Forum feedback forum: Coupon Companion Adware

I'm using Win8 on a desktop and downloaded and installed a PDF reader by PDFLogic and got the Coupon Companion adware installed even after unchecking all erroneous items during install. I also BLOCKED access attempts made by Coupon Companion with my CA Total Defense Security software but Coupon Companion installed anyway. When I attempt to uninstall, I'm advised that I have insufficient rights to uninstall - contact System Admin. I AM THE SYSTEM ADMIN!!
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I really don't appreciate being out flanked by these malware products not do I appreciate Cnet's support of same.

How could CNet be complicit in the distribution of Malware that covertly installs itself. I still a loyal custer (and a publisher that pays you for listing and download services. But shame on you CNet! Getting in bed with devils will bouce back to hurt us both (publishers of legitimate software and also: your business model).

** Advantages of using Coupon Companion?
None at all. It's not even a coupon tool.

** Threats posed by Coupon Companion:

This browser plug-in installs itself surreptitiously, spies on unsuspecting users, adds no value, and attempts to lure you away from online purchases to their revenue generating marketing collaborators. It can be notoriously difficult to disable, because it GRAYS OUT the Disable button in the browser section for managing plug-ins in. Tip: After using Control Panel to remove the program, delete the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\Coupon Companion.

One final thought: It is unconscionable that CNet is complicit in the distribution of something that is so widely known to be Spyware & Malware. It is a Trojan of the worst kind. Check your malware app to see if you can block it permanently. Otherwise it will keep coming back.

** SUMMARY
This undercover browser plug-in is positively toxic. Remove it, and then update your AV/Spyware process to explicitly identify and block it.

cnet this is BS this is still going on i downloaded something yesterday after having to go through the whole process and tricks of unchecking and clicking "cancel" i stilll somehow got the ad program on my pc. just cut the BS and give me what program i want i dont want a stupid tool bar or a virus protect program i dont even want to look at what ads yall have on your site thats why i have adblock plus i thought cnet was a trusted site clearly not. also when i uninstalled the "ad coupom adware" it tried to intall "basic something" hopfully i unchecked that box fast enough idk.

I haven't used Cnet's downloads for years since they started offering junk (beyond a google/bing/yahoo search taskbar) with the download. Took a chance today.

While downloading Calibre (which is freeware) from CNet, I was offered a taskbar; declined. Next page I was offered a "smiley" tracker that automatically enrolls you into a third party searchbox hijacker/adtracker. The only way to "avoid" this smiley was to choose the custom install option and then uncheck all the boxes. A quick read of the user agreement, however said that by clicking "next" I agreed to "recommended" install, despite the custom options. So there was essentially no way to avoid this, since there was no explicit refusal option. I promptly closed out the installer and refused to complete the install.

Here is the f*d up part of this. I noticed immediately that coupon companion crashed shockwave forcing a browser restart. Upon the browser restart it had installed itself.

CNET, I am done with you guys.

Are you kidding me?? You want me to jump through hoops to download software?? What happened to the great site you were years ago? For years (more than I can remember), I would download from Cnet and Cnet only, just to be sure I was free of any crap, and you guys come up with this one? Now I have to do a system restore to get rid of the Coupon Companion, and I made sure I unchecked all the boxes in the 2nd or 3rd page to not have any unwanted crap installed. And still I got the coupon companion. You are PATHETIC. Did you realize how many users you pissed off??

I downloaded some resume templates yesterday from CNET and this malware was covertly installed on my computer as well. The fact that this was originally brought to your attention months ago and you have STILL not done anything to fix it is absolutely shameful, and shows how little you apparently care about the reputation and integrity of your website. I realize that there is an option not to use the installer, and that's fine, but I refuse to download anything from any website that is knowingly distributing malware, and I will make sure to tell everyone I know not to use CNET until the problem is taken care of.

filehippo
majorgeeks

You're quite welcome. I think I found them when going directly to sites for things like CCleaner and Defraggler (Piriform). I think they refer you to filehippo. I've never had to whitelist them in NoScript for the download to work and everthing has always scanned clean. I can't remember which utility maker points you to MajorGeeks, but again I've never had any trouble with the things downloaded. You just have to avoid clicking on the ads instead of what you're actually looking to download.

I downloaded WebRipper from download.cnet.com:

1) The installer asked me to "Accept Terms of Service" twice. Very strange. The second TOS was actually for software I DID NOT DOWNLOAD or ask for (some kind of Backup Service that includes a MONTHLY service fee). This was presented in a very deceptive manner. Had to read TOS fine print to know what the installer was really trying to do.

It was designed to appear as a TOS acceptance for the software I download but it was actually installing additional software in "stealth mode" via the second Terms of Service acceptance display. I DECLINED. But wait it get's better.


2) Now the installer for the software I actually download begins. My virus protection software (Norton 360) gives an alert. "System Infected: Adware Crossid Activity". The installer was trying to install "Coupon Companion" in addition to the software I downloaded. Without my permission and without any notification. I canceled the install for the software I downloaded - Sorry Calluna Software, the CNET installer made it to risky to continue. (http://www.calluna-software.com/Webripper)


3) Recently when installing downloads from download.cnet.com the installer programs have become very deceptive - a few weeks ago I didn't pause to read the installer questions very carefully and an "AMAZON Seach Engine" was installed using deceptive methods. The option to decline was "greyed-out" as if there were no option and all text was in presented in a small hard to read "greyed-out" font.

I ran the UNinstaller but the "AMAZON Seach Engine" is still infecting my browser. The "AMAZON Seach Engine" removed Google as my primary search engine and inserted itself. Also many other config changes without notification or permission.

I wonder if Amazon.com knows CNET is distributing their search tool as if it were malware? Is it even Amazon's tool or just someone trying to make commissions on Amazon sales?

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THE END:

I've used download.com exclusively since about 1999 whenever I need software because the site was 100% trustworthy. Also recommended to many co-workers.

After all this BS I can no longer recommend download.com to anyone.

I am starting to search for a different download site to use that I can trust.

Download.com is no longer trustworthy in my personal opinion.

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*Comment is provided "as is" without any warranties.

So I removed this Coupon Companion BS, now I discovered a second crapware, StrongVault Backup.

People - please stick to your words and boycott this shameful site. I started today - I needed to download anti-malaware software for a computer at work and instead of looking here I went to malwarebytes,org directly. But for the free version they direct you here, so I downloaded Spybot from MajorGeeks. I refused to download from here and organizations that only put their software here (like Malwarebytes and Avast) need to change their practices too.

Spread the word!

To remove Coupon Companion?

I just downloaded the FROG zip/unzip utility from CNET and although I said NO to the coupon companion hey presto it went ahead and installed itself on all my browsers. Only when I started getting some really bizarre ads on facebook did i realize it wasnt facebook but this godawful addin.

BAD BAD BAD FORM CNET; I used to trust you, I will never again.....

D/L'd Foxit Reader, and although I unchecked all available boxes for additional adding of software, I still ended up with Coupon Companion Plugin plugin, Conduit toolbar, Whitesmoke community toolbar....

Removing them via Add/Remove programs was available but didn't work. Mbam was unable to find them. Finally, I found them all in my Firefox extensions list. Problem solved.

I will be finding alternate sources for any future apps I need. Very disappointed with CNet and D/L.com

I have installed two different programs from CNET, and ended up with Coupon Companion both times. I made sure to uncheck any boxes that involved dumb ****, but that didn't matter. This might be the last time I use CNET for my software needs...