Got a beef with "Unlocker"

I have a beef with Unlocker 1.8.7. Thus far I have no reason to believe it is malware or spyware, but after installation I noticed an "ebay" icon on my desktop. I know that icon was not there immediately before installation and it happened both on my work and home machines. Anyway, the icon is a shortcut NOT to ebay.com but to an .exe that is installed in the user's Roaming\ directory in their C:\Users (Vista) or c:\Documents and Settings\ folder (XP, et al.). On Vista, it is to be found in here: C:\Users\{name}\AppData\Roaming\Desktopicon and the .exe is named ebaysites.exe, or similarly. You can get to it by right-clicking the shortcut icon on your desktop and having Windows open the location of the file the shortcut leads to.

I did not run this file nor do I suggest anyone else do. At the very least, it is some kind of adware (or else why would it be an .exe?). To be fair, he does mention this on his web site at http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/:

"Unlocker 1.8.7 - 01/05/2008

- Fixed bug: Unlocker should not create event logs anymore.
...
- Promotional feature: Added fully optional shortcuts to eBay during the installation. Simply untick "eBay shortcuts" in the choose components page during install if you do not wish to have those."

Now, who reads the Change Log (over halfway down the page no less) on a web site that allows a user to download freeware that otherwise looks well-recommended? Maybe <.0001 of 1% of the people downloading, and I am quite sure the author knows this.

So am I saying don't use this software? No. I am just saying this sneaking of adware into an otherwise respectable freeware download is sleazy, that's all. "Caveat emptor" needs a corollary for the Internet Age: "Caveat freewaredownloador"

 

You should always pay attention to the installation process. This addition was added at least a year ago in an effort for Cedric Collomb to try and offset some of the expenses related to 'free' development. It is easily avoided by unchecking it during install.

Many popular FREE software makers have gone this route. Some worse with the likes of installing the Ask.com toolbar and describing it as part of the actual software when it isn't. See here: Installers hall of shame

PS - I'm not siding with the decision to add such baggage, just wanting to stress how important it is to always keep an eye on pre-checked boxes when installing software.

 

@evilfantasy: I agree that I didn't notice that during install and for that part of things, I cop to it. Still... it's a little like signing up for a "free trial" paying only for shipping and handling, and then finding you were added to the "autoship" option for the product. When you call to complain (if you can get through, that is), they tell you it was there on the trial offer page.

At least getting rid of the ebay adware in this case doesn't require a threat to contact the BBB. =)