Is Super known to install any "extras" other than OpenCandy?

[aedipuss]

Why is this under software playing? Moving to general forum

More and more installers use opencandy. Even open source software like mediainfo but they mention it at least.

interesting. i've installed dozens of versions of mediainfo and hundreds of other programs that offer to install "extra" software and i still don't have the opencandy .dll on my computer. it's ocsetuphlp.dll which is cleverly named to follow a real microsoft program in /system32 & /syswow64 named ocsetup.exe

none of the installs with opencandy have triggered a malware/virus/trojan alert except super.

[brassplyer]

here's the best description of "open candy" i have found.

Adware.OpenCandy is a malicious keylogger program that can capture all user keystrokes including confidential details such username, password, credit card number, etc. Adware.OpenCandy is designed to open a large security loophole through which hundreds of malicious adware and spyware can be piped to your machine.

Hmm, a keylogger? I found the forum this was from. They don't say anything to back this up. Though I've found lots of complaints about OpenCandy for various reasons, that's the only place I've seen it referred to the way that particular user does.

However, if anyone can prove this it seems they could profit from a lawsuit, in fact isn't this kind of thing grounds for criminal prosecution?

For that matter, if it can be proven that eRightSoft's apps are designed to deliberately create a "backdoor" for malware, wouldn't they be open to civil and criminal legal action? Someone is raking in all those profits from AdWare.

[brassplyer]

Got back some interesting, entertainingly caustic responses from whoever it is on the other end of the eRightSoft email address found under the Whois report. Unbelievable. I'm going to make a compilation and post it under the comments for the app.

[m610]

I too have become very suspicious of Super(c) and have quit using it. My reasons and experiences are in the comments section for the Super software.

But given that it is very clear that eRightSoft seems to be up to something, perhaps some pros, maybe eset or Symantec, should look into this, or maybe some magazines or writers. I think it would be very worthwhile and a valuable service. At least we'd be able to see some proof of the nastiness, or lack of, that is a bit more substantial that one's personal experience as a casual user.

There is a lot of "free" software out there that looks plain scary to me, such as all those registry scanners, and there was some program posing as a Microsoft tool to fix file structures. Their web site had a lot in common in style and tone as the Super web site.

[m610]

I should add that I fully agree with what bassplyer is saying. It is one thing to have formed an opinion, and to express that opinion, about this software, and those opinions may be right, but outside of one's circle of friends personal testimony is not worth much, if anything. If anyone has had a bad expereince with this software, or OpenCandy, that has been documented or can be reproduced, that would be something one can use to deal with this problem.

[brassplyer]

Just placed new comments under Super.

[m610]

Interesting characters. Seems to match the tone of their web site.

[m610]

Hmmm, *.info servers located in AZ, redirects to *.com

Link: http://www.checksitetraffic.com/traffic_spy/erightsoft.info

Also, they have registered the eRightSoft.biz name.

And could this be they?

Link: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080201175957AAB9Z3B

and

Link: http://www.whoisbucket.com/view/erightsoft.info

eRightSoft.com, Valued at $45k, earning about $61/day, 50k visits/day, hosted in France.

Link: http://erightsoft.com.siteaero.com/

[m610]

I did a virus scan last night (I use eset) and if you turn on the options to warn for "potentially unsafe" threats, which is by default turned off, it found the OpenCandy spyware in the most recent download. I'll download and check earlier versions to see if they have it.

How to run on this option in eset: http://kb.eset.com/esetkb/index?page=content&id=SOLN2198

[brassplyer]

I did a virus scan last night (I use eset) and if you turn on the options to warn for "potentially unsafe" threats, which is by default turned off, it found the OpenCandy spyware in the most recent download. I'll download and check earlier versions to see if they have it.

How to run on this option in eset: http://kb.eset.com/esetkb/index?page=content&id=SOLN2198

There's no question that OpenCandy is there. I haven't seen any documentation that OpenCandy is really a "threat" - but if anyone can demonstrate it does more than they claim I'd be curious to hear about it.

What I'm most concerned about is whether Super has more malicious aspects - does it truly open a backdoor for malware? Or do previous versions actually contain malware? That's the part that I haven't really seen clarified. The fact that their site is so deliberately misleading on certain issues and displays various oddness previously mentioned and the party at the other end of the email address comes across like such a dickhead doesn't fill me with confidence.

I'll pony up a few bucks for payware that doesn't have all the issues.

[m610]

I guess I got a little distracted by the Open Candy issue.

I'd think spyware like that would be included by default in eset's scans.

The fact that Super adds 3 GB of unused bits to my avi conversions (per GSport) and sticks their name on my files, saying they were a contributing artist, is more than enough reason for me to avoid them.

[aedipuss]

I did a virus scan last night (I use eset) and if you turn on the options to warn for "potentially unsafe" threats, which is by default turned off, it found the OpenCandy spyware in the most recent download. I'll download and check earlier versions to see if they have it.

How to run on this option in eset: http://kb.eset.com/esetkb/index?page=content&id=SOLN2198

There's no question that OpenCandy is there. I haven't seen any documentation that OpenCandy is really a "threat" - but if anyone can demonstrate it does more than they claim I'd be curious to hear about it.

What I'm most concerned about is whether Super has more malicious aspects - does it truly open a backdoor for malware? Or do previous versions actually contain malware? That's the part that I haven't really seen clarified. The fact that their site is so deliberately misleading on certain issues and displays various oddness previously mentioned and the party at the other end of the email address comes across like such a dickhead doesn't fill me with confidence.

I'll pony up a few bucks for payware that doesn't have all the issues.

why bother with super at all? super itself is not good for anything anyway. so many others that are; handbrake, mediacoder, xmediarecode, xvid4psp, avidemux, and the list goes on....

[brassplyer]

I guess I got a little distracted by the Open Candy issue.

I'd think spyware like that would be included by default in eset's scans.

What I'm referring to is this notion that it might be responsible for the installation of malware after the fact as aedipuss claims, even if there's no malware in the installer itself.

[m610]

Super itself is not good for anything anyway.

I'm sorry but that is an asinine thing to say considering that Super basically converts any format to any other, and all of the CODECs are built in, even CODECs that Windows will not let you install. It works better than most that I have tried.

If you don't like the software, fine. If you have a beef with Super, fine. Just say so. If you just want to rant, fine. Make it obvious. But when making statements or expressing opinions that are to be taken as facts, do us and yourself and your credibility a favor limit your statements to those you can and are willing to back up.

So many others that are; handbrake, mediacoder, xmediarecode, xvid4psp, avidemux, and the list goes on....

In my case here, I need to convert from MPEG-2 to something Adobe Premiere CS5 can deal with. So far that looks like AVI. I am trying the programs you listed, and more.

Handbrake does not export to AVI.
Prism Video Converter does not do it right, so far. I'm still trying different settings.
WinFF keeps crashing on preview but I am trying it.
I'm trying others, but so far Super is the only one that did it right, even if it inserted some "artifacts" and for some reason the AVI file bogs Premier down so that previews were difficult.

But that is way off topic.

I came across an FAQ from OpenCandy where they explain what their software is and does, how it gets installed, and so on. They make it sound like such an innocent little spy. I wish eset would alerted me to the presence off OpenCandy. Even if it does no direct harm, I do not like being spied on using my own PC.

Edit - the OpenCandy FAQ - http://www.opencandy.com/faqs/

[m610]

Per the FAQ, OpenCandy is not installed on your computer and it is only active during an install.

During the install it recommends another program you might like to have. If you accept, it will go ahead and install it, apparently without involving you in that process. Meanwhile, it continues to install your app.

As for spying, it collects the same type of basic info that pretty much eveyone collects, i.e., your OS, country, language, etc. It also notes the status of the app's install so it can report that to the app's developer.

Sounds simple enough. But...

To come up with a recommendation for the other program OpenCandy has to check to see if you have that program already, so it must be looking little closer at your system than some would want.

Plus, I really do not like how OpenCandy installs the second app without my involvement. I see this as a very good way to install just about anything and never knowing about it. I guess we just have to trust OpenCandy because it seems that if you agree to install the first program, OpenCandy can install whatever else it wants.

[brassplyer]

Super itself is not good for anything anyway.

I'm sorry but that is an asinine thing to say considering that Super basically converts any format to any other, and all of the CODECs are built in, even CODECs that Windows will not let you install. It works better than most that I have tried.

While we can perhaps avoid phrasing things in an adversarial way, yes, Super does seem to work pretty well. Some say the quality isn't good but I can't say I've had any complaints but I probably haven't given it the most extensive testing.

However all this other business about it inserting tags and the like seems sketchy. Their website and their attitude have put me off it. I'll pay a few bucks for an app that does the same thing.

Plus, I really do not like how OpenCandy installs the second app without my involvement. I see this as a very good way to install just about anything and never knowing about it. I guess we just have to trust OpenCandy because it seems that if you agree to install the first program, OpenCandy can install whatever else it wants.

That's what I mean. They're not forthcoming about various things, I don't trust them.

[chowmein]

I'm trying others, but so far Super is the only one that did it right, even if it inserted some "artifacts" and for some reason the AVI file bogs Premier down so that previews were difficult.

Doesn't sound like it "did it right" then?

[m610]

I probably got a bit carried away. The guy's posts throughout this thread were pretty much along those lines and now he was dumping that crap on me. My apologies. Not a positive contribution to this topic.

I wonder how many other programs include OpenCandy-like "features", and if GNU licensed software, for the free stuff, may be the only way to go from here out.

And given the quirkiness of the various converters, it seems like a focused professional group should get into this market. I'd be more than happy to pay for good clean software that works and is supported.

Right now, for me, it looks like ffMpef is working, except for that quirky factor again, it won't export to 29.97 fps frame rate. Sigh.

[m610]

I'm trying others, but so far Super is the only one that did it right, even if it inserted some "artifacts" and for some reason the AVI file bogs Premier down so that previews were difficult.

Doesn't sound like it "did it right" then?

You are correct. The video looked good and was the right size, frame rate, etc, but it still had issues.

[brassplyer]

I probably got a bit carried away. The guy's posts throughout this thread were pretty much along those lines and now he was dumping that crap on me. My apologies. Not a positive contribution to this topic.

Oh I hear ya, he pissed me off initially too as did another poster. His avatar doesn't exactly shout "Dale Carnegie devotee". I've noticed - while it's not everyone - for some reason there's a certain breed that hangs around tech forums that seem to have "socialization issues". I get this image of a bunch of scrawny, sullen 15-year-olds in metal band T-shirts constantly pissed off at their parents. I think it was my very first inquiry on here, someone chimed in with a bunch of derogatory crap. Nobody is knowledgeable enough that it entitles them to cop an attitude and there's a problem with someone if they feel a need to do so. There are plenty of people who are knowledgeable and cordial.

And given the quirkiness of the various converters, it seems like a focused professional group should get into this market. I'd be more than happy to pay for good clean software that works and is supported.

There's lots of pay-for apps out there. I'm looking at Aimersoft converter - it seems to have a good coverage of whatever file types I'm ever likely to need - for like $40. That certainly won't break the bank. They have other packages for a bit more.

[m610]

Yep, this is the Internuts, full of plenty of great and very knowledgeable people, and plenty more who will get there someday.

Last night's full virus scan shows that OpenCandy is included in MediaCoder2011-R90-5190.zip and Win32/Toolbar.Zugo in Miro_Installer.exe.

I can see the day when some sites actually advertise that they do not put OpenCandy and these nonsense toolbars in their software, and wear that as a badge of quality. Just good, clean software. Sort of the organic foods of the software world.

I'll check out Aimersoft.

[masonp]

Last night's full virus scan shows that OpenCandy is included in MediaCoder2011-R90-5190.zip and Win32/Toolbar.Zugo in Miro_Installer.exe.

non exhaustive list of application bundling Opencandy
aMSN
Any Video Converter
ApexDC++
ATI Tray Tools
aTube Catcher
CDBurnerXP Pro
CrystalDiskInfo
DarkWave Studio
Dexclock
Driver Sweeper
Duplicate Cleaner
DVDVideoSoft
eRightSoft Super
ExtractNow
FL Studio
Free YouTube Downloader
Frostwire
IE7Pro
Image Tuner
IZArc
kantaris
Media Info
MediaCoder
MediaInfo
mIRC
Miro
Office 2010 Trial Extender
Orbit Downloader
PrimoPDF
PSP Video
RedKawa
SIW
Soldat
Startup Manager
StepMania
Super Simple Photo Resizer
TechTracker
Trillian Astra
True Burner
Unlocker
Veoh Web Player
Vistaglazz
WebShot
Winamp <----
WinSCP

and list is still ongoing.
I would add opencandy to my application (if i had one), who wouldn't do it for $10 000/month

[brassplyer]

I read in some forum that supposedly it's possible to bypass the OpenCandy install by putting the .exe file on the C: drive and in the Start>Run dialogue put C:\appinstallernamehere.exe /NOCANDY

I tried it with Super build 49, I got a message saying the install file was corrupt.

[skan]

In my case here, I need to convert from MPEG-2 to something Adobe Premiere CS5 can deal with. So far that looks like AVI. I am trying the programs you listed, and more.

Handbrake does not export to AVI.
Prism Video Converter does not do it right, so far. I'm still trying different settings.
WinFF keeps crashing on preview but I am trying it.
I'm trying others, but so far Super is the only one that did it right, even if it inserted some "artifacts" and for some reason the AVI file bogs Premier down so that previews were difficult.

HandBrake is perfectly able to export to AVI and many other formats.
You an also try Mediacoder. It doesn't install any malware.

[ranchhand]

Skan, look at the date on the post immediately above yours.

[skan]

mmm, I'm sorry

[Baldrick]

Mediacoder contains adware during the installation. But you can decline/opt out.

Handbrake doesn't contain anything like that....yet.

[brassplyer]

Skan, look at the date on the post immediately above yours.

Nothing wrong with replying to old posts, future readers might still find the info useful.

[Hoser Rob]

I see there's been a lot of discussion and angst regarding Super installing OpenCandy. As far as I can determine, it's benign Adware ...

"Benign Adware"?

[ranchhand]

brassplyer.... yeah, there is something wrong. That post is two years old and everything related to it is archaic and useless; those program versions discussed aren't even available anymore. Better to start a new post to get the latest information. It's not a big deal, I have accidentally replied to old posts a couple of times.