+Frank B. Subscriber² Posted June 25, 2015 Subscriber² Share Posted June 25, 2015 Yahoo Tries to Hook Search Users Via Java Updates Yahoo may soon add users to its search engine without their even noticing. At the company Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neufuse Veteran Posted June 25, 2015 Veteran Share Posted June 25, 2015 Yeah, I installed the latest java update last week told it NOT to do the yahoo stuff and my default search in IE and Chrome where now yahoo.... and start page was switched also switched it all back and installed it again to test and boom once again it was switched when I said no... annoyed the heck out of me... and I unfortunately have to use java for some cisco hardware management Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Frank B. Subscriber² Posted June 25, 2015 Author Subscriber² Share Posted June 25, 2015 Pro-tip: Download Java from http://java.oracle.com - the installers offered there are adware-free (so far anyway). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Warwagon MVC Posted June 25, 2015 MVC Share Posted June 25, 2015 I was wondering what they were going to start bundling once their beloved bundled ask toolbar was being flagged as malware by MSE Aergan 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Top Qat Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 What's Yahoo? Hold on I will Google it Tommy Vercetti 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason S. Global Moderator Posted June 25, 2015 Global Moderator Share Posted June 25, 2015 sounds like they just moved from 'ask' to 'yahoo.' no biggie here. just make sure to deselect it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanx Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 People who install software without comprehending and accepting every step of the installation process kinda deserve it. I understand the whole thing with not reading EULA, but if people skip something like that, it's their fault. People complain that stuff is installed without their knowledge. Now people are complaining that there is a problem with being asked if they want to install something. Make your mind up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Warwagon MVC Posted June 25, 2015 MVC Share Posted June 25, 2015 People who install software without comprehending and accepting every step of the installation process kinda deserve it. I understand the whole thing with not reading EULA, but if people skip something like that, it's their fault. People complain that stuff is installed without their knowledge. Now people are complaining that there is a problem with being asked if they want to install something. Make your mind up! In the case of the ask toolbar they use to bundle I heard they had the install on a timer. So a user that realized they forgot to uncheck the box, would go to uninstall it, but they wouldn't find it in the list. Then 10 mins later the ask toolbar would install itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DConnell Member Posted June 25, 2015 Member Share Posted June 25, 2015 Wow, Java found the one possible installer bundle item worse than Chrome! Chrome is bad enough, but to be stuck with Yahoo? Cruel and unusual punishment! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orange Battery Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 I've still got a Yahoo mail account that I will never be able to fully move away from as I used it for so many years and some people still emauit by mistake. I never had a problem with Yahoo mail until they started pushing me to their hompage after logging in. Really put me off (and I think I was one of the last to stay). The more a company pushes something down your throat, the harder you look away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liana Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 People who install software without comprehending and accepting every step of the installation process kinda deserve it. I understand the whole thing with not reading EULA, but if people skip something like that, it's their fault. People complain that stuff is installed without their knowledge. Now people are complaining that there is a problem with being asked if they want to install something. Make your mind up! I think the issue is that the additional software is selected for installation by default, forcing users to opt-out rather than opt-in. If I download Java, why is the installer assuming that I want to install a toolbar or change my search engine as well? It's not entirely honest, and ordinary users who click through and don't know any better aren't expecting the software company to take advantage of the situation. The installers that truly bother me are the ones who are tricky with the wording, like "install our toolbar!" with buttons of "Yes!" and "No, cancel my installation", making users think that they either have to install the add-on software or else the installation process of the software they actually wanted will be cancelled. Another one I saw was where they worded it so that clicking "no" was actually the button to install the add-on. It's deceptive and it's wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanx Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 I think the issue is that the additional software is selected for installation by default, forcing users to opt-out rather than opt-in. If I download Java, why is the installer assuming that I want to install a toolbar or change my search engine as well? It's not entirely honest, and ordinary users who click through and don't know any better aren't expecting the software company to take advantage of the situation. The installers that truly bother me are the ones who are tricky with the wording, like "install our toolbar!" with buttons of "Yes!" and "No, cancel my installation", making users think that they either have to install the add-on software or else the installation process of the software they actually wanted will be cancelled. Another one I saw was where they worded it so that clicking "no" was actually the button to install the add-on. It's deceptive and it's wrong. If we are in a blaming mood, why not blame Oracle for profiteering from stuff being bundled with their installers? People expect stuff for free yet something or somebody has to pay for it. If it's not Yahoo, some other company is bound to jump on that bandwagon. Do you want Oracle to start charging you for Java updates? If not, feel free to start not using Java, which should eliminate the need to update it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liana Posted June 26, 2015 Share Posted June 26, 2015 If we are in a blaming mood, why not blame Oracle for profiteering from stuff being bundled with their installers? People expect stuff for free yet something or somebody has to pay for it. If it's not Yahoo, some other company is bound to jump on that bandwagon. Do you want Oracle to start charging you for Java updates? If not, feel free to start not using Java, which should eliminate the need to update it. Making software free doesn't mean it's okay to use deceptive tactics to get people to install add-ons they don't actually want. Deception is wrong. That said, bundling software is not inherently a bad thing at all and I prefer it to embedded ads in the software or paying for the software. In this case with Java, I don't think bundling yahoo search is all that bad, but I feel it should be opt-in rather than opt-out, otherwise it doesn't feel completely honest to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanx Posted June 26, 2015 Share Posted June 26, 2015 Making software free doesn't mean it's okay to use deceptive tactics to get people to install add-ons they don't actually want. Deception is wrong. That said, bundling software is not inherently a bad thing at all and I prefer it to embedded ads in the software or paying for the software. In this case with Java, I don't think bundling yahoo search is all that bad, but I feel it should be opt-in rather than opt-out, otherwise it doesn't feel completely honest to me. You are entitled to your opinion. If it is opt-in rather than opt-out though, far fewer people will install it. Let's face it, we have our favourite search engine and even non-technical people would probably struggle to see value in a toolbar. Therefore, deceptive tactics are needed for companies like Yahoo to achieve their ROI and for Oracle to monetise the opportunity (which feeds into development and maintenance costs). Until such time that either Java won't be needed any more or Oracle decide to push updates silently (either are unlikely any time soon, especially since they are happy to take money for bundling), it's a small paint we should be vigilant about and put up with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mulrian Posted June 26, 2015 Share Posted June 26, 2015 Can't remember what it was from now, but one of the most sneaky ones that I've seen is a screen that looks exactly like the terms and conditions with buttons to agree and disagree. When in fact it was some other addon that would be installed if you clicked agree. I bet that has caught many people out. I'm ok with bundling addons into software - you have to make your money somehow. But the ever increasing sneakiness I see now is really what I hate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloatingFatMan Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 When I see such deceptive practices, I don't think to myself "Gee, that was clever, they tricked me! I'll take a look at what else they've got!". No, I think "What a bunch of tards... Never going near them for -anything-, ever." Liana 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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