Download.com Has Finally Stopped Given Users Online Download Application

SourceForge and Tucows aren’t the only download sites cleaning up their act. We can finally confirm that Download.com, also known as CNET Download, has ended the installer program.

All Downloads Are Now Direct Downloads, SourceForge and Tucows has recently stopped those online download applications or “Installer” that previously tried to install additional software when you downloaded a program. 

Previously, these links were often marked with “Installer Enabled”, and downloading them would download a Download.com Installer “Powered by CNET” that tried to install additional software.



Download.com did not announce this update, i am not sure why Download.com didn’t announce this news itself earlier this year, but am happy the CNET Installer is gone.

Of course, there’s also no public promise that the installer program won’t be restarted at some future date. Both SourceForge and Tucows went out of their way to acknowledge the problem and commit to avoiding installer junkware in the future. Download.com silently discontinued its own program without saying a word.

Still, i don’t want to nitpick: The end of the CNET Installer program is great news for all the average PC users out there. Download.com should be commended for doing the right thing. Both the Windows and Mac freeware download ecosystems are much cleaner and less user-hostile thanks to this decision. We can only hope more freeware download sites follow in Download.com’s footsteps.
Download.com Still Needs to Clean Up Its Advertising, But They’ve Taken a Step in the Right Direction



Unfortunately, there’s still a problem on Download.com. The website is still full of misleading advertisements with “Start Download” buttons that attempt to trick users into downloading the wrong program. Having multiple big green “Download” buttons is confusing to many normal PC users, and sadly, this problem is still rampant across the internet.

Download.com has done something great–but the war against PC crapware is not over. Download.com should now focus on doing a better job of screening its advertisers. SourceForge put in the work to improve its advertising, and we should expect other sites to live up to their standard.
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