to say no.
     
  17. FleischmannTV

    FleischmannTV Registered Member

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    For you it may not matter but you have to account for the majority of people, who are not educated enough about the consequences of these opt-out installations.

    It is a despicable premeditative exploitation of users' greenness and, above all else, trust. No one would check these options if they were opt-in instead of opt-out; and the guaranty that you will have FUBARed your system after a couple of these default installation speaks for itself.

    No, I really don't see the matter either. It is time for law-makers to make this illegal. I see no problem with bundling, as long as it's opt-in instead of opt-out.
     
  18. Mortal Raptor

    Mortal Raptor Banned

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    very well said. The majority of PCs that I repair come bundled with all this crapware (BAIDU PC FASTER, OptimizeMyPC, Safe Websearch, etc) yet they have an AV! and they complain that their computer is super slow with a lot of annoying popups! That's worse than a virus!

    I stopped using SUPERAntiSpyware just because they've been bundling Google Chrome in their software. A security company that bundles crapware in any form in its installer is a shady company that I'd never trust.
     
  19. DX2

    DX2 Guest

    So Google Chrome is crapware?
     
  20. blacknight

    blacknight Registered Member

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    Agree. My point of view is that security softwares producers well known, that are in the market for many years, go on to be reliable if they propose some PUPS in a clear and optional way in their free versions. Sure, I also don't like it, and I would like better that they did not it, but it's becoming usual for free versions. And what benefit would have - for example - Avira, or Avast, BitDefender.... to have malicious behaviors with users ? I'm talking about great and established software houses, not about new, " strange " and unknown products.
     
  21. clocks

    clocks Registered Member

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    Emisoft wants you to pay money for their AV, not sure a free one. That's about it.
     
  22. ance

    ance formerly: fmon

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    Yes. :argh:

    Emsisoft, where is your free AV with realtime protection? ;)
     
  23. IBK

    IBK AV Expert

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    there are also some few paid products which include PUP/toolbars.
     
  24. DX2

    DX2 Guest

    Norton does for sure..
     
  25. Mayahana

    Mayahana Banned

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    Norton? Toolbars, yes. PUP's.. NO. Same with Trend. In the case of Norton (and Trend), these toolbars provide things like a free encrypted password manager, or enhanced phishing/exploit protection - and aren't intrusive. Norton is very clear about their toolbars, their purpose, and they ask you if you want them with GIANT boxed, and provide options in the program to disable them. This is a huge difference then some AV installing data mining toolbars like ASK or Avast, etc. BIG difference. Let's make sure we can differentiate here.

    For the real PUA/PUP trash - I recommend Unchecky. It not only unchecks stuff for you - seamlessly, but it automatically alters your host file to block bundled background installations, or temp downloads while normal installs are going.
     
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