Download.com & Spyware

A question sent to me I would like to post publicly

Email:
"Download.com's New Software policy... No Adware.. No Spyware... and No Exceptions.. This Policy I agree with 100%.. Is Majorgeeks going to do the same..????? "


Reply:
"Majorgeeks has always been spyware free since day 1. Because of this, we feel no need to now brag about our policy, but rather simply stay the course we were founded on, testing applications before posting for quality purposes. An obvious exception to this is adware, which normally consist of cookies. We use some of these programs and if they are harmless, are allowed.

Unlike most other websites, we are dedicated to files that tweak, repair or enhance your computer, so posting spyware ridden apps would be counter-productive to our reason for existance. We also are relied on as a download site for years by many anti-spyware tools like Ad-Aware because of our policy.

Its nice to see Download.com and others climb on this bandwagon, 3 or so years after inflicting literally millions of people with spyware. A fine example is Messenger Plus, who we argued with publicly on our forums because we refused to post it, while download.com had it listed as millions of downloads. It is a shame these johnny come latelies do not also offer cash refunds to the same people they profited from for years. I hope you see the hypocrisy from the websites now saying they are spyware free? Its an admission of guilt and you should tread carefully at any website that profits from others misery.

Thanks for the note and I hope that clears it up.

Timothy Tibbetts (MajorGeeks.Com)
http://www.majorgeeks.com"

 

Only shame here is they are the 900 pound gorilla, so they say its so and people think its a great thing, I am simply dumbfounded they dont consider that their policy simply mean they have had no policy until recently, meaning from the dawn of spyware until a few weeks ago, it was ignored.

I was a bit disheartened to read that email from a person who thinks now that download.com is spyware free, everyone else, us included, should follow. IMHO we lead this charge from our start 3 years back and even further back with TweakFiles with our test before posting policy. I can only think of ONE other site who tests software and even rates when posting from years back... ONE other website. So everyone else is laughable. Its pissed off our fair share of authors telling them their programs do not meet our standards or are spyware ridden, but it appears theres enough visitors to make it worthwhile and we thank YOU for that. Please tell a friend about us if you are happy with the service we provide.

 

I can, but not as long, I put on some weight, so the side view aint as good as it used to be

 

That sounds like punishment.

 

Thank you! Im usually telling you it over a bottle of jack daniels and a pint of beer, one for each hand