Gunk - Everyday Examples

On September 16, 2012 I wrote about a very bad example of a useful program trying to trick us into installing lots of unwanted software; admittedly this was an exceptionally bad example. 

Last week I got my most beloved question about malicious and unwanted programs one too many times. It is the question "But how does this sort of program get on my computer? I certainly did not install it."

Here is my reaction to all this: Dear customer, you did it, I bet!

Let me show you some examples. Today I deliberately used the automatically appearing reminder to update Java; I used the mechanism that every unsuspecting computer user gets offered. The first program downloaded was a downloader which then in turn downloads the actual update.

This and other "download" programs download not only the real updater program that you want and need, no, they almost always offer some unrelated software sort of disguised as part of the actual update, here Java. The installer for the Java update showed several common windows to select the location for the install, agree to the ubiquitous End User License Agreement and so on. And among all these small windows was this one:

The title shows clearly that Java Setup is running, see the blue marking. If you read the text in the window, and you should read it, you see that they, whoever that may be, "... recommends insrtalling the FREE Browser Add-on from Ask, see the green marking. And then it comes:

Two lines that very clearly state what the gunk software wants to do:

• Install the Ask Toolbar and
• "Set and Keep" Ask as the default search provider.

And the check boxes in front of the text are pre-selected, naturally! Please see the red marking.

The "Set and Keep" is really tricky. Not only do they change your default search provider, they also tell the web browser not to allow future change.That means you can not just go in and set the browser back to the search provider of your choice. 


Every single of my customers has heard me saying: Toolbars are POISON for computers, no exceptions and no matter whose name they carry, no matter where they come from, no matter who made them and no matter what they promise.

We have to read these little windows, see that there are pre-selected check marks and let our common sense tell us that the Ask Toolbar and Search Page have absolutely nothing to do with Java. We need to un-check both check marks or our web browser will be messed up - and then it will get worse and worse and in the end effect some of you will call me for help.

Update 2014-01-16:

Here are more examples of the same process with different optics and different "gunk" to be foisted on our computers.

 

Updating Adobe Shockwave player would install Norton Security Scan.

Or, in different optics and different content because downloaded from a different download site:

 

IMHO the worst example because even Google employs these sneaky tactics:

This is how Google Chrome got on your computer Jerry G, you did allow it's installation.

Make no mistake, these things can happen with any installer or update of any program. Isn't it a shame that even well known big companies like Adobe, Oracle, Symantec (Norton products), McAfee and others employ these sneaky tactics trying to dupe us into installing something else than what we want?

Please save yourself the aggravation and some money, simply by paying attention!
As usual I welcome suggestions and comments right here in the blog.

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