CNET Reviews 162

Used to be my trusted download source - I will NEVER use them again. Always always go direct to download. Even when you "uncheck" all the undesired ad ons, the Adware installs and takes over your computer. I downloaded a known and trusted program I have used before and got nasty Adware that took 2 days and at least 5 different programs to remove. Cnet, where do I send the bill for my wasted time? You should be ashamed of yourself. Your downloads are created intentionally to install Adware. I will tell everyone I know and will review on multiple sites. By the way, I run a marketing firm that specializes in reputation. Yours is completely ruined.

Please, virus scan downloads you are offering. I realise free downloads have to be supported by advertising revenue in order for companies to support software development and sustain growth, but bundled malicious toolbars and software is annoying from a company which claims to virus scan everything. I wonder which corporate scanning solution you utilise?

A highly ranked software was a disaster and adverse reviews are simply not posted.

This used to be a good site to get clean programs downloaded to your PC from, but i went on Cnet recently and after downloading a simple anti virus program, i got several unwanted and rooted programs, which meant i had to restore my pc back to factory settings, as these were not the usual malware, as a dated reset would not work, so had to reinstall everything.
NOT happy with Cnet

Used to be good and trustworthy, now it's a malware infested site to avoid!

Everything here is infected with something or another. Do they scan for viruses? I don't think so. Just scan SuperOneClick and you'll see how safe things are from download.com

I downloaded one thing and my computer has been hijacked and redirected to another site. When I finally get to my home page I have adds popping up which I never had before with the browser/adblocker I use. I can't post the links to the websites I am directed to because it looks like I am spamming this page, but I can't get my homepage to change back it always reverts to the redirected page.

Oh and as an added bonus they installed a phony anti-virus program on my computer that won't go away and says "You need to scan your computer click here to sign up!!" And this program cannot be uninstalled through the control panel. I will either have to pay someone to fix my computer (I'm on a different computer right now because mine is ruined) or buy a new one.

To top off how scandalous this website is when I went to the forum to make a post I found out I can't enter a new thread to ask for assistance, and their is now ay to contact them like you can with a legitimate website. A legit website will have contact info but they don't want yo u to be able to get a hold of them. Gee I wonder why?

Update of my review
I think that something happened to Cnet in the summer of 2012. The reviews went from mostly good to very good to mostly bad very quickly. I have not downloaded from the site since my last bad experience.

Previous review
Last night I downloaded some software. Got my browser highjacked by malware. Took me 2 hours to remove it. I will never use them again.
There was no click or unclick box to let me know a bundle to software was going to be loaded.
I have previously been very happy with the downloads. What has happened to their standards?

My antivirus will no longer let me download anything from this site, every time I hit the download button my antivirus tells me it has stopped several infections.
I only use this site now for reviews occasionally, be careful if you plan on downloading anything from this site and make sure you have an antivirus and its up to date.
BETTER OFF STAYING WELL CLEAR.

I recently attempted to download a pdf reader (Adobe) but stumbled across the CNET site. With the reputation it had I thought all would be well. How wrong can you be...

It downloaded "Delta Search" a browser hijacker and started to persuade me to download other" paid for" junk. Fortunately, I am wise to these scams. I managed to get rid of the malware before it did any real damage and rolled back my registry to a previous security copy, because otherwise I could not use my PC.

I contacted CNET and got back a lot of platitudes but nothing I would really call an apology.

NEVER, EVER attempt a download from CNET or DOWNLOAD.COM unless you want to spend time cleaning your machine afterwards.

By the way, I told CNET I was going to do this,

Browser hijack malware and adware infections after trying to download "IconsFromFile" freeware.

Want to pick up a trojan, adware, nagware or any other kind of malware? Then head over to download.com, where it seems you can pick up a bundle all in one these days. Appalling drop in standards of checking linked software and actively bundling unwanted software in with the good these days. Used to be my trusted source of software, but not any more. Avoid, avoid, avoid.

I have been using download.com for 10 years. This time though, when I used it, a download.com installer was installed on my computer without asking me. It is now running in the background and I will have to root it out.
My antivirus program went crazy and I got several warnings. Two viruses had to be removed.
"Search setting change notification, search-results has blocked an attempt to change your homepage and default search provider"
Unfortunately it didn't work. Everything has been changed.

"New add-on or extension notification, search-results has blocked an attempt to add a new add.on to internet explorer"

The list goes on and on.

Download.com what the he** just happened?

I tried to download a malware protection program that had great reviews (imagine that ) and got hijacked to a completely different program that had horrible reviews,,,,,unbelievable....was extreemely confusing.
Then Cnets web site started bogging down and timing out.....WTH

This site used to be great for sourcing downloads for software, no more. Now many of their downloads come bundled with unwanted malware, including irritating spyware toolbars that are not always easy to get rid of. Read other's reports about cnet, I'm not the only one- looks like they've sold out after getting everyone's trust. Do yourself a favor and download directly from the manufacturer's website, NOT from cnet.

Their downloads are now bundled with spyware and viruses. I downloaded a program yesterday, was very careful to un-tick the boxes offering me extra toolbars and search functions and I ended up with a browser hi-jacker anyway! Couldn't get rid of the thing for anything so have ended up having to reset my computer back to its factory settings and re-install everything. Extremely angry.

I joined Cnet many years ago. I have never been disappointed. I do not always agree with their findings, but thats OK because they invite criticisms., another reason for towards their excellence.
They always help! Nothing is too much trouble irrespective of how little one knows.
I award them the numero 1 spot.
In what they do They are 'SIMPLY THE BEST"

On this website you can download many programs for a free trial. Very useful, especially when you need to buy something and you don't know how it works.

All my downloads available in one place, with quality reviews and options you can trust.

I love the possibility to try something out before I buy. Cnet allows me that.