The Download.com InstallerI’ve been a long-time visitor of Download.com. Whenever I’m looking software, they can provide it to me faster than Google. This is because with Google, I would have to sift through a page of search results with links to shady-seeming download sites that rely on clever SEO techniques to lure people onto their site (softonic.com anyone?). While lots of download sites sold their credibility to dubious computer speedup products, Download.com steered clear of most controversial cash-grabbing tactics.

Recently, I found out that Download.com had introduced something that is referred to as the Download.com Installer. In effect, this is a little wrapper around Download.com’s less popular software that prompts the user to install bloatware such as toolbars. By default, it opts its users in to the installation of software that it labels as “recommended”. This little move is due to make many computer-illiterate people think it may be beneficial for the functioning of the downloaded software.

Why this is bad for software developers

I don’t like it when freeware developers bundle bloatware with their installers, but I respect their right to make money off their hard work. However, Download.com didn’t contribute anything to the software itself, so I don’t think they have the moral right to do this. By default, the site opts in all software to their bloatware wrapper. I asked about turning this off, but a representative for Download.com’s developer services said I had to buy an upgrade to turn it off.

It is my opinion that Download.com is profiting from developers’ work in an unethical way. The developer is does not benefit from this bundling practice while at the same time their software suffers from a deteriorated install experience for users. This practice feeds a negative image of the software product and damages the developers’ trust in the site. As it turns out, developer trust is essential in seeding a download site with valuable content.

Download.com provides a valuable service to developers by being a neutral place that offers user reviews and free software hosting. Of course this costs money, but I don’t believe that bloatware bundles are an ethical way to make a profit from these services.

Why this is bad for visitors

Download.com's download buttonBy wrapping software into a bloatware installer, it introduces another hurdle for their users. I think I can speak for most of us when I say I just want to get software installs done as quickly as possible without any bad surprises. Users can still download the regular installer but they’ve made this terribly inconvenient by requiring you to register first.

Download sites that systematically inject their listed software with bloatware develop a bad reputation over time. This malpractice is not something I’d expect from a website that prides itself on being “safe, trusted, and spyware free”. Fortunately, these days most bloatware products are just annoying resource eaters, but to me it still looks as though they’re giving users a false sense of trust.

In conclusion

In summary, I’d like to conclude by saying that Download.com will lose developer trust by making money off their products in an unethical way while simultaneously negatively affecting the reputation of their software. Visitors will also stop using the site because it introduces unnecessary hurdles in the software install process. In addition, suggested bloatware products are labeled as “recommended” to take advantage of naïve computer users, making them believe the recommended product helps in the well-functioning of the program.

Either Download.com will stick to ethical revenue models or lose visitor and developer trust. If the recently announced Windows App Store manages to make software installations a quick and pleasant experience, it will be far too late for them to change.

CBS Interactive is currently looking for feedback on this practice. Let them know what you think by e-mailing to the address mentioned here.

If you’re a software developer who has software listed on Download.com, you can send a request for exclusion from the Download.com Installer to cnet-installer@cbsinteractive.com. You can also pull your software from the site altogether. Their official FAQ on the matter can be found here.

More coverage of the Download.com Installer can be found over at Lifehacker, Hacker News, Reddit, Extreme Tech, chron.com and GHacks.net. Find my Twitter conversation with Download.com’s Seth Rosenblatt (who had no personal involvement in the decision) here and here.