Warning: Genie Scout 14 installer filled with spamware!!

I just installed Scout 14 for first time. Using custom install I had an option to not install one spam program, still three more spamware was installed! One caused the anti-virus software to alert a backdoor virus detected.

I have donated to Eugene before, but I no longer want anything to do with him or his software. Spammers and virus spreaders are nothing but criminal scum.

Update: Just found further mischievous software installed with Geniue Scout.
Will do a restore point and hope I do not have to reformat the entire system......

I found a few things..

- somoto
- showpassword
- open candy
- files frog.a

cleaning up now... this is so annoying.

Serves you right for running windows when FM is now on linux :p

You have to carefully follow the instructions not to install the extra software if you don't want it.

2014-01-19 23:55#155637 Dodgexander : You have to carefully follow the instructions not to install the extra software if you don't want it.

It is about time someone else was smart enough to do this.

It's your choice to install or not install 1 offer at the beginning of installation. You should hit the "DECLINE" or the "SKIP" button if you don't want it.
Here are screenshots for both cases:


We don't control the offers shown during installation, but the ad agency we work with (Somoto) to bundle GS14 installer promises and insists there won't be any harmful offers for those who accept to install them.

When we receive a complaint regarding a particular "annoying" offer, we demand its removal from the campaign (we had to do that in 3 occasions since December). So if there's a specific offer you got installed despite declining it, please provide more details on what happened and we'll act on it.

I've personally run the installation multiple times. Then scanned the file and the entire computer with AVG, Malwarebytes, Microsoft Security Essentials and Ad-aware and NO virus or malware/adware was found.

Check the analysis of the exe file (latest version) by a Google owned company:
VirusTotal report for GS14 - You'll notice it's actually clean.

When I got a ton of spamware and a trojan virus in the last update, even though I paid for it, I decided that was the end for me. Why is this even in the installer? Pretty pathetic. Shows what kind of person is behind this.

Jase19:

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When I got a ton of spamware and a trojan virus in the last update, even though I paid for it, I decided that was the end for me. Why is this even in the installer? Pretty pathetic. Shows what kind of person is behind this.

You're contradicting your own statement.
If you really donated to Eugene, it means you got the "g" version which has nothing bundled in its installer. No offers and no ads whatsoever.

The public version is bundled with offers to keep it free for everyone. These offers are OPTIONAL and you can CHOOSE not to accept them. I already explained all there is to explain in my previous post. Even if you don't believe me, there are plenty of other users who have reported back without any problems and confirm this, which means some people are complaining for their own ignorance.

I totally agree that these spyware tools are installed! My browser has been filled with them, it removes the homepage, adds theirs and I get minutes and minutes of loading times! This is extremelly bad experience and will react negative to those that wish to support this project.

I really had to re-install Windows to save my PC. Uninstalling in some cases was not working. I understand that you want to raise money somehow, but it would be preferrably be much more effective to add the old style banners and release the version to those who donate even a month earlier. Seriously.

Look, I will donate you because I work professionally as a journalist. I will do this because I want to have the "G" version earlier, not due to the spyware. I'm the editor-in-chief of GameWorld.gr, which is Greece's largest gaming community. I also work for Sportdog.gr (one of the biggest sports sites in Greece) and have a Football Manager column there. So I believe everyone who urgently needs FM Scout should donate even the lowest amount. But my advice would be removing any malware, spyware which are installed without our permission.

Manos:

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I totally agree that these spyware tools are installed! My browser has been filled with them, it removes the homepage, adds theirs and I get minutes and minutes of loading times! ... But my advice would be removing any malware, spyware which are installed without our permission.

You get 1 screen with an offer, if you click "next" you'll get whatever the offer is talking about. You need to "decline" the offer. If you got something installed despite declining it, please provide specific details and we'll act on it. I'm tired of repeating myself.

Manos:

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I really had to re-install Windows to save my PC. Uninstalling in some cases was not working. I understand that you want to raise money somehow, but it would be preferrably be much more effective to add the old style banners and release the version to those who donate even a month earlier. Seriously.

That sounds a bit dramatic. I'd also prefer the old style banners, but the problem is there's no viable option for them. We've tried quite a few agencies for regular display ads, but it's just not worth it. So unless you have a better idea, I'm afraid we're stuck with bundled offers for now.

Manos:

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Look, I will donate you because I work professionally as a journalist. I will do this because I want to have the "G" version earlier, not due to the spyware.

All donations go to Eugene, I'm not involved with them. So I have no reason to bullshit you about this. He is the creator of GS, he deserves the money. I'm not even sure there will be a GS15 (for various reasons), but I'm guessing negative comments won't really convince him to continue.

2014-03-01 16:12#163534 Stam :

Manos:

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I totally agree that these spyware tools are installed! My browser has been filled with them, it removes the homepage, adds theirs and I get minutes and minutes of loading times! ... But my advice would be removing any malware, spyware which are installed without our permission.

You get 1 screen with an offer, if you click "next" you'll get whatever the offer is talking about. You need to "decline" the offer. If you got something installed despite declining it, please provide specific details and we'll act on it. I'm tired of repeating myself.

Manos:

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I really had to re-install Windows to save my PC. Uninstalling in some cases was not working. I understand that you want to raise money somehow, but it would be preferrably be much more effective to add the old style banners and release the version to those who donate even a month earlier. Seriously.

That sounds a bit dramatic. I'd also prefer the old style banners, but the problem is there's no viable option for them. We've tried quite a few agencies for regular display ads, but it's just not worth it. So unless you have a better idea, I'm afraid we're stuck with bundled offers for now.

Manos:

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Look, I will donate you because I work professionally as a journalist. I will do this because I want to have the "G" version earlier, not due to the spyware.

All donations go to Eugene, I'm not involved with them. So I have no reason to bullshit you about this. He is the creator of GS, he deserves the money. I'm not even sure there will be a GS15 (for various reasons), but I'm guessing negative comments won't really convince him to continue.

Stam.

I'll start by saying I actually read and followed the instruction regarding the installation of the additional software. I declined everything and as you may expect, contrary to people in this thread it went as planned and nothing was installed. NO VIRUSES OR SOFTWARE. Exactly as you stated.


Now onto why I think people are still installing even although "claiming" they clicked decline.

When you click "decline" or its variant during the installation process, it loads a pop up menu and has "next/confirm" or "cancel". I bet most people clicked next/confirm thinking it would confirm their selection to decline the offer, when if they also read the pop up it stated you had to click "cancel" to continue with the decline. By clicking "next/confirm" you agreed to download the additional software.

Just the usual "trickery" you get when downloading any free program with additional software. Just have to be extra careful.

DotDotCurve:

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I'll start by saying I actually read and followed the instruction regarding the installation of the additional software. I declined everything and as you may expect, contrary to people in this thread it went as planned and nothing was installed. NO VIRUSES OR SOFTWARE. Exactly as you stated.

Amen

DotDotCurve:

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When you click "decline" or its variant during the installation process, it loads a pop up menu and has "next/confirm" or "cancel".

I didn't get that pop up menu personally for as many times I've tested the installer. But I know offers shown are different per country, so perhaps some offers are more persistent than others and take an extra decline to go away.

In that case, I'd like someone to send me a screenshot of that extra popup so I can edit the GS14 download page with detailed instructions on that matter.

2014-03-01 17:11#163548 Stam :

DotDotCurve:

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I'll start by saying I actually read and followed the instruction regarding the installation of the additional software. I declined everything and as you may expect, contrary to people in this thread it went as planned and nothing was installed. NO VIRUSES OR SOFTWARE. Exactly as you stated.

Amen

DotDotCurve:

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When you click "decline" or its variant during the installation process, it loads a pop up menu and has "next/confirm" or "cancel".

I didn't get that pop up menu personally for as many times I've tested the installer. But I know offers shown are different per country, so perhaps some offers are more persistent than others and take an extra decline to go away.

In that case, I'd like someone to send me a screenshot of that extra popup so I can edit the GS14 download page with detailed instructions on that matter.

I just did a test run on the first additional software install for the regular version of GS.

See below, it looks like clicking "OK" is to confirm my choice to decline the software (see the pop up header is "confirmation", but when you read it, "OK" is to install and "Cancel" is to confirm the decline.

After I unticked the box, I clicked "Next". The pop up then appeared. I am from UK btw in case it is region specific.

http://i59.tinypic.com/n38cqh.png

Thanks for providing a screenshot

It should be region specific because I don't get that offer or the popup. These bundled offers can admittedly be annoying, but at any case the installer is clean (and tested by VirusTotal, a Google owned company) and doesn't install anything without your permission. So as long as people actually pay attention and read carefully, they will avoid installing any of these offers.