Read here: https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=164072.msg1169431#msg1169431
Trying to find a free program or tool without added “goodies” like adware, crapware, nagware or bloatware or additional spam messages becomes more and more difficult in times where bundlers look for “easy” money earned on the side via bundled installers propagated by marketing forces, software company shareholders and developers alike. The end-user is the “product” and has nothing to say in the matter but look for an alternative that does not come “riddled” with unwanted browser installs, toolbars, browser helper objects, adware, and browser hijackers even.
The ethical downloader is becoming a “rara avis” now. Example even the CCleaner installer is flagged twice, see: https://www.metascan-online.com/en/scanresult/file/9bb5d59b165d42b6822c62b5ab588ccf as coming with Win32/Bundled.Toolbar.Google.D application!
The simple answer is “NO”. Even M$ stuff comes with Adware now. I was updating my DirectX stuff so I can play G. Mod and lone behold, M$ has bundled that with MRT Bing and a few other items…
I hadn’t even noticed it until Unchecky (AWESOME TOOL!) blocked the Boxes from installing the crapware. There are few honest “Free” downloads left, if any. We live in the World of Money. If (someone) can make money by bundling software, they will.
Ridiculous bundled installers are belonging to the ten most prevaling threats now.
There are no restrictions, there is no self-regulation, even "honest"developers are been “taken for a ride”.
Good that av solutions also flag these “crap dealers”, and not only the anti-spyware tools and junkware removers.
It means there is n’t any respect for the end-user anymore, the mentality has sunken to an “easy grab some money” way.
The days of a friendly donation when you liked the proggie or alerting your friends to a free program are long gone.
Where are the days that you wrote to a firm in your schooldays and they send you a badge or a pin to hang on the wall?
Or when you got a nice album to paste pictures in that came packed with the product.
A completely different world then and now.
Where is the “fun” in all of this and that “feeling of trust” we had?
No, not that I know of any anymore maybe some are left, but I think that there will be none in the future. Also the “FUN” and “Trust” don’t exist anymore,so my advice is to read EVERYTHING carefully before installing it atleast that is what’s left.
As bob3160 recently said: "Be careful and use “unchecky”, awsome tool really, and it is your best bet.
Like Metascan Online for Chrome (on demand else it can slow down the browser a little bit).
But in a worst case scenario your download “goodies” could render your computer as “quite useless” when installed.
