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Latest SARDU bundled with Adware ???

Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 1:19 pm
by lbaty
Warning to other fans of SARDU ...

The latest version (2.0.6.3) appears to bundle some adware :(

There's even a related post on the Sardu forum:
:arrow: http://www.sarducd.it/forum/english-for ... t1357.html

Re: Latest SARDU bundled with Adware ???

Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 1:59 pm
by guinness
Adware doesn't mean the application is malicious.

Re: Latest SARDU bundled with Adware ???

Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 2:37 pm
by lbaty
I never said malicious.
I agree ... my post was merely indicating the bundling of Adware.

I didn't write the SARDU forum entry (just indicated it was related to my post).

Anyone know if there is a "clean" copy of the latest version anywhere?
Or if there is any way to remove the bundled "junk"?

Re: Latest SARDU bundled with Adware ???

Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 3:33 pm
by guinness
My mistake, it wasn't aimed at you but more so that article.

Re: Latest SARDU bundled with Adware ???

Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 3:50 pm
by I am Baas
guinness wrote:Adware doesn't mean the application is malicious.
True, but it does mean that the application does not meet TPFC requirements. SARDU should be removed from the DB (as was the case with Tapin Radio).

Actually, it is a spyware - Adware combo.

Re: Latest SARDU bundled with Adware ???

Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 4:45 pm
by I am Baas
in the meantime, I quickly tested SARDU 2.0.6.3 and modified TPFC entry.

Re: Latest SARDU bundled with Adware ???

Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 6:49 pm
by bzl333
notice the developer of SARDU (by all accounts an excellent program) says he has only received 400 euro donations in 4 years for all his time and effort and expense(hosting etc) - MILLIONS of downloads from over 200 countries.

http://www.sarducd.it/forum/general/bab ... t1331.html

Re: Latest SARDU bundled with Adware ???

Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 10:18 pm
by joby_toss
Is it stealth?

Image

Re: Latest SARDU bundled with Adware ???

Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 2:59 am
by guinness
I totally understand their predicament, times are tough and making a decent living is become increasingly harder. 400€ isn't bad when you compare it to the 0€ I've received. When I was working on DropIt, Lupo73 received some donations but I refused to accept a small percentage as I learnt a lot during my developing time there. Anyone remember V1.00??

Re: Latest SARDU bundled with Adware ???

Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 4:28 am
by I am Baas
joby_toss wrote:Is it stealth?
Was that directed at me? I never tested it for portability, but having seen your screenshot, the answer is obvious. All I did was looking at what the Betterinstaller thing does. The funny thing is, there is no installer. SARDU is still distributed as a portable package but when you run the .exe file, the "Better" thingie would first run in the background, do it's scannig, etc. etc. No warning, no request for user permission... I stoped it right then and there.
guinness wrote:I totally understand their predicament, times are tough and making a decent living is become increasingly harder.
I understand the compassion, but still, it is not OK to let a spyware program run on a user's machine without explicit consent.

Re: Latest SARDU bundled with Adware ???

Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 4:55 am
by guinness
I am Baas wrote:I understand the compassion, but still, it is not OK to let a spyware program run on a user's machine without explicit consent.
The developer should be transparent that the download contains BetterInstaller.com installer, that much is true.

Re: Latest SARDU bundled with Adware ???

Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 6:38 am
by Midas
I am Baas wrote:All I did was looking at what the Betterinstaller thing does. The funny thing is, there is no installer. SARDU is still distributed as a portable package but when you run the .exe file, the "Better" thingie would first run in the background, do it's scannig, etc. etc. No warning, no request for user permission... I stoped it right then and there.
Yikes! That is a utterly unacceptable. :shock:

OTOH, I think users got completely desensitized to donations requests -- everybody uses them nowadays so one sees hundreds everyday; they've become like the ad banners of old. Time to innovate yet again...

Re: Latest SARDU bundled with Adware ???

Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 11:37 am
by joby_toss
I am Baas wrote:Was that directed at me?

No, sorry if it my question seemed mean! It's the first time I'm taking a look at this software and I wasn't sure my findings were accurate.
I am Baas wrote:All I did was looking at what the Betterinstaller thing does. The funny thing is, there is no installer. SARDU is still distributed as a portable package but when you run the .exe file, the "Better" thingie would first run in the background, do it's scannig, etc. etc. No warning, no request for user permission... I stoped it right then and there.

Amen!
guinness wrote:I totally understand their predicament, times are tough and making a decent living is become increasingly harder.
True that! But there is the right way and there is the wrong way. This time there is no question...just an obvious answer.

Re: Latest SARDU bundled with Adware ???

Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 11:52 pm
by I am Baas
lbaty wrote:Anyone know if there is a "clean" copy of the latest version anywhere?
Or if there is any way to remove the bundled "junk"?
Extract the contents of SARDU_1 file with 7-zip, delete bi.exe, repackage it (7-zippit) and put the SARDU_1 file (no extension) back in the application folder. Tested only once to make sure SARDU will run and have no plans to spend anymore time on it. Good luck.

Re: Latest SARDU bundled with Adware ???

Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 11:54 pm
by I am Baas
@guinness

There are reports around the Web about Betterinstaller being malicious.