Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.
Many free software installs include offers of additional optional software packages. If done deceptively, you could end up with software that you don't want.
When installing some software programs that I purchased on the web, it says while installing, to click on say Ask Jeeves for a search engine. This is "recommended" and also is the Ask Jeeves toolbar again recommended. To be quite blunt about this, Leo, I did not click those even though they were recommended. In the past, I recall that some of this stuff is quite aggressive and soon after the install, my PC wasn't running right. Can the seller that I purchased my software from cause the software to not run correctly because I didn't install the search engine or toolbar that was recommended with the software?
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You did the right thing. If the software is truly optional, then saying no should have no impact on your ability to use the software that you actually want.
Software installations have become more and more aggressive in recent years in attempting to get you to install additional things that are unrelated to the software that you've actually purchased.
I have very mixed feelings on this; on one hand, I understand the motivation, but on the other hand, I also understand the ramifications on the average user who is not always sure what to check.
There's even a term that's been coined for this type of software installation: "foistware" - software that's being foisted on you whether you actually want it or not.
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How it works
The short version is very simple. A software manufacturer is offered additional revenue for including a toolbar or other application with their installation. That revenue may be based on the number of people that see the recommended offer or it may be the number of people that actually install the recommended offer.
Whether the actual offer is related to the software that you're installing is often ambiguous.
To be honest, I can't say that I've ever seen one that has been required, necessary, or even related to the software that I was installing. In almost all cases, it was completely unnecessary software that was being offered.
Why it's good
Free is not free.
Recommended offers like this are one way that software vendors can afford to offer their products for free. It's a form of advertising that pays companies which support their efforts.
Given the quality of some free software, it's hard to have a problem with the vendor making a little money in return for their efforts.
The problem is that even as advertising, sometimes the price is too high.
Why it's bad
These kinds of tag-along offers can be very bad in several different ways:
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If they are checked by default. You should never be able to accidentally install one of these. Several vendors check the option by default in the hopes that you're not paying attention; you'll simply click "Next" and install the software that you didn't realize that you asked for.
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If there is no choice at all. I've seen some vendors remove the choice and install "optional" software whether you wanted or not. In my opinion, this is evil and I even rescinded a recommendation for a product because of it. You should know what you're getting and you should get only what you ask for.
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If the optional software is presented in a deceptive manner. The word "recommended" is severely overused in advertising, including in this scenario. It's often used to imply an endorsement when in fact, there isn't one. If it's truly optional, then the text should say so. There should be nothing to mislead you to indicate that the software is somehow required or related to the software that you're actually interested in using. Misleading text is almost but not quite as evil as not giving you a choice at all.
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If the offer is made at a time other than the initial installation. Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for updates to once again offer these optional software installations. My position is that I made a decision not to install the offer when I installed the software the first time; I should not have to remember to pay attention so I don't accidentally install additional software every time there's an update.
In short, if the installation of the software that you want causes you to unintentionally install software that you don't, then it's just plain wrong.
What to do
Unfortunately, there is no blanket remedy for the problem of foistware. Sometimes, there is software that you actually want that will include additional offers. Hopefully, they make the offer with some amount of integrity.
The only true solution is to carefully pay attention to software installations.
Always choose custom or advanced path if it's offered as an option during the installation process. Occasionally, these offers of additional software are hidden behind these advanced options and may very well be defaulted to install whether you want it or not if you choose the default or quick installation path.
If you find software that has surreptitiously installed foistware without your knowledge, complain. Uninstall the software, stop using it, find an alternative, and complain to the original vendor that you are no longer using their software specifically because of the foistware that they included.
And to be completely fair, if you find the additional offer attractive, interesting or potentially useful, then by all means, accept it. I certainly don't want to imply that all such offers are unnecessary.
It's just that in my experience, they usually are.
Article C4906 - August 21, 2011
Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he
was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed.
After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers
to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.
ahh....good old Ask.com....what a sad internet story that is.
Excite.com was once a respected search engine and one of the key players in the early days of web. Then about ten years ago, the conversational search engine Ask Jeeves was a revolutionary idea with so much potential. But something must have been mishandled. Somehow this once-great company has sunk so as to become nothing more than one of the bottom feeders of the internet.
You may have seen those documentaries on CNBC about successful companies like Coca-Cola and KFC. I think they should do one on Ask.com about how NOT to run an internet company. It would probably be both educational and interesting.
Posted by: Dan at August 21, 2011 1:48 PMIf a company would be a bit more forthcoming about the reasons for installing additional software, I would be much more likely to go along. Something along the lines of "To be honest, we make a little extra money each time someone installs this particular toolbar. So please help us and try it out. If it doesn't meet your needs, you are free to uninstall it later." But I've only seen messages like this from individual programmers or small software companies. The big boys can't seem to bring themselves to this level of honesty.
Posted by: Stu at August 23, 2011 12:17 PMI found some game software I wanted, and the site said it had to load its software to install it. Did that - then it said I had to load Realplayer to before I could install the software. After I loaded Realplayer, I did the research I should have done to begin with. I found out on the web that the internet company makes money by having users install foistware. It never did have the original software it promised. It just said it did so it could sucker me into loading other software. Uninstalled Realplayer, and it asked why in the installation process, so I posted about the company. When I tried uninstalling the original companies installation software, it hosed my system. None of my video or music editing software would work. I rebuilt my system and learned a lesson at the same time. Research everything before you try loading software. See if there is anything on the internet about companies that promise good deals, because you might be getting more than you asked for while not getting anything you wanted.
Posted by: Dan at August 23, 2011 1:20 PM