Download.com

Download.com
Web address Download.cnet.com
Commercial? Yes
Type of site
 Downloads
Registration Optional
Owner CBS Interactive
Created by CNET
Launched February 24, 1996 (1996-02-24)
Alexa rank
 Negative increase 12,448 (April 2014)[1]
Current status Active

Download.com is an Internet download directory website launched in 1996 as a part of CNET. Originally, the domain was download.com and is now download.cnet.com. The domain download.com attracted at least 113 million visitors annually by 2008 according to a Compete.com study.[2]

Overview

The offered content is available in four major categories: software (including Windows, Mac and mobile), music, games, and videos, offered for download via FTP from Download.com's servers or third-party servers. Videos are streams (at present) and music was all free MP3 downloads, or occasionally rights-managed WMAs or streams until it was replaced with last.fm.

The Software section includes over 100,000 freeware, shareware, and try-first downloads. Downloads are often rated and reviewed by editors and contain a summary of the file from the software publisher. Registered users may also write reviews and rate the product. Software publishers are permitted to distribute their titles via CNET's Upload.com site for free, or for a fee structure that offers enhancements.

In 2004, Download.com Music was launched to replace the defunct MP3.com. One may download music in a variety of genres for free from this area of the site, and the artists range from amateurs to professionals. Artists may upload their information and songs to the site for free. All submissions go through a review process. On March 11, 2009, the music section was replaced with Last.fm.

In July 2005, Download.com Video was launched with streaming video content in a variety of genres (movies and TV, sports, animation, music videos, etc.). Download.com plans to offer downloadable videos in future.

CNet uses Spigot Inc to monetize the traffic to download.com. According to Sean Murphy, a General Manager at CNet, "Spigot continues to be a great partner to Download.com, sharing our desire to balance customer experience with revenue."[3]

Criticism

In August 2011, Download.com introduced an installation manager called CNET TechTracker for delivering many of the software titles from its catalog.[4] This installer was accused of potentially including trojans, and was also accused of containing bloatware, such as toolbars.[5][6][7] CNET admits in their download FAQ that "a small number of security publishers have flagged the Installer as adware or a potentially unwanted application".[8]

In December 2011, Gordon Lyon, writing under his pseudonym Fyodor published his strong dislike of the installation manager and concerns over the bundled software, causing many people to spread the post on social networks, and a few dozen media reports. The main problem is the confusion between Download.com-offered content[9][10] and software offered by original authors; the accusations included deception as well as copyright and trademark violation.[10]

In 2014, The Register and US-CERT warned that via download.com's "foistware", an "attacker may be able to download and execute arbitrary code".[11] In 2015, research by EMSISOFT suggested that all free download providers bundled their downloads with potentially unwanted software, and that Download.com was the worst offender.[12]

A study done by How-To Geek in 2015 revealed that Download.com was packaging malware inside their installers. The test was done in a virtual machine where the testers downloaded the Top 10 apps. These all contained crapware/malware; one example was the KMPlayer installer, which installed a rogue antivirus named 'Pro PC Cleaner' and attempted to execute WajamPage.exe. Some downloads, specifically YTD, were completely blocked by Avast.[13]

Another study done by How-To Geek in 2015 revealed that Download.com was installing fake SSL certificates inside their installers, similar to the Lenovo Superfish certificate. These fake certificates can completely compromise SSL encryption and allow man-in-the-middle attacks.[14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Download.com Site Info". Alexa Internet. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  2. ↑ Download.com attracts over 100m visitors yearly
  3. ↑ "Search Extensions". Archived from the original on March 16, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Download App - Free download and software reviews - CNET Download.com". Cnet.com. Retrieved 2015-05-04.
  5. ↑ "Download.com wraps downloads in bloatware, lies about motivations". ExtremeTech. Retrieved 2015-05-04.
  6. ↑ Neal, Dave (December 6, 2011). "Cnet is accused of bundling malware with downloads". The Inquirer. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  7. ↑ Parrish, Kevin (December 7, 2011). "CNET Accused of Bundling Software Downloads with Trojans". Tom's Guide. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  8. ↑ CNET Download Installer
  9. ↑ Brian Krebs (2011-12-06). "Download.com Bundling Toolbars, Trojans?". Krebs on security. Retrieved 2015-05-04.
  10. 1 2 Gordon Lyon (2012-06-27). "Download.com Caught Adding Malware to Nmap & Other Software". Retrieved 2015-05-04. we suggest avoiding CNET Download.com entirely
  11. ↑ Darren Pauli (2014-07-08). "Insecure AVG search tool shoved down users' throats, says US CERT". The Register. Retrieved 2015-05-04. Sneaky 'foistware' downloads install things you never asked for
  12. ↑ "Mind the PUP: Top download portals to avoid". EMSISOFT. March 11, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  13. ↑ Lowell Heddings (2015-01-11). "Here's What Happens When You Install The Top 10 Download.com Apps". How-To Geek. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  14. ↑ Lowell Heddings (2015-02-23). "Download.com and Others Bundle Superfish-Style HTTPS Breaking Adware". How-To Geek. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
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