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Warning about Foxit Reader software update

12 years ago

I've been using Foxit Reader, an alternative to Adobe Reader for a couple of years. Earlier this week I got a notice of an upgrade to a newer version, and went ahead with the install. Afterwards, my browser home page and my search engine were set to something called AVG Search, which I had to spend some time undoing. How did this happen? Well, I am usually careful with any upgrade and inspect the install windows to make sure that there are no unwanted extras coming along for the ride. With the Foxit update, I saw no notice of anything extra. As I later found out, they do give notice that you are agreeing to install the extra crapware...but only if you choose "Custom Install" rather than the default "Standard Install." If I would have been savvy enough to click "Custom Install," I would have apparently seen a box that I could have unchecked and avoided this little problem.

So...just a warning to others out of this. Even if you don't use Foxit, this kind of tactic can happen with installs of other software. Although I have been satisfied with the performance of Foxit Reader, I am not happy with their underhanded approach to sticking me with unwanted extra junk.

I'm looking for another pdf reader....any suggestions?

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Comments (3)

owbist
12 years ago
I have been using the PDF reader built into Firefox for some time now. No complaints with it.

Regarding your unwanted crapware I have been using the custom install for some time after realising some sites were doing exactly what Foxit has been up to. It is about money of course, they get a fee for all those unwanted installs, plus many of those probably do not get removed once the user has made the discovery.

For those who may fear using the custom install method it is very simple, you check off all you need and leave out what is not wanted.
mxyplx
12 years ago
Also gotta read the download site carefully. I have found a couple sites where the bad stuff gets installed with the download; that is before the install. So even if you don't install you got it. One was a solitaire game site - don't recall the details now because that was only last year so it wasn't long enough ago. :-)
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Thank you all for putting up with me. I valued all your replies! My reason for wanting to try Foxit is, I have been reading our daily paper electronically and all of a sudden it won't let me, saying I have to DL an add on. (I think active X) I am, and have been, using IE 8 on windows 7 laptop Adobe Reader 9. I just tried my desktop WinXP that has Adobe Reader X and all is fine there. Being on dialup, I chose Foxit to DL on the laptop cause didn't take as long as Adobe would had I chose a newer one.
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personally I have used all you mentioned, since there have been so many security issues coming up with adobe many people are moving away from it, it is also quite bloated, foxit is a great product but it too has run into some of the security issues, I currently use pdf-xchange on all my computers, it is a very light weight simple to use program and has not had the same security problems. Often times the program that is less popular does not attract the attention of the bad guys so they don't bother going after it. Adobe is by far the most well known and is on most pc's. The choice is up to you, try them out and see what you like. I have removed adobe reader from mine and now just keep the pdf-xchange. PDF-XCHANGE VIEWER personal preference is always best so try and choose. If you do keep adobe on your pc you must continue to do all the security updates they put out for it even if you do not use it they are quite serious exploits and you do not want that open hole in your system. Using the secunia tool to see what needs updates on your system is always a good idea.
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puzzlefan
12 years ago
It isn't just Foxit software. ALWAYS choose custom install for any software and updates to any of your software. The choice is sometime somewhat hidden but worth the effort to say no.

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