What exactly is the new Cnet Download Manager?
At one time, downloads requested from Cnet (Download.com) behaved like any other, you clicked the link and your download began. Now though, ordinary users are required to use Cnet's own wrapped installer in order to download a program. This means what you end up with could well contain additional elements you might not want, and if you fail to notice any “opt out's” during the install process, these extras will be installed on your computer.
Not all Cnet hosted programs have a wrapped installer, but those that do have the words "CNET Installer Enabled" displayed at the bottom of the green download button. There is however a direct download link just under this which bypasses the wrapped installer. A Cnet account is no longer necessary for direct downloads. This is a welcome development [February 2012] in response to the pressure exerted by both users and vendors who host their files with Cnet.
Overall, we still remain unhappy with the whole issue surrounding wrapped installers and will continue to link our own downloads to MajorGeeks, Softpedia and FileHippo instead.
There will be instances when programs are only available from Download.com, or where the alternative mirrors do not meet our criteria for reliability and safety. In such cases we will post a warning notice next to the download link.
As with all downloads, from wherever sourced, we recommend you scan the file with your resident antivirus first before executing it. Alternatively, you can use the free version of Malwarebytes which includes a right-click scan option, or upload/email the file to VirusTotal which uses multiple scanners.
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Comments
Hello, eikelein:
In a sense, you are correct. However, when one considers the English translation of the Latin "caviat emptor" (which means "buyer beware"), my wording seems appropriate. If one is getting something for free, strictly speaking, one is not a buyer.
Since the Romans didn't seem to have a problem with gifts, my Latin class never went into what one should do when one is offered, except in the case of a Wooden Horse - which gave us the well-known phrase "bewere of Greeks bearing gifts". However, that appears to have been a Trojan problem.
Beware of advertisers, and others, who don't mind corrupting our language with phrases like "free gift". I have yet to figure-out how a gift can be anything but free!
Anonymous87 mentioned open source software in the post, in an earlier message.
Unfortunately, some open source software providers are on the bandwagon, offering piggyback PUPs, along with what is usually very fine software that performs and is maintained in ways many commercial program providers should emulate. So, one should always follow that centuries-old warning: caviat emptor (even for something you are getting for "free")!
You write "even for something you are getting for free". Wouldn't it be better to say "... especially for something..."?