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Foxit updates free PDF reader to v4, but watch out for adware
During the installer's first couple of screens, the Ask toolbar was offered -- not a bit deal, really. It's included in plenty of apps nowadays. It does, however, default to being checked, so make sure you uncheck it (unless you're the type who likes to cram as many toolbars as possible into Internet Explorer).
After seeing the Ask toolbar offered, I chose to do a custom install -- just in case Foxit defaulted to including anything else I didn't want. I noted eBay shortcuts and unchecked them, and then got a rather rude surprise (take the jump to see what):
update: as Matt points out below, it's all in the wording. Though the boxes are unchecked, you've still got to click decline in order to proceed without getting the toolbar. Counterintuitive to say the least -- I'm kind of used to needing to click accept in order to continue the install process.
Whether this is a mistake or not makes no difference to me -- and if it is a mistake, it's one that should have been detected during the testing process. I'll happily continue using the Google Docs online viewer and Sumatra for my offline PDF reading needs.
If you choose to include a toolbar installer with your application, that's fine. But I'd prefer it if you would 1) make it opt-in and not opt-out and 2) not try to spring it on me later during the install.
Comments
27
Subscribe to commentsMatt LestockJun 29th 2010 4:10PM
Read the second screen carefully, you must click decline to continue the foxit install without the ask search bar.
This is taking advantage of our seemingly lost ability to read installers and move on with "next, next, finish"
I'm assuming you clicked I accept at that final screen, and as you can see it installs it unless you press decline.
FredJun 29th 2010 4:17PM
Shades of Apple and iTunes/Apple software updater.
Foxit's off the list then...
theampJun 29th 2010 4:21PM
Think I'll try out Sumatra then...
MxxConJun 29th 2010 5:00PM
perfect example of people not actually reading and paying attention to what's going on their screen :)
people are just trained to blindly click next, next, next, i agree, next, next, next, finish. :(
airerikJun 29th 2010 5:01PM
It's actually easier now. You only have to click 1 button "I Decline" if you don't want the toolbar. This saves at least 2 extra clicks deselecting the boxes.
Not sure why this article is even still posted up as it has no merit as Matt has pointed out that it clearly states that you should select "I Decline" to not install the toolbar. This is just the author not being able to read clear instructions.
MxxConJun 29th 2010 7:09PM
if you don't do custom install, it'll put ebay shortcut on desktop :/
BugMeNotJul 3rd 2010 5:55PM
I guess you didn't read clear instructions either because leaving the two boxes checked will still change your homepage to ask dot com. 8) (Here is a pair of glasses)
GILLYJun 29th 2010 5:17PM
Or you could just download the .msi installer instead of the .exe installer which omits all that bundled stuff anyway, job done ;)
Many free programs offer a .msi installer which doesn't include ads, Comodo Internet Security for example, you just got do a little bit of searching, no big deal.
Praveen PremchandranJun 29th 2010 9:59PM
Just tried the msi installer... It was totally free from all crapware... Nice tip there...
Thanks mate!
@Lee Maybe you want to add this little tidbit into the text of this blogpost?
Gardiner WestboundJun 29th 2010 5:16PM
Sneaky. People don't have to put up this crap. There are tons of free PDF readers out there. Too bad. Foxit makes nice apps.
WeixJun 29th 2010 5:33PM
ZIP format is always available here: http://www.foxitsoftware.com/downloads/index.php
mrickJun 29th 2010 6:26PM
Fox-It is OK if you don't need to open every kind of PDF. I found that it did not render many of the more complex PDF forms and Portfolios correctly.
MxxConJun 29th 2010 7:06PM
do you have examples of such?
youngorthoJun 29th 2010 10:29PM
@Mxxcon
Any Illustrator file that I save as a PDF looks totally borked in Foxit.
mrickJun 30th 2010 1:01AM
XML-based forms don't work properly, PDF Portfolios look ridiculous. Illustrator files or other rich, layered, files with transparency often look odd. I've seen issues with Apple's own Preview, so I surmise that viewing PDF correctly in all cases isn't all that easy.
DiRTJun 29th 2010 8:30PM
This is why Foxit will be gone in 2 years.
fuguf15hJun 29th 2010 9:40PM
I gave up on Foxit long ago. Sumatra meets all my PDF viewing and printing needs.
BugMeNotJul 3rd 2010 5:49PM
This just reminds me why I quit using Foxit and switched to Sumatra in the first place. I was test installing Foxit again on my virtual box on someone's advice. Foxit doesn't pass the test it will remain off of my installed software list. Checking further I uninstalled Foxit and the IE toolbar remained then I tried the ask toolbar uninstaller and it would not give the option to remove toolbar; Revo uninstaller got rid of it however. AND to the person who said all you have to do is click decline, that is not true the installer will still change your home page to ask dot com if the check boxes are not cleared.
It all comes down to this: I don't want to use software I can't trust, and attempting to trick users into installing unwanted (mal/spy/soft)ware makes them untrustworthy.
LostJonnyUKJun 30th 2010 4:35AM
Cheers for this, i will give sumatra a try.
BugMeNotJun 30th 2010 4:52AM
fuk foxit.
http://www.nitroreader.com/