Talk:CNET/Archives/2015

Inaccurate to suggest that CBS is deleting CNET reviews
Hi all, full disclosure: I am the senior social media manager at CNET.

This statement in the introduction about CNET is inaccurate: "CNET also review some products, but product reviews are monitiored by CBS and CBS may force CNET to take down a review."

CNET has not been forced by CBS to take down a review. In fact, the Dish review is still on the site: http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-video-recorders-dvrs/dish-hopper-with-sling/4505-6474_7-35566943.html

CNET's policy is that it will not, in the future, review specific products that are involved in active litigation with CBS, but a review has not been taken down.

I propose to delete the statement in the intro.

Sources: CNET official statement (at bottom of review): http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-video-recorders-dvrs/dish-hopper-with-sling/4505-6474_7-35566943.html

Nathanbransford (talk) 16:56, 14 January 2013 (UTC)NathanBransford
 * LOL, fix your download links so it doesn't try to install computer-corrupting Coupon Companion c**pware. I mean seriously, surprised that Google and Mozilla hasn't downranked you to unsafe, yet.  Yeah, it's really gotten that bad for people visiting the site that they get turned off from cnet/download.com links.  Not trying to be mean and know it probably not your area but something that had to be said!  71.196.246.113 (talk) 19:28, 10 February 2013 (UTC)

I agree, for a while I had actually believed CNET was (Somewhat) reputable, what a huge joke. I would personally suggest every operating system just block their bloatware, MSE too. CBS has also long had control over the media and what the general public will end up hearing because of said lies, that's a virus and a parasite if you ask me.. Install packages are really REALLY too confusing for even a pro to try and decipher, so really there is no reason to download anything from their site if you aren't smart enough to do a little research. CBS also controls many other companies and when you start digging, you'll know.≠ — Preceding unsigned comment added by GenericDrone (talk • contribs) 19:42, 18 September 2013 (UTC)


 * The malware distribution is also documented and discussed on Download.com. Most spam links disguised as reviews were presumably good faith references, and unsuited for a bot removal. Stand-alone external references to the malware site could be handled by a bot, but I've no clue how to suggest this, there was also no discussion on WP:SBL so far. –Be..anyone (talk) 06:31, 27 February 2014 (UTC)

Cnet
Doesn't Wikipedia's style guide demand the article be spelled "Cnet" since it's not an acronym? --Makkachin (talk) 20:15, 27 July 2013 (UTC)

Regarding bundling
Diveh-sepid (talk) 15:56, 28 July 2013 (UTC) I suggest CNET pay attention to numerous requests to either stop bundling "other" software with the requested downloads or at least make it really clear. I am quite surprised that the main article does not delve more deeply into this matter. CNET has had a stellar reputation which is being (IMHO) harmed by bundling; even an optional subscription fee is far better than risking getting unrequested software. Diveh-sepid (talk) 15:56, 28 July 2013 (UTC)

Merge from Download.com


One article to document and discuss the Download.com malware should be good enough, it is anyway only a subdomain  at the moment. Merging the talk pages could be tricky, some BOLD editor risking copy and paste and archive might be able to manage this. –Be..anyone (talk) 06:48, 27 February 2014 (UTC)
 * I disagree. While Download.com is owned by Cnet, it is a highly used website that is notable on its own.Frmorrison (talk) 14:27, 14 April 2014 (UTC)
 * Download is a waste of time and NOT operated by CNET, they SOLD OUT in the worst meaning of term. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.155.78.174 (talk • contribs)
 * I disagree too. Download.com was a pretty big distribution site for programs, and remains a large one for malware.  A user wondering about download.com is not at all served by having to browse assorted bullshit trivia about Cnet.  These should remain separate, as they are separate concepts.  — Preceding unsigned comment added by 192.91.173.34 (talk) 21:07, 8 January 2015 (UTC)

❌ –Be..anyone (talk) 19:42, 9 January 2015 (UTC)

Installation of adware/malware without user permission
II am a regular Linux user and an occasional Windows user. On January 21st 2014 at 0:30, using Windows 7, I downloaded Ghostscript for Windows from download.cnet.com. It was near the top in Google and since I never had had any major problem with that website before I did not bother to choose another one. I was a bit surprised to see a fullscreen popup with ads appearing but I managed to close it rather easily without even reading and without accepting anything. I did not think about this anymore until today, after having experienced several occurrences of unexpected and heavy disk activity, when I noticed that an unknown program named Mobogenie was first in my taskbar. Checking browser history and file dates, I could immediately see that Mobogenie.exe had been installed at the same time as Ghostcript. Looking at the list of automatically started programs (msconfig.exe/startup) I noticed Mobogenie, Conduit Search Protect and nengine.dll. I could uninstall Mobogenie but had to restart Windows before I could uninstall Conduit Search Protect. I also removed the 3 entries from the startup of course. As you can easily figure out on the web, those programs are adware/malware which collect your data and attempt to hijack your browser search engine default and home page (though I did not experience this). I must also mention that Windows protection feature ("Do you want to allow program XXX to make changes on your computer") was active. I guess the authorization was taken by cheating with my authorization of the Ghostscript installer. I have now blacklisted download.cnet.com. Cheers, Alexandre Alexandre Oberlin (talk) 21:49, 24 January 2014 (UTC)


 * Why is the criticism section devoid of all the IT and CyberSec professional claims that attest and scream that CNET is a malware nest? 63.239.65.11 (talk) 19:41, 23 July 2015 (UTC)