WARNING about Foxit reader 4 !

[hackerman1]

hi !

WARNING ABOUT FOXIT READER 4 !

"Foxit Reader has long been the most visible Windows alternative to Adobe Reader, but with its latest update, this popular freeware falters slightly. While the jump from version 2 to version 3 cut bloat while adding in a few features, version 4 adds some new features but also throws some unpleasant curveballs.

The setup process has grown more cumbersome. It will automatically check you into the Foxit license agreement, and you are also opted-in to install the Foxit Search Bar that changes your default search provider to Ask and makes Ask.com your home page. It also opts you into the Foxit add-on for Firefox, and into creating desktop, quick launch, and Start menu icons that link to eBay. Also, in our tests, it commandeered the default PDF reader setting even though we unchecked that box."


more info:Foxit Reader - Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com

OMG !

it seems to be worse then the previous version: http://www.sevenforums.com/system-s...unter-pdf-attacks.html?highlight=foxit+reader


it´s very clear that we should NOT use Foxit reader !

there are several other alternatives available: PDFreaders.org - Get a Free Software PDF reader!
personally i use Sumatra, which works very well: Sumatra PDF viewer
i have recently also tried PdfXchange: http://www.docu-track.com/
it seems to be good too.

edit: over at http://forum.thewindowsclub.com we have a thread about Foxit 3.3:
Foxit 3.3 comes with security problems !

in that thread it was mentioned that they said they were: "a Microsoft Certified Partner".
after doing some investigation, and with some help from Corrine, i found out that it was a false claim.

they were NOT a "Microsoft Certified Partner" !

Microsoft was going to have their "legal department" to take a look on it.

WOW !

but, it gets even better....

i just checked their page: Foxit Software

"About Foxit Corporation

Foxit Corporation, a Microsoft Certified Partner, is at the forefront of cost-effective electronic document solutions. "

they still claim they are "Certified" !

OMG !

can you believe that ?!

Foxitsoftware is obviously a very respectable company...

 

[pparks1]

Hmmm....I upgraded my work laptop from Fox It PDF 3.1 to 4.0 yesterday and experienced none of the issues that you mention.

 

[swarfega]

I use Nitro PDF reader now.

 

[Layback Bear]

I tried Foxit Reader before I found this info. Don't go there it is nothing but a bag of worms and I still don't have the mess cleaned up it left.

 

[pparks1]

Are you guys certain you read the install screen and clicked on the right button. I suspect many of you guys simply clicked on "I accept" rather than reading the screen which indicated that to avoid the Ask Toolbar, you had to click on Decline to not have it installed.

 

[Phone Man]

So what is the problem. Just about all Free programs have opt-in features that you may not want. (Ask, toolbars,etc) and most have these choices selected as default. I always read each screen on a setup and uncheck things I dont want.

Jim

 

[fseal]

Changing the page to the way it is, essentially /rewriting/ the /expected/ meanings of "I accept" and "I decline" is pretty sneaky.

In virtually all other cases the "I accept" accepts the "click through" license and is so prevailant that most people will just click "I accept" to dl the file not realizing that unchecking the ask check boxes in fact does NOT prevent it from being installed. This goes against the normal MO of thousands of other product download pages.

So that "Boo" for Foxit writing a "tricky" download page specfically designed to trap people into DLing the Ask toolbar. Of course I guess you can't blame them, that IS the only way they get paid for their work.

 

[pparks1]

I say BOO to those people who just blow through dialog prompts, EULA's and Accept screens without having any clue whatsoever to what they are agreeing to.

 

[Phone Man]

Changing the page to the way it is, essentially /rewriting/ the /expected/ meanings of "I accept" and "I decline" is pretty sneaky.

In virtually all other cases the "I accept" accepts the "click through" license and is so prevailant that most people will just click "I accept" to dl the file not realizing that unchecking the ask check boxes in fact does NOT prevent it from being installed. This goes against the normal MO of thousands of other product download pages.

So that "Boo" for Foxit writing a "tricky" download page specfically designed to trap people into DLing the Ask toolbar. Of course I guess you can't blame them, that IS the only way they get paid for their work.

I wouldn't blame FoxIt too much. This is probably required by ASK in order for FoxIt to get paid. If you read the information it is clear, but a lot of people don't read the information and just glance over it. These are the things we have to put up with if we want FREE software. I like the Trust Manager feature which prevents programs from running within the PDF file and you can also turn off JavaScript. Makes it more secure.

Jim

 

[fseal]

Wel lI agree about BOO for people that don't read as well. But it's still "tricksey" and it fooled a couple of prominent W7 forum people here already.

Companies should be discouraged from trying to trick people into installing stuff like this. "Opt-out" as opposed to "Opt-In" should always be discouraged.

If they really don't want people using it without getting them money for an ASK DL then maybe they should just not allow the DL unless you take it. How many customers will they lose by doing that over all the people that end up hating them because of this and badmouthing them on line? (As is happening right here).

Apple is VERY close to this same tomfoolery with their design of the quicktime DL page which pretty much saddles you with quicktime unless you do some trickey navigating around it. THis kind of thing should /always/ be frowned upon and not just accepted as normal, it'll only get worse and worse...

 

[hackerman1]

hi !

added info in my first post: Foxitsoftware falsely claiming to be "a Microsoft Certified Partner" !

 

[pparks1]

Well, I never used FoxIT Software because I believe they were a Partner, or anything else.

I use their product because it's small, and ultra fast. Even with the ask garbage, it seriously outperforms Adobe...so I think I will just continue to use it. Amidst the panic here, I think it's unfounded as I have used FoxIT for a number of years without incident.

Perhaps they were Certified once and now are not. It's possible they missed it on their website.

 

[Corrine]

edit: over at Windows Help Forum - Powered by vBulletin we have a thread about Foxit 3.3:
Foxit 3.3 comes with security problems !

in that thread it was mentioned that they said they were: "a Microsoft Certified Partner".
after doing some investigation, and with some help from Corrine, i found out that it was a false claim.

they were NOT a "Microsoft Certified Partner" !

Microsoft was going to have their "legal department" to take a look on it.

Whether it goes to Microsoft Legal or to the group that managers the Partner program, I don't know. I sent the information to my MVP Lead to be passed along appropriately. Foxit is a Microsoft Partner, but not a Microsoft Certified Partner.

https://solutionfinder.microsoft.co...766ffbae1c4668a2e1826e6008cf94&keywords=foxit

 

[A Guy]

Even if you untick the ask toolbar and search options, you must click the decline button to continue the foxit install without the ask search bar.

I use Sumatra PDF myself. A Guy

 

[noobvious]

I have what is apparently a previous version.....Foxit 3.1.2.1013. For what little I have used it, it has worked fine. I did not bother to update, and maybe I won't.

 

[malexous]

I haven't updated either. As far as I can see, there are no security updates (please let me know if there were) so I have no reason to update.

 

[Phone Man]

I haven't updated either. As far as I can see, there are no security updates (please let me know if there were) so I have no reason to update.

Here is a link to Ver 4 with the security updates. I have Ver 3.3 and it included some of these features. I believe this is the same problem Adobe just fixed also.

Foxit Software - Foxit Reader 4.0 for Windows

Jim

 

[Layback Bear]

Here is how simple it is. Foxit Reader is using a trash way to do business, (free or not). To those that own Ask search engine, I and I bet many others will never use your search engine just because of these kinds of tricks and and sneaky things.

 

[mickey megabyte]

if you're already a foxit user, and wish to upgrade, you can do so 'safely' via the help menu.

i've just tried it and it took a few seconds with no prompts, and no crapware installed.

 

[Greg S]

hi !

changes your default search provider to Ask and makes Ask.com your home page.

Curious about something, what if one has a Group Policy in place that doesn't allow changing home page or search provider, is that by-passed by this? Maybe the policy is only valid through IE options, don't know for sure but I want to think that it wouldn't change with the policy in place