Download.com Bundling Toolbars, Trojans?
It wasn’t long ago that I felt comfortable recommending CNET’s download.com as a reputable and trustworthy place to download software. I’m going to have to take back that advice: Unfortunately, CNET now is bundling invasive and annoying toolbars with much of the software on its site, even some open-source software whose distribution license prohibits such activity.
I first became aware of this after reading mailing list posting by Gordon “Fyodor” Lyon, the software developer behind the ever useful Nmap network security scanner. Lyon is upset because download.com, which has long hosted his free software for download, recently began distributing Nmap and many other titles with a “download installer,” that bundles titles with browser toolbars like the Babylon toolbar.
