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CNET Network & CBS Interactive

CBS Interative aquired CNET Network back in 2008. The reason I’m even blogging about them both, is because CNET sent out an e-mail advertising this program called CNET Tech Tracker. It’s supposed to notify you when a piece of software on your computer needs to be updated (the version). I thought this would be a good tool, so I stupidly downloaded it.

We are now finding out that when I downloaded it, CNET decided on it’s own (WITHOUT MY PERMISSION) to also install this software called Open Candy & Xobni.

Here are other reviews about CNET & their terrible ethics.

I had completely forgotten that CNET also owns Chowhound, & I had problems with Chowhound a few years back. You can read that post here...


 
              

2 thoughts on “CNET Network & CBS Interactive”

  1. Hi Michelle,

    I’m Dr. Apps, Software Community Guru for OpenCandy. My job is listening to the user and developer community and providing feedback to the OpenCandy team.

    I’d like to address two things.

    #1) OpenCandy is not “installed” on users’ computers. We provide a plug-in which publishers (those who make recommendations) integrate into their installer. That plug-in only runs as part of the installer it was integrated with (i.e. it has no standalone functionality).I’d also like to mention that we changed our plug-in a few months ago so that NO OpenCandy related files are left behind on people’s computers. However, we subsequently discovered a bug which affects some versions of the plug-in and can cause OC related files (our dll and a text file) to not be automatically removed after the publisher’s (e.g. TechTracker) installer completes (or, IF a recommendation was accepted, after the download & installation of the recommended software). If you have OpenCandy related files you want to remove, there are instructions here(it’s painless): http://www.opencandy.com/faqs/#opencandy-dll-opencandy-files .

    #2) Regarding Xobni being installed… All OpenCandy-powered recommendations are opt-in. That means you have to CONSCIOUSLY choose to install the recommended software. You will NOT end up with software you didn’t want just because you clicked ‘Next’ while running an OpenCandy-powered installer.

    We exist because there wasn’t a user-friendly way for developers to make money or reach new users while helping users discover other great software. We work hard to ensure that we provide the best user-experience possible (opt-in only, high-quality software, etc).

    If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me (using the email address I registered to post this comment) or through our contact form (http://opencandy.com/contact ). We also have extensive FAQs available at http://opencandy.com/faqs which explain how things work, how we go about it, and lots of other useful info.

    Be well and have an awesome 2010!

    Dr. Apps
    software Community Guru, OpenCandy
    http://twitter.com/drapps

  2. Hi there,

    Thank you for the response.

    All I can tell you, is I don’t remember ever giving permission for either of those 2 pieces of software to be installed on my computer.

    The only reason I knew they existed is because a techie who was helping me fix my computer found them.

    So I don’t know what to tell you. Of course I can’t be 100% certain, but “Open Candy” is such a memorable name, I’m sure I would have remembered if I gave permission for it to install.

    So what I’m hearing you say, is that CNET attached it to their software, so when I installed Tech Tracker, it automatically installed your software.

    Then I don’t blame you, I blame CNET.

    Thank you

    Michelle

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