OpenCandy

OpenCandy from SweetLabs, a company based in San Diego, is an advertising software module consisting of a Microsoft Windows library that can be incorporated in a Windows Installer. When a user installs an application that has the OpenCandy library, there is an option to install additional software that it recommends (based on a scan of the user's system and geolocation).[1][2]

The software was originally developed for the DivX installation, by CEO Darrius Thompson. When installing DivX, the user was prompted to optionally install the Yahoo! Toolbar. DivX received $15.7 million during the first nine months of 2008 from Yahoo and other software developers, after 250 million downloads.[2]

Chester Ng, the former DivX business development director, is chief business officer and Mark Chweh, former DivX engineering director, is chief technology officer.[2]

OpenCandy has attracted criticism because of privacy concerns.[3] Past versions of OpenCandy were considered adware by Microsoft Security Essentials as they "may send user-specific information ... without obtaining adequate user consent".[4] OpenCandy has claimed that this is because another company used OpenCandy without the formal warning in their EULA.[5]

How to avoid OpenCandy

A user can simply turn off any internet connection while installing software bundled with OpenCandy if the user wants to be sure not to get any OpenCandy "recommendations" during the install.[6] Alternatively one can load the installer (typed from a command line prompt) with the /NOCANDY switch. This will typically prevent the additional library from loading (or for additional security, use both methods).

Applications known to use or have used OpenCandy

References

  1. ↑ Needleman, Rafe (11 November 2008), OpenCandy brings ad market to software installs. What?, CNET news, retrieved 2009-08-18
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Marshall, Matt (10 November 2008), OpenCandy inserts recommendations when you install software, retrieved 2009-08-18
  3. ↑ Needleman, Rafe (11 November 2008), OpenCandy brings ad market to software installs. What?, CNET news, retrieved 2011-08-06. Particularly see the user comments
  4. ↑ Win32/OpenCandy, Microsoft Corporation, 16 Feb 2011, retrieved 2011-02-23
  5. ↑ "The Story Behind the OpenCandy and Microsoft Adware Debacle". Retrieved 2011-06-02.
  6. ↑ "Dr. Apps" (2009-05-13). "Comment on article 'OpenCandy: A New Kind of Adware/Spyware'". Cranial Soup. Retrieved 2014-12-26. You can simply not allow internet communication during a software install and you will never see an OpenCandy recommendation.
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ End User License Agreement, retrieved September 2014
  9. ↑ Foxit Forum
  10. ↑ "Change log". ImgBurn. LIGHTNING UK!. 2013-06-16. Archived from the original on 2014-08-08. Retrieved 2014-08-30. Changed: No longer bundling/offering the Ask.com toolbar in the setup program, OpenCandy now handles product offerings during installation.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 gizmo, richards (2014-02-08). "Controversial Advertising Program Now Being Embedded in More Software". Gizmo's Freeware. Archived from the original on 2014-08-07. Retrieved 2014-08-30. OpenCandy (OC) is a relatively new advertising product that more and more software developers are bundling with their programs. It can now be found in the installers of dozens of popular programs including IZArc, mirC, PrimoPDF, Trillian Astra and more.
  12. ↑ http://www.herdprotect.com/signer-mp3-support-146c2e323177663b9df87fff1b9c31d8.aspx
  13. ↑ http://fspro.net/my-lockbox
  14. ↑ "Softpedia - RIOT". Retrieved 2014-10-06.
  15. ↑ Schember, John (21 January 2012). "Sigil 0.5.0 Released". Retrieved 2012-03-17.
  16. ↑ "WinSCP - OpenCandy". Retrieved 2014-04-03.