mega irritant - more sites using download managers

Hi everyone
I've long complained about sites that tend to make the download file you want as obscure as possible -- thereby tricking people into downloading the wrong item for example all sorts of ad / trial / spyware etc.

This is bad enough but a lot of sites are now insisting you have to use / "install" their download manager before proceeding. Often also these download managers are so well hidden too that it takes a lot of time and skill to find and purge them from the system --you often won't see them in the Windows programs and features in the control panel.

I don't like this trend at all -- with fast internet speeds it's really not necessary to use download managers etc. What's wrong with the standard Browser functionality for downloading --whatever browser you are using.

I can tolerate them from reliable companies for example Microsoft or SAP but for small one off freeware downloads -- no thanks.

Another whole slew of sites now on my "DO NOT VISIT" list.

I can understand now how a lot of people's machines get really hosed up. -- Fortunately I always use a VM for downloading any content from the web so no problem just to delete the whole VM if I suspect anything problematical and boot up a new one.

Take care when downloading anything - seems the safest places could be Torrents these days !!!! - that's a turn round for the book !!!!!!!.

Cheers
jimbo

Personally I use OSX in a VM and download everything from there - torrents, upgrades whatever. I never install anything on Windows and have (touch wood) never had any virus.

Download managers mean revenue. That is the biggest reason why a lot of programmers are going with that model. Unless it is a free Malware troubleshooting program, or one that you have to pay for up front, all now days are going to use or roll into the package, some type of revenue generator.

lol, sometimes the download for the download manager is bigger than the actual file your after.

alphanumeric said:

lol, sometimes the download for the download manager is bigger than the actual file your after.

Click to expand...

Tell me about it. It is like that for the download manager for Core Temp.

Jimbo,
I agree with you 100%. I've just experienced this same thing, trying to help our neighbor's son download mods for his Minecraft game. What a crock of "skata" this is... and getting worse!

azasadny said:

Jimbo,
I agree with you 100%. I've just experienced this same thing, trying to help our neighbor's son download mods for his Minecraft game. What a crock of "skata" this is... and getting worse!

Click to expand...

I admin my brother's computer over at his house. I don't do it remotely or anything and haven't been there in a while.

His wife says to me 2 days ago: "We tried to make mods for such and such a game. um...ya...can you come over to fix the system?"

lol