OpenCandy
OpenCandy is a company based in San Diego that produces an advertising software module consisting of a Microsoft Windows library that can be incorporated in a Windows installer. When a user installs an application that has the OpenCandy library, there is an option to install additional software that it recommends (based on a scan of the user's system and geolocation).[1][2]
The software was originally developed for the DivX installation, by CEO Darrius Thompson. When installing DivX, the user was prompted to optionally install the Yahoo! Toolbar. DivX received $15.7 million during the first nine months of 2008 from Yahoo and other software developers, after 250 million downloads.[2]
Chester Ng, the former DivX business development director, is chief business officer and Mark Chweh, former DivX engineering director, is chief technology officer.[2]
OpenCandy has attracted criticism because of privacy concerns.[3] Past versions of OpenCandy were considered adware by Microsoft Security Essentials as they "may send user-specific information ... without obtaining adequate user consent".[4] OpenCandy have claimed that this is because another company used OpenCandy without the formal warning in their EULA.[5] Many of these software programs are spread through FileHippo, on which costumers complain about the malware they get through OpenCandy. Spybot – Search & Destroy is considering OpenCandy as acting like a trojan.
Applications known to use OpenCandy
- aMSN
- Any Audio Converter
- Any Video Converter
- ApexDC++
- AxCrypt
- CDBurnerXP (the 'minimal' installer under "More download options" -> "Default installer (Without OpenCandy)" is however adfree, as of February 2013)
- Cheat Engine
- CNET TechTracker
- Connectify
- CrystalDiskInfo (not bundled with Portable Edition or Shizuka edition)
- CutePDF
- Daemon Tools
- DarkWave Studio
- Dexpot
- doubleTwist
- DVDStyler (1.8.4.2 verified)
- Driver Sweeper (2.9 verified)
- DVDVideoSoft
- ExtractNow
- Ezvid
- Frostwire
- FL Studio
- Freemake Video Downloader
- Free Music Zilla (2.0.4 according to terms of use)
- FreeFileSync 5.6
- Free Video Dub
- Free Video To Flash Converter (5.0.6.221 according to terms of use)
- GameHouse
- HappyLand Adventures (version 1.3.1 .earlier versions do not have OpenCandy )
- IE7Pro
- Image Tuner
- IZArc
- Kantaris
- KMPlayer
- Launchy (when not downloaded from SourceForge)
- MediaCoder
- MediaInfo
- MiPony
- Miro
- MyPhoneExplorer
- Office 2010 Trial Extender
- Orbit Downloader
- PDFCreator
- PeaZip
- Power Plan Assistant for Windows® 7 (read the EULA)
- PrimoPDF
- PSP Video 9
- RealArcade
- RedKawa
- SIW 2011 Home Edition
- Soldat
- Startup Manager
- StepMania
- Super Simple Photo Resizer
- Veoh Web Player
- Sigil (dropped with version 0.5.0 and later[6])
- Soft32 Updater
- SPlayer
- SUPER
- Trillian
- Tubetilla
- True Burner
- Unlocker
- uTorrent (version 3.x.x and above)
- Videora
- Vistaglazz
- Winamp (version 5 and newer, but not version 2.x)
- WinSCP
- Super Mario Bros X (Level Editor)
- Xfire
- YouTube Downloader HD
References
- ^ Needleman, Rafe (11 November 2008), OpenCandy brings ad market to software installs. What?, CNET news, retrieved 18 August 2009
- ^ a b c Marshall, Matt (10 November 2008), OpenCandy inserts recommendations when you install software, retrieved 18 August 2009
- ^ Needleman, Rafe (11 November 2008), OpenCandy brings ad market to software installs. What?, CNET news, retrieved 6 August 2011. Particularly see the user comments
- ^ Win32/OpenCandy, Microsoft Corporation, 16 February 2011, retrieved 23 February 2011
- ^ "The Story Behind the OpenCandy and Microsoft Adware Debacle". Retrieved 2 June 2011.
- ^ Schember, John (21 January 2012). "Sigil 0.5.0 Released". Retrieved 17 March 2012.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
External links
- WinSCP FAQ on avoiding OpenCandy
- CDBurnerXP page with link to OpenCandy free download (select "More download options" to see)