ClamWin: Proposed partnership with Ask.com

[six7s]

Although ClamWin is one of the best anti-virus programs for Windows 98/Me/2000/XP/2003 and Vista (the main targets(?)), the program has had little in the way of development over the last few years - so now the development team have an idea and they asking for feedback, from anyone - whether or not you currently/have ever/whatever/etc used ClamWin



From an email:

from forumadmin@clamwin.com
date Sat, Sep 19, 2009
subject ClamWin: Proposed partnership with Ask.com

Our team is evaluating a possibility of including Ask Search toolbar with ClamWin installation in order to fund the development of new features in ClamWin. The search toolbar component will be optional and can be de-selected during the setup.

Please read our full announcement and vote in the online poll at http://www.clamwin.com/ask

Even if you couldn't care less about the Search toolbar please say so in the online poll. Your opinion is very important and if it turns out that the partnership is not in the best interests of our user community then we will try to find alternative sources of funding.

Regards,
ClamWin development team

www.clamwin.com Proposed Partnership with Ask.com

ClamWin started as a small open source project in 2004. Compliments to very supportive user community we are still around in 2009 and are looking forward.

Our product, however, is largely unchanged from its original version and most of our current efforts are concentrated on maintaining Windows port of ClamAV scanning engine and supporting the existing code. We started development of the real-time scanner and rewrite of the ClamWin program in 2006 but haven't managed to finish it yet. We would like to change this!

<snip/>

Note, Ask Search Toolbar is an optional component and can be de-selected during the installation.

<snip/>

They have made a trial build of ClamWin bundled with Ask toolbar and they are running a poll (which closes Sunday, 11th of October) to gauge how people feel about the proposal

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Poll : polldaddy.com What will you do if ClamWin Free Antivirus is bundled with Ask Toolbar and the revenue is used to support development of new features?

 

[GreNME]

I hate apps that "offer" a toolbar during installation. I hate that Java does it, and I hate that Acrobat does it. It's annoying and it adds just another thing that we have to encourage people to not do (or to actively deselect), which results in a web browser with an overabundance of toolbars when a friend, family member, or someone else asks us why their computer is getting slower or the internet is having problems.

 

[six7s]

I hate apps that "offer" a toolbar during installation.

You're not alone!

358 of the 640 votes cast in the poll so far have opted for 'Use it as usual but de-select Ask Toolbar component during the installation'

At least the ClamWin team are asking before they make a final decision

 

[Rat]

That's the option I went for. I would much prefer that it wasn't there at all, and if it's going to be, I'd prefer the default to be deselected, so that numpty users don't install it without realizing. In the real world, though, I'd prefer to keep an AV app that's bloat-free, and cash-free.

 

[six7s]

...I'd prefer the default to be deselected, so that numpty users don't install it without realizing

Alas, it's the opposite

forums.clamwin.com/viewtopic.php?t=2521

The install option is checked by default and we can't make it otherwise unfortunately.
We tried to make the installation page as obvious as possible:

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http://www.clamwin.com/images/screen.png
​

</nonHotlinkedImageURI>

 

[GreNME]

...I'd prefer the default to be deselected, so that numpty users don't install it without realizing

Alas, it's the opposite

forums.clamwin.com/viewtopic.php?t=2521

I figured that's how it would be, which is why my answer to the survey was the most vehemently opposed (despite my vehemence being not quite so vehement). I hate software that pulls that crap, it's the equivalent to phone and cable companies hard-selling to unsuspecting customers and adding things to their normal monthly billing with the equivalent of "since I notice you don't have FeatureX on your account I'm going to just go ahead and turn that on, okay?" with the customer not realizing it until the bill comes.

Sorry for the ranti-ness. Hard-selling is one of those pet peeves that really gets me all het up.

 

[six7s]

From another email:

from forumadmin@clamwin.com
date Thu, Oct 15, 2009
subject Announcing partnership with Ask.com


Hi again,

ClamWin team would like to thank all of you who voted in our poll and helped us form a broader opinion about the partnership with Ask.com.

Based on your feedback and our analysis of the Ask Toolbar we made a decision to go ahead and include the Ask Toolbar with ClamWin setup file. Incremental version updates will not be affected.

Please read an updated announcement here: http://www.clamwin.com/ask

Thank you all again and lets hope this move turns ClamWin into a better product in the near future.

ClamWin Team

 

[GreNME]

Which means I'll be sticking with MS Security Essentials despite its slow scanning.

 

[Ducky]

Blah. I hate cross-sell nonsense like this when installing software.