I installed a few days before my laptop busted the program “Free Studio” by DVDVideoSoft in it and I was wondering whether I could install it on my desktop because I need to convert a video of mine and download another video for an essay. I did not install the Ask toolbar (and I will never) because I know that is adware. What is concerning me however is the software OpenCandy that is within the file. Their website says it only works during Free Studio’s installation and then it will never access your data after it (it recommends you other software) but other people have been claiming it as a privacy breach. Can someone please tell me if the software only works during installation of Free Studio, if both are not dangerous, especially Free Studio itself and if OpenCandy will remain on my computer upon installation. I have scanned the setup file with Avast and it didn’t detect anything but these days there are false negatives…
PS: Please answer my questions because I think Virus Total hasn’t picked anything.
I doubt you’ll get a definitive answer, but:
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=72917.msg607264#msg607264
OK I have understood there are two variations of OpenCandy: one that only runs during installation and one that remains on your computer. After installing the program on my ex-laptop, I searched the servers on the host file, I think there is a way to delete them, and I saw nothing. Maybe this has the first variation? I would love if someone tested the file though please.
I would love if someone tested the file though please.
upload suspicious file(s) to www.virustotal.com and test with 40+ malware scanners
when you have the result, copy the url in the address bar and post it here for us to see
alternative
Jotti http://virusscan.jotti.org/en
VirSCAN http://virscan.org/
Metascan http://www.metascan-online.com/
ThreatExpert
http://www.threatexpert.com/submit.aspx
It doesn’t seem to fit. The file is 60 something MB, too big :S
Anyways I downloaded the file from the first orange icon saying “Download now” from here: hxxp://www.dvdvideosoft.com/free-dvd-video-software.htm
Metascan have the biggest upload with 40mb
however, malware files are usually not that big…
but they can ofcourse contain toolbars and crap like that
scan the install file with avast and MBAM
it does have a toolbar, it’s criticized mainly by that and opencandy, only that the toolbars are optional and you can uncheck them during installation. being 45 programs in 1 it doesnt surprise me that its so big.
AVAST: 800 files tested, 330 MB (exes work like zips?), took 20 secs, 0 infected files. However, during the scan I did spot a few files ending in dll and xml, idk if theyre harmless though.
so what’s the verdict?
Trust avast 
Ok so we can assume it’s safe 
Ok something weird happened. I downloaded the file onto my netbook and ran Avast once more. Then I looked to my PC for a while. When I looked abck to the netbook, Avast had found nothing but there was a box called “Click to Run” that Said " Microsoft Office Starter 2010 - Portuguese. This product may be damaged. If you experience any issues with this product, open Programs and FUncionalities on the COntrol PAnel and repair the product" then I opened Word Starter, nothing was wrong with it… so what on Earth just happened?
Nevermind, I had a corrupt doc file on the same folder, I guess it was that… My bad 
Well what could be a way to test these large files is with this free file threat ranking scanner, downloadable from here (English version):
http://www.computer-support.nl/Software/AHC/Setup.exe
All about this free tool - summary and functionality can be read here: http://www.backgroundtask.eu/Applications/AHC1_Index.php
Enjoy,
polonus