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The CATCH

(26 posts) (11 voices)

Started 17 years ago by Anonymous
Latest reply from Bravo

Anonymous
Unregistered

OK, After analysis of this site, I have arrived to the conclusion of how this site profits.
First go to: http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/for-developers/
And see: "First and foremost, you have an absolute guarantee that you will be paid for your software, even when the software is distributed within a special Giveaway of the day offer. Our company will pay you for your software, thus protecting you from software piracy."
As you read this, you naturally find yourself realizing that Giveaway of the Day MUST LOSE MONEY BY PAYING THE DEVELOPERS.

So how would GOTD earn profits to stop themselves from going bankrupt? After analysing this site, The only way for them to do this is to have advertisements. People who are part of the GOTD team (such as Lee, a moderator) have testified that advertisements are an integral part of this site and say that the reason I can't view them is because of my firewall. Well, lets have a look at this, shall we???

A. Firewalls, DO NOT block advertisements. Everyone knows this (including a proficient computer user called "bolon"). Firewalls only prevent hackers from accessing your PC via the internet.

B. Turn off all your firewalls, antiviruses, ad blockers, etc. and there will be no ads in this website! That's right NO ADS

So, I cannot find a way to see how GOTD profits from this. Nobody, would want to go bankrupt. So, why is GOTD doing this, What's the catch?

Guess what, it is probably SPYWARE! Yes SPYWARE! Trojans, viruses, worms etc.
Recently, some "giveaways" have been detected by my security software to contain possible spyware and viruses. In addition, some programs reportedly had trojan horses.
Lastly, upon installation of some programs, a blue screen of death mysteriously occurs along with a system crash.

I don't know whether this is intentional or not, but I'm not going to stick around here to find out!

Posted 17 years ago #
BillW50
Member

Really bugmenot? What a wild theory! Although I need evidence. Where are these so called "SPYWARE! Yes SPYWARE! Trojans, viruses, worms etc"? I never seen any here. Plus all of the security sites would have a red flag over this site. That hasn't happened either.

You want to hear another theory? I believe there are a large group here trying to destroy this site. I have no idea why, maybe some are competitors, likes to mess with others, etc. Or maybe some are just really paranoid! And always thinking that someone out there is just going to get ya! Actually there is a lot of people in the world that is just not trying to screw with people. And that is the truth. ;)

Posted 17 years ago #
BuBBy
Teh adnim

It IS intentional - GOTD is out to get you - They will become incredibly wealthy by getting you to download SPYWARE! Yes SPYWARE! (capitals for effect) Trojans, viruses and worms. You had better RUN - RUN AWAY and DON'T LOOK BACK !!!!

Muhahahahaha. (I'm glad there are genius people like this to keep us all safe!)

Posted 17 years ago #
Bwhomesweb
Member

Good Morning all,
I would like to just say I stumbled upon this site (knees still hurt) about 3 maybe 4 months ago and have DL many things (ty GOTD) from here and the one and only problem I have or had was games not working on my Laptop.(such as todays game:-() Not GOTD fault my laptop..I run Avast Pro and it has never found anything wrong with software on here. I have used many virus protetion software and when the other so called virus protection SW didn't find problems Avast did so that is my choice to use Avast..Just like it is your choice to be here or not. So if you do no like this site then "Poof" be gone before someone drops a house on you <=

Posted 17 years ago #
BuBBy
Teh adnim

Awww c'mon - you obviously aren't looking hard enough for all the SPYWARE! Yes SPYWARE! Trojans, viruses, worms etc. bugmenot is an noted authority on SPYWARE! Yes SPYWARE!

You would do well to listen. He is l33t and we are n00b.

Posted 17 years ago #
Anonymous
Unregistered

bugmenot

My name is Lee not Lee the moderator, seems too macabre.

My firewall blocks ads.

I know this as I don't see them.

I turn off ad-block and I see them.

Quit being a threpenny bit, you don't want freebies then go play somewhere else.

Posted 17 years ago #
BuBBy
Teh adnim

I think in future, instead of just saying "ewww bad things happen to my brain when I install software" - I think it would be helpful if people can specify:

- Giveaway Name
- Virus, Trojan, SPYWARE etc detected
- Program (and signature/dat version) used to detect malware.
- A screenshot.

No doubt with the number of people downloading and installing these programs each day if we have our first virus (or whatever) there should be lots of people reporting the same problem.

So far in the past two months 100% of my downloaded giveaways have been Virus, Spyware and Adware FREE. Unfortunately I can't say the same for anonymous gimps like bugmenot who only demonstrate perfectly you don't have to be intelligent to use the internet.

Posted 17 years ago #
Bwhomesweb
Member

ok here is he funny thing

Ppl are always talking any place you go about how much you have to pay for things..My Grandmother RIP..."I remember when a loaf of bread was 5 cents" Point? Everyone including myself are always looking for a deal or trying to get something free and the GOTD site has managed to do that and yet....Someone has to complain about it..So all I can say is get out your credit card or get another job and buy the software that you want and hope and pray that your drivers and or software works so you don't get the BSOD..I bet ppl that are sick in the hospital wish "Spyware,Virus,Trojas,and Worms were the only problem they had those can be fixed with the right SW

Posted 17 years ago #
Anonymous
Unregistered

I see it this way, developer wants to promote software, GAOTD says hey, for 24 hours from x to y time, users can download it register it and support can be asked for in our forums.

We will charge you x amount for the advertising of your other products.

Developer says, sounds good, I get 4 other products advertised for free or small amount
which people may or may not buy and all I give up is about 500 reg keys that are all the same so are registered the same as to 1 person & I will offer no support, no upgrades and no discounts (unless stated) on the next rise, 2.xx to 3.xx.

Maybe thats it.

Most of the software I have downloaded from here, I never came across before unless it was advertised at my regular haunts, softpedia, majorgeeks, cnet etc.

If for any reason software here was being given without permission of the developer there would be trouble.

If it contained nasty stuff, there are laws that would mean huge fines and prison time.

Come on guys, enjoy it whilst it lasts as some people download and install things for free for the sake of getting it for free.

I have 2 of the 40 odd items I have downloaded currently installed, Direct WAV MP3 Splitter v2.4 & Driver Magician v3.16 of which the latter when it expires I will purchase.

Posted 17 years ago #
Wolven
Member

'Bugs',...you're being a bunny again. Be vewy, vewy carefuwwwl.

Posted 17 years ago #
Michelle
Member

I think we been through this before and yes firewall can block ads. As if there is any ads on this site I don't know, but then again I don't care. As for the blue screen of deaths you been receiving. They can be related to hardware. I received one the other day that was related to my graphics card when I downloaded a game from GOTD. I know it was related to my graphics card because it reported an ati file in the bsod and I have had other problems with that graphics card, playing the Sims and RCT 3, I also received bsods, but guess what I didn't download those files.

Posted 17 years ago #
Barry
Member

Hello,
I am with BillW50, I also need evidence to go with your accusations, so since I have not done a thorough scan for about a week, using 5 different Anti-malware programs, and not cleaning out my browser cache first. I came up with 3 tracking cookies: 2 casalemedia and 1 clickbank, these tracking cookies could of came from anywhere, with 3 teenagers and myself constantly on line, using this computer, I was actually pretty pleased with that result. So to dig a little deeper, I scanned Window's system32 folder, separately, a folder quite often used by viruses to hide their nasty little .dll files, nothing found there. I come here at least once a day, usually more, and I have downloaded lots of applications , I have not kept many for one reason or other, but if there were any viruses or what have you in those programs, there would be traces left somewhere on my system.
All I can say about how GOTD is getting paid is, WHO CARES, as long as this site is not adding “Bleep” to my computer that I do not want in it, I sure don’t.
I think BuBBy’s got a good point about reporting malware, but if I might make a suggestion, and take it one step further, add a category to the Main Theme, call it “Report a Virus” or something like that and have someone on hand to deal with these things, quickly and efficiently.
Have a good one,
Barry

Posted 17 years ago #
BuBBy
Teh adnim

I think it's not unreasonable to ask for proof of any of these claims. It seems lots of people are spruiking crap without an ounce of evidence. And if a giveaway has any possibility of being infected - with the number of downloads - I'd expect at least five (5) reports that something is wrong - and those reports agreeing with each other. To have one single person say "eek a virus" and everyone else missing it - makes me think either a false positive or their machine was infected beforehand.

Also the giveaway software comes from the developers and nothing would ruin the impression of the developers programs faster than for them to be distributed with a virus or spyware.

As far as cookies being present on your computer - this really isn't a show stopper. Products like spybot or Ad-Aware rate the presence of cookies as "Trivial" or "Negligible". There are tools to delete cookies on select sites as soon as they are created - or just run something like Ccleaner to delete all the cookies you select. Problem solved. It's not a biggie.

Posted 17 years ago #
EvilGenius
Member

I got it!!! Bill Gates funds giveawayoftheday :) :D

Posted 17 years ago #
Barry
Member

Hi,
You do not need a special program to get rid of cookies tracking or other wise, just empty out your browsers cache and "poof" they are gone. If you need details on how to do it, I would be happy to explain it to you. I was trying to show that after a weeks worth of surfing, downloading and coming to this site at least once a day, all I had on this computer was 3 tracking cookies that could of come from anywhere.
GOogle, I could not see anything too sinister in Adsense's PPC, just another way to advertise and generate capital.
Good day,
Barry

Posted 17 years ago #
BuBBy
Teh adnim

Barry - the reason why I mentioned CCleaner is because it has the ability to create exceptions for cookies - so if your system had 100 cookies - you can define (for example) 25 cookies you want to keep.

You would do this to preserve settings, such as sites that remember last login data (eg phpBB forums) or sites that maintain shopping baskets, or user set site preferences.

You simply go down the list and mark the cookies that you wish to keep - and on my system in the above example - I press a single hotkey - and the 75 garbage cookies are deleted, and the 25 cookies I have decided to keep (not all cookies are bad) will be preserved.

Otherwise you can just delete all of the cookies - and reset the affected site preferences (if that is your wish).

If you are using Firefox - one Addin that works well is the "CookieSafe" extension.
http://forum.softwareblaze.com/viewforum.php?f=1

Posted 17 years ago #
Anonymous
Unregistered

Ccleaner is good, used it for a few years, just make sure you don't install it with the add-in.

Current version is:CCleaner v1.38.485

Posted 17 years ago #
BuBBy
Teh adnim

Yeah - when downloading CCleaner - I always select "Other Builds" and download "Slim"
http://ccleaner.com/download/builds.aspx

Posted 17 years ago #
Bravo
Member

CCleaner is actually a great piece of freeware!!! They also made Recuva, which i think is better.

Lee, there is a newer version BTW!

And about the catch, well I am spending a long time scanning for, viruses. It is taking a long time.

One more thing, i went to here: http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/visifly

many people have been saying there is a TROJAN called hupigon in this download.

I want to ask you Lee, how can I uninstall it? I downloaded this program too! :(

Thanks

Posted 17 years ago #
Barry
Member

Hi,
Yes, I also have used CCleaner for years, another good free one for ease of use is Easy Cleaner 2.0 by Toni Arts, it has some one click featchers that are pretty handy, although I would stay away from the duplicate file option.
I was wondering, Lee, what you think about having a centralized "bad file" reporting theme in the Forum, I suppose it would be a manpower issue, but I think it would be better than having Anti Virus alerts scattered all over the site, it would help people to put their minds at rest if they could find out as quickly as possible that these things are False Positives or what ever, by someone who is knowledgeable in these matters. I noticed that in the McAfee Siteadvisor page for this site, there is one report by a user that they got a some sort of Malwhare here, probably from a false positive reading. Maybe something like this could help prevent other bad reports and put this site in the green.
Keep up the good work,
Barry

Posted 17 years ago #
GOogle
Member

Ccleaner is a good app and it seems to work good for most people. However, there is a minority who seems to get themselves into a terrible mess with it. Guess it's like with all system tools: Only use if you know exactly what you're doing and if you have an absolutly reliable backup for your whole system.

Posted 17 years ago #
Anonymous
Unregistered

What one scanner sees as intrusive another doesn't.

Me I just as I have written a few times remove rude words, spamming and reference to appz, crackz n warez & racism, religious hate and anything else that should not be promoted as normal here.

My virus scanner says nothing wrong with visifly.

I scan from dos every night when I am sleeping.

I use McAfee, Avast and Bug Doctor with latest defs via Ultimate Boot Cd v4.0 also.

They report diddly.

CCleaner which I posted build number is latest.

Check for Update

Thank you for your interest in new versions of CCleaner.

You are using version 1.38.485.

Congratulations, this is the very latest version!

I have researched the trojan allegations, if you wish to check yourself in registry, start type regedit, then ok and search for these entries.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SYSTEM\ CurrentControlSet\ Services\ GrayPigeonServer

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SYSTEM\ CurrentControlSet\ Enum\ Root\ LEGACY_GRAYPIGEONSERVER

Posted 17 years ago #
Bravo
Member

Google, Both our comments were deleted, I have a solution and I need your help. QUICKLY send an email to nopostingemailaddies@gmail.com .

Posted 17 years ago #
Bravo
Member

Lee, I need to contact you urgently also, SEND AN EMAIL TO ME IMEDDIATELY.

Posted 17 years ago #
Bravo
Member

BUBBY, if you wnat an answer to your question email me. I have cold hard evidence. nopostingemailaddies@gmail.com

Posted 17 years ago #
Bravo
Member

THE EMAIL HAS BEEN EDITED! IT IS getalife@gmail.com .

Edit - You are also 'TechTeam', you are allowed one username and one only.

Posted 17 years ago #

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