Okay I tested a Cnet download (results)

What about from MajorGeeks?
|MG| HWMonitor 1.21 Download

I downloaded it and MBAM didn't block it.

You're welcome, glad that worked :)

I would like to simply post my most recent and last experience
with CNET.com downloads.

Yesterday I downloaded the Avant Ultimate Browser from CNET.com, and was offered lots of
other programs that were not necessary. I was careful not to check any boxes for items I did
not desire. In a few hours, the Avant Ultimate Browser crashed and could not load any web pages
at all.

When I opened Programs and Features to uninstall Avant Ultimate Browser, I noticed
another application was installed, Coupon Companion Plug In. This was added to my
IE9 Browser, which I seldom use. When I tried to remove the Coupon Companion Plug In,
it would NOT uninstall. Then after another attempt, I tried to use System Restore, and
System Restore access was blocked on several attempts. A quick virus scan with free Avast
detected this as a file that cold not be scanned, but it also could not be quarantined or removed
by the Avast AV program.

I then had to restart my OS in Safe Mode, and that finally allowed me to successfully
remove the Coupon Companion Plug In, and the Avant Ultimate Browser. At this
point all seem well, except I could later observe that fragments of the Coupon Companion
Plug In were still showing in my IE9 Browser, as an add-on that is present, but not available.

To remove any remaining fragments of the Coupon Companion Plug In, I had to do
a Reg Edit, and this finally removed any visible fragments of this CC Plug In, and it
no longer showed as being present and unavailable in my IE9 browser.

At this point, I can only conclude the obvious, that CNET is no longer a reputable
download site, and should be avoided. It is unfortunate that this once reputable
website is now resorting to tactics, such as this.

Dsn California said:

At this point, I can only conclude the obvious, that CNET is no longer a reputable
download site, and should be avoided. It is unfortunate that this once reputable
website is now resorting to tactics, such as this.

You could have saved yourself some time with the testing. CNet hasn't been a legitimate site to use for a long time now...easily 6-7 years, if not longer, in all honesty. My choice, Majorgeeks, gives warnings about what to expect when using software, such as toolbars, etc. Aside from this thread, I can't recall the last time I even heard someone mention CNet.

Every once in a while I get a kick out of Cnet and PCWorld. I'll be reading an article about safe computing and it will list things to avoid. Then I glance at the add on the same page and it will be for one of the items listed as something to avoid.
Something else that really bugs me, is when you do a search for some utility on say Google. The first 3 or 4 links are usually for fake sites. These sites artificially inflate their page ranking or what ever it is to get to the top. I'm almost scared to recommend something over the phone now because I know that person is going to just click the first link and get their PC even more infected.

My question is, why would anyone ever want to use such sites if the ORIGINAL program is freely available from the official website?

In the case of the test subject of this post, a 10 second Google search revealed this CPUID - System & hardware benchmark, monitoring, reporting which conveniently has download links on the right for the installer and portable versions, of the true program, not wrapped in anything, together with explanations about the program and some info and contact links.

My point is, NOTHING is as reliable as the original publisher, the official website is warranted to have the latest (presumably the best) version, cleanest possible install, full information about the program and what it does.
Sites like Download.com, Filehippo and others like that just copy free programs, bundle them inside their own installers so that you can't get a clean program and add their own programs inside (useful or not, those are not wanted anyway). All that comes with advertising and bloatware in the mix. Other than for reviews, those pages are to be avoided too.