FREE Great Programs for Windows 7 [2]

[kado897]

First define a nasty. I can understand a large hosting site unwittingly hosting suspect installers but why would they inject "nasties" into an installer. I'm in no position to say it doesn't happen but it is a really dumb business practice if it does happen. If it can be shown then maybe we need a list of black banned hosting sites.

How-to Geek has been on a rant about it for some time. This is an example Yes, Every Freeware Download Site is Serving Crapware (Here?s the Proof)

Some can be easily removed with MBAM. But some installers contain Conduit along with other PUPs that interfere with notification tray icons. I ran into this with a download of PowerISO. Removing the crap was not fun. That inspired me to run TimeFreeze before trying any install. In the case of PowerISO a right click scan with MBAM showed it contained PUPs. But up to then I had only encountered fairly harmless ones. I installed anyway. Bad move.

Looks interesting.

 

[Anak]

I'm usually on the look-out for Apps for my wife and wanted her to try some that I thought would help, but after reading the permissions section of some of these apps, I'd tell her about them, but advise against using them.
Lets suppose for the sake of discussion that an App is the same as a Program, has anyone taken the time to view the Permissions section of the app you're about to install? Some of these permissions can be very disconcerting.

I can understand that because of the app's functions certain permissions are needed such as the mbam app, but why would Quicken, the second example send out emails without the users knowledge plus some of the other permissions that I highlighted in red; Does the Quicken app take pictures and record audio without your knowledge? If you turn it off does it read the Google service configuration and turn itself back on?
I can understand mbam needing to read, modify or delete the contents of your USB storage in case there is malware in the USB storage, but why does quicken have the same permission?

Both examples and links are from the google play store.

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
Malwarebytes Free
Version 1.05.1.1000 can access:

Device & app history
retrieve running apps
read your Web bookmarks and history

SMS
receive text messages (SMS)

Photos/Media/Files
modify or delete the contents of your USB storage
read the contents of your USB storage

Device ID & call information
read phone status and identity

Other
prevent device from sleeping
full network access
control vibration
view network connections
close other apps
control Near Field Communication
modify system settings
run at startup

QuickBooks Online Intuit Inc
Free Version 3.9

Can access:
In-app purchases

Device & app history
retrieve running apps

Identity
find accounts on the device

Calendar
read calendar events plus confidential information
add or modify calendar events and send email to guests without owners' knowledge

Contacts
read your contacts
modify your contacts

Location
precise location (GPS and network-based)
approximate location (network-based)

Photos/Media/Files
modify or delete the contents of your USB storage
read the contents of your USB storage

Camera
take pictures and videos

Microphone
record audio

Wi-Fi connection information
view Wi-Fi connections

Device ID & call information
read phone status and identity

Other
receive data from Internet
full network access
view network connections
prevent device from sleeping
control vibration
modify system setting
read Google service configuration

 

[MilesAhead]

Looks interesting.

I guess I never did submit it to this thread. A nice free tool:
ToolWiz TimeFreeze

I had stopped using it for a time. But the 2015 update is much improved.

 

[Callender]

OC embedded

Yes MBAM will pick installers with OpenCandy embedded. If it bothers you delete the installer and move on.
I'd be interested in an informed discussion. If it has become more devious I'd like to know and I'll steer clear of it.

Well it's become slightly more devious in that it now has a valid file signature and it used to be an unsigned file.

OCSetupHlp.dll

So in the past it could never run on my machine without a prompt to allow from my security software that detects all unsigned executables that attempt to run. Now it requires quarantining manually.

​

Admittedly it just offers to install other software but I still don't want it on my machine.

 

[scr]

DesktopEarth

Desktop Earth is a wallpaper generator. It creates desktop backgrounds that are accurate representations of the Earth. The imagery is based on NASA's Blue Marble Next and Earth's City Lights.

• Day and night is accurately represented depending on the Sun's overhead position, which depends on the time of day and the day of the year.
• Snow cover and foliage change with the seasons.
• Spherical or flat (plate carrée) views
• Real-time cloud imagery from satellite data
• Includes OpenGL screen saver
• 33-megapixel (8192x4096) textures so it looks perfect even on 4K monitors

Available for Windows. Mac & Android coming soon.

Note: It's a 82 MB download

Outstanding Imagery with a slew of options. As shown it's using 25 MB of RAM.

Program Updated to v3.2.42.0 -- Available for Windows, Mac & Android.
DesktopEarth

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hmm I gave up Desktop Earth - kept on dropping out so am now using the space site from here
WallpapersWide.com | Space HD Desktop Wallpapers for Widescreen, High Definition, Mobile | Page 1

Forgot my current favourite

 

[torchwood]

gt

have a look at the GT ones right click desktop>personalise>get more themes online> scroll down to GT.

Roy

 

[mjf]

Well it's become slightly more devious in that it now has a valid file signature and it used to be an unsigned file.

OCSetupHlp.dll

I'm not promoting OC in any way (!!!) but it used be well known that OCSetuphlp.dll would be stored in appdata. I thought it used to be automatically deleted after installation. Anyway I have the latest version of imgburn and this dll does not exist on my PC and I went looking for it after installation. If they gave it some signed obscure name then I'd get very suspicious.

I don't know if all installers with OpenCandy behave the same. Maybe some could present serious issues especially if it is some obscure piece of software. So I suppose when in doubt avoid OC.

 

[scr]

Hmm I gave up Desktop Earth - kept on dropping out so am now using the space site from here
WallpapersWide.com | Space HD Desktop Wallpapers for Widescreen, High Definition, Mobile | Page 1

Forgot my current favourite

The "drop outs" are unfortunate. I can't say that I've experienced them but then again my Verizon Internet will drop out every weekend in the summer as I'm on a lake. When the weekend crowd hits the lake they overload the Verizon towers. I always hope for rain :devil:

 

[Callender]

Latest versions of Open Candy

Well it's become slightly more devious in that it now has a valid file signature and it used to be an unsigned file.

OCSetupHlp.dll

I'm not promoting OC in any way (!!!) but it used be well known that OCSetuphlp.dll would be stored in appdata. I thought it used to be automatically deleted after installation. Anyway I have the latest version of imgburn and this dll does not exist on my PC and I went looking for it after installation. If they gave it some signed obscure name then I'd get very suspicious.

I don't know if all installers with OpenCandy behave the same. Maybe some could present serious issues especially if it is some obscure piece of software. So I suppose when in doubt avoid OC.

Well as far as I know OCSetupHlp.dll runs under Task Host Processes (rundll32.exe) and runs only ftom a temp directory so in theory that file shouldn't be found once it has run.

Microsoft revised their virus/ malware definitions and the latest version of OCSetupHlp.dll gets a clean bill of health. Like you say - older versions could be problematic.

 

[ColinWG]

PC Tools firewall is gone.

 

[Brink]

Thank you Colin. Removed from list.

 

[Callender]

PC Tools Firewall

PC Tools firewall is gone.

Well if you still want it you can get it from here:

hxxp://www.pctools.com/mirror/fwinstall.exe

If you have your own reasons for installing it. For most users it would be best to avoid installing it as it's no longer supported or updated.

 

[DavidE]

I downloaded CDBurnerXP and was about to install it when the Terms and Conditions included the word "Candy". Remembering that this thread had removed imgburn because they were under the Candy umbrella, I did not install it.

Perhaps CDBurnerXP should also be de-listed.

Thank you. CDBurnerXP removed from list.

CDBurnerXP does offer downloads without Open Candy.
You do have to click on More download options >> on the Download page to see the list of downloads available.
I downloaded and ran the latest portable version, no Open Candy here.

https://www.cdburnerxp.se/download?more-options

 

[Callender]

If I can't find a download that doesn't contain Open Candy then I just use this batch file to install the software. Just drag and drop the executable into the window that opens when you run the batch file and you get a clean install.

http://www.sevenforums.com/software...her-than-imgburn-post3098192.html#post3098192

 

[kado897]

Unchecky catches OpenCandy and most other PUPs.

 

[akjudge]

Unchecky catches OpenCandy and most other PUPs.

I could be wrong... but I think Unchecky only catches PUPs (like OpenCandy) IF the download site gives you a choice about running the PUP. If the site does not let you "uncheck" the optional PUP, Unchecky will not catch it.

To avoid programs like Unchecky, the PUP is buried in the installer and IS NOT OPTIONAL. Using the referenced batch file to block OpenCandy buried in the installer is one way to circumvent the running of OpenCandy while the desired software is being installed.

And while I avoid installing downloads that contain Opencandy, it is probably benign. It runs during the software installation, providing targeted ads while the software is being installed. OpenCandy then deletes itself after the software is installed, since in fact OpenCandy is not a program that is installed on your computer, but rather runs only during the installation process.

Granted, it does send out information about your OS, location, timezone, etc. to target the ads. But I suppose it is not a "bad fee" to pay for free software. Don't get me wrong, but this information is not much different than what you provide when you register software, create an account on Ebay, or subscribe to forums like this one.

Jim

 

[Kari]

Unchecky catches OpenCandy and most other PUPs.

I could be wrong... but I think Unchecky only catches PUPs (like OpenCandy) IF the download site gives you a choice about running the PUP. If the site does not let you "uncheck" the optional PUP, Unchecky will not catch it.

Guys, Unchecky and a lot of other software mentioned in this thread can be installed silently in the background in Windows 7 and later without none whatsoever fear of PUPs or other unwanted elements.

In Seven and Eight it's done with Chocolatey: Chocolatey - Install Apps from Command Line

In Ten with PowerShell OneGet: PowerShell OneGet - Install Apps from Command Line - Windows 10 Forums

 

[MilesAhead]

Let me run this by and see if I got it right. If you type the name of the installer on the command line and just add the param NOCANDY it won't install the candy? Or am I fantasizing?

 

[Kari]

Let me run this by and see if I got it right. If you type the name of the installer on the command line and just add the param NOCANDY it won't install the candy? Or am I fantasizing?

You are fantasizing a bit

In Seven and Eight where you cannot use the marvelous native Windows 10 PowerShell module OneGet, you can use Chocolatey instead. It's simple and fast to install, see the tutorial link in my previous post for instructions. The OneGet module in Windows 10 PowerShell is more powerful but Chocolatey does a good job in Seven and Eight.

When Chocolatey is installed you can install software from command line. In fact, you can install all your software with one command, installers then running silently in the background. This command would install the VLC Player, Adobe Reader, Chrome and Opera browsers, 7zip, WinRAR and Unchecky:

choco install vlc, AdobeReader, GoogleChrome, Opera, 7zip, WinRAR, Unchecky

No browsing to download sites, no clicking "Next" and "Accept", no questions about "Would you also like to install this additional software?".

If you know apt get or yum install or similar in Linux (install from repositories), Chocolatey in 7 & 8 and OneGet in 10 work almost exactly the same way. At the moment of posting this, the Chocolatey repository has almost 2,900 packages to install. You can check the repository here to see if the software you need is available: https://chocolatey.org/packages