Cnet/Download.com

Because of the rather scandalous wrapping of installers by cnet/ download.com, Filehippo is being mentioned more and more in the last week or so as a safe place to download from.

(Let's hope that doesn't change)

More info, this is the info to devs about new downloader

http://cnet-upload.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2064

This is general info page, read comments underneath

http://www.extremetech.com/computing/93504-download-com-wraps-downloads-in-bloatware-lies-about-motivations

Yeah, I've noticed that as I update my apps via CNET, I get that weird cnet downloader. Not enough to make me not use CNET, but annoying nonetheless.

Thanks for the warning.

I will be unsubscribing the next time I get an email to advise of an update to something I got from them.

I discovered in the system event logs some unrelenting "Side-by-side" errors that came from a simple download that included a concealed downloader.

I never launched it or in any way authorised any installation.

It never left my download folder on my secondary drive.

Nothing untoward appeared on my primary drive.

But the errors stopped as soon as I zapped the download.

Softonics was the guilty site and they have no solution.

They said it was due to an error in a manifest - but I do not understand why Windows is even looking at a manifest for something that has never executed.

CNET has now joined Softonics and Macromedia Flash on my list of never again.

I like FileHippo.

My favourite site which is responsive to user requests is

http://www.freewarefiles.com/

Reminiscent of road agents. > Road Agents.

Maybe free market forces will take care of it. ?

I've been using only filehippo since I joined here. I never trusted Cnet.

I only look on CNET for user reviews only, but I don't download from them unless it's absolutely forced upon me such as the Macrium Reflect Free Edition installer, otherwise I don't download anything from them if I can help it.

I use the CNET Installation Tracker (thing) to keep my stuff up to date, coupled with the FileHippo Update Checker. CNET has quite a few more of my programs, but I grab what I can off of filehippo first.

I only look on CNET for user reviews only, but I don't download from them unless it's absolutely forced upon me such as the Macrium Reflect Free Edition installer, otherwise I don't download anything from them if I can help it.

Good News

FileHippo supplies it from

http://www.filehippo.com/download_macrium_reflect/

It comes from their server via

http://fs31.filehippo.com/5093/da5150cf75cd4fea8dedb355efd62cd9/reflect_setup_free_x86_x64.exe

Good News

FileHippo supplies it

Thank you!:) I noticed with the recent release they now had it and I always prefer to check FileHippo first with one main reason being they supply the MD5 hashes which I always verify. It's just the actual official websites that do so much linking to download from CNET's Download.com.

I didnt know until I read the articles in the forums, rarely used it and long time ago, luckily I seem to have been spared from any corrupt files. Thanks for telling us, there are plenty other and more trustworthy download sites, I will keep filehippo in mind. I also remember a few good programms working with filehippo for theyre downloads to.

Of course you could always block them from your google search results

http://www.ghacks.net/2011/08/23/block-download-com-from-google-search-results/