Download.com site feedback forum: Downloaded software installs IE toolbar without permission

The weird thing about the toolbar was that I could disable it but I couldn't uninstall it. (I wanted to delete it entirely due to the possibility of malware.) The option wasn't available through either IE or Add/Remove Programs. I finally got rid of it using HijackThis.

Thanks to everyone for your comments and for removing the software from the site!

the Download.com team to investigate.

Thank you!
-Lee
CNET Community

Download.com team's attention.

All those copied and pasted same positive reviews by different accounts have been removed already, it's pretty obvious they are up to no good. Shame on them.

Thanks!
-Lee

Thanks for the notice, calcape. I have verified your complaint and removed FLVPlayer4Free from our catalog for violating our policies on bundling software.

You can read more about our software acceptance policies on Upload.cnet.com, our publisher self-service site.

https://upload.cnet.com/2706-21_5-973-9.html

In the near future, we plan to add a contact form on individual Download.com products to better alert us to problems such as this one.

Sorry for letting this product slip through, and thanks again for the alert.

-Peter

I'm having the same issue (covert install of the Somoto toolbar), but I don't have FLVPlayer4Free .... I have recently downloaded and installed "Burn4Free CD and DVD" v5.4 from download.com. I realize there's not much in a name ... but are they related? Could it be that Burn4Free is doing this also?

What about "Burn4Free CD and DVD" v5.4 ???

about four posts up from here, I posed the question ...

"I'm having the same issue (covert install of the Somoto toolbar), but I don't have FLVPlayer4Free .... I have recently downloaded and installed "Burn4Free CD and DVD" v5.4 from download.com. I realize there's not much in a name ... but are they related? Could it be that Burn4Free is doing this also?. "

I have reported the title to the team.

Thanks!
-Lee

I do not know much about computers, so maybe I picked up Somoto some other way.

About the only thing I had not used for years is a temp file cleaner from CNET download. I thought it was a different one. I am happy with it, so please do not take it wrong. Maybe using the "recommended" feature may have bundled this toolbar.

This is my old HP pavillion zt1175. I also put it on a Dell Dimension 4100. Both computers are about 7 and 11 years old, so I am familiar with some of the things that should ordinarily be in the add/remove listings from reinstalling operating systems on both many times over the years.

Bulldog toolbar is shown in "add/remove" from the control panel on this HP (laptop), and it appears as a page link on Somoto when it is enabled. Maybe it is an advertisment link. Somoto is the add-in, listed in "internet properties" (programs tab).

Again, I do not know enough to say how I got it, and I am confident I can get rid of it. But I think it did bundle from the temp file cleaner at CNET downloads, using the recommended install setting. Using "advanced" setting to install temp file cleaner may have kept the Somoto and "Bulldog toolbar" (probably one and the same) off the old Dell.

For the record, and I don't mean to be a shill, but the temp file cleaner really impressed me because the HP laptop only has a 30 g hard drive. I think it cleaned about 1 g after the reinstall, no kidding.