Be Careful Not To Install Junk Software with Digsby
If you are interested in trying out the newest version of Digsby, use caution during installation so you don’t end up with a bunch of extra junk software you don’t need. Today we will show you what to avoid and also where to download the clean version that doesn’t include the extra hassles.
Update: It’s come to our attention that even the “clean” version still bundles crapware directly into the application. We’ve included details on how to disable that as well, but you should consider uninstalling the software entirely.
Extra Bloat Install
When you first start installation you will notice a splash screen saying it is preparing for InstallIQ.
Then you are presented with the first agreement you will need to except to begin installing Digsby. You have to accept these terms and conditions for this install manager to work.
Now here is a series of screens showing the additional amount of software InstallIQ would like to put on your system. In this test we declined every one of these “special offers”. You will notice there are a total of 7 attempts.
Finally they would like to make My.Freeze.com your default home page. Make sure and uncheck that as well.
Something else that we found interesting about my.freeze.com is it doesn’t get a good rating from WOT (Web of Trust).
Here is a look at your new system if you unwittingly accepted to install all of the software. Everyone of these screens pops up after installation, they were just moved around so you can see all of them.
Get the Clean Version
When you first go to the Download page at the Digsby site you will notice a nice big Download Now button. Under the button in small print is the first clue that something shady might be going on where they say InstallIQ manages the installation. To get the clean install you will need to click on the smaller “Click Here” link.
Another thing to help you out is noticing the differences between the two installer icons.
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InstallIQ Version |
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Clean Install |
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Important Update!
If you managed to install the thing without any crapware, you aren’t done yet. They are also using your computer to “conduct research”, and you’ll need to turn that setting off as well. Go to the Support Digsby item on the menu:
Then go down to “Help Digsby conduct research” and click the Disable button.
If you want more details on what they are doing, just check out the TOS… they are doing research projects and even searching the web, using your computer. Awful!
Conclusion
A lot of software companies try to throw in an offer for a toolbar or something to make some money on their free software but this is pretty ridiculous. We are interested in hearing your thoughts on this please leave a comment and let us know!
Download the Clean Version of Digsby (If you dare)
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Definitely excessive.
At least they’re upfront about it, but way too many offers….
I understand that they are trying to fund the software, but going about it that way is not acceptable in my book. They can find other ways to make ends meet. If they are willing to bundle crap like that and hide the “clean version”, who knows what else they’ll do to try to make money. I’ll never install software like that on any of my computers.
Thanks for pointing out the “clean version” for those who still want to use the software Geek!
That is great but I wish you’d come out with this a few days ago! Fortunately, I was paying attention and didn’t install anything extra!
I always use the atypical installer when I can find one on anything I install. Thanks for putting on the clinic on why that’s a good idea.
I have been using Digsby because I want access to Facebook and Twitter, and I don’t have a lot of extra screen real estate on this laptop for Tweetdeck. Digsby works pretty well most of the time for that. Whatever Digsby is, it’s not a great IM client. You can’t use it to go to an AIM chat room. Crazy.
I don’t recommend Digsby to people as an IM client, and that’s why. Now — another reason not to recommend it. I don’t object to people making a decent living, and I recognize that somewhere along the line you need to raise some money. But seven attempts to install crap, and at least one of them to install crap from a questionable site is just not very good manners.
We are doing our best to keep Digsby free and ad-free. We feel that showing you ads once during the installation is better than plastering banner ads all over the product like other IM clients (AIM, ICQ, Yahoo, MSN).
I’m sorry you had a bad experience with the installer. With our auto-update system you won’t have to go through it again unless you reinstall. It’s not an ideal solution but we feel it is better than ads in the product. We are always open to new ideas on how to generate revenue in the least intrusive way possible and welcome feedback.
-Erick from the Digsby team
The part I find the most interesting is that the setup has a prominent “No Spyware/Adware/Malware/Viruses” notice on it.
Thanks for posting this, Geek. A few weeks ago I was looking around for a Trillian alternative and thought of Digsby. The subtext for InstallIQ raised a red flag but I went ahead anyway, and all the crapware was too much. I find it hard to believe they need to resort to things like this when they apparently have enough money for advertising in and around Times Square, Manhattan. So I went with Pidgin instead and use that alongside Trillian.
my point of view on Digsby at the Web of Trust Forum:
http://www.mywot.com/en/forum/3359-digsby
@Erick
Tricking unsuspecting or less knowledgeable users by getting them to install crapware is despicable, and you should re-think your business model entirely.
Well . . . Digsby has now accumulated a lot of negative posts on HTG, Major Geeks. hpHosts, and the WOT forum . . . some of the most computer literate and best computer help sites on the Internet (and I think there’s also more blogs and forums that have similar negative issues with Digsby).
So, Digsby has been pretty much trashed (and I would include myself in that trashing effort) by some of the more reliable, mature, responsible, sophisticated, and knowledgeable sites around.
I would say that Digsby has basically been relegated to the “crapware” group, along with all the nonsense that comes with the fraudulent InstallQ that it uses.
InstallIQ does not “trick” anyone into accepting the applications offered. All apps offered have user value; you may not be the right user so you have the option to Decline. All apps offered go through thorough quality assurance tests on a timely basis. All apps can also be easily removed through your Control Panel/Add or Remove Programs. InstallIQ is certified in the TRUSTe Trusted Download Program.
We appreciate your honesty; we do not expect users to accept all the applications offered. We also do not agree with WOT and have found significant errors in their reporting.
@ Debby M
Yes, InstallQ is TRUSTe Certified; no doubt about that.
The problem lies with *what* it installs – those programs are not TRUSTe Certified.
A simple analogy would be:
I have a Samsonite suitcase, it’s certified by Samsonite as such and has the Samsonite label on it.
When I open the suitcase, I find a lot of garbage contained within it and none of the garbage is Certified by Samsonite.
The *idea* of forcing a user to Opt Out of 3rd party installed programs, that may or may not have any similarity the the desired software being installed, is the same as sending spam via email before the subscribed newsletter is received; sure we can delete the spam as trash, but why do we have to view it first? It shouldn’t be there at all. And when installing any software, there shouldn’t be any other software involved.
@ Debby M,
Can you expand on the “have found significant errors in their reporting” thing you said about WOT? Specifically, what are the “significant errors” and where are they “reported”?
If you’re talking about scorecard comments, they are made by individual users and are NOT necessarily the “official” views of WOT. WOT simply provdes the facility for comments, but does not censor those comments (unless they are blatantly vulgar or otherwise offensive). You can make any comment you want, like “Digsby is great” or “Digsby is crap”.
So if that’s the case, your disagreement would be with the individual user that made the comment and not WOT staff. And BTW, comments are NOT ratings. While comments may reflect a users opinion and hence rating, they are NOT ratings themselves.
I’d like to see the specific WOT “significant error” (NOT a user comment) and where it is.
TIA
BJ
@ Debby M and Erick,
Perhaps you’d like to post on the WOT forum here: http://www.mywot.com/en/forum/.....ment-16811
Someone from your staff and using the screen name of “coopycob” has already posted in another WOT thread on Digsby here: http://www.mywot.com/en/forum/.....ment-16744
BJ
Pidgin.
As mentioned here already, use Trillian or Pidgin, my preference is Trillian.
Trillian – http://www.ceruleanstudios.com/
Pidgin – http://www.pidgin.im/
@Eric
Are you sure you actually have understood what is being said here?
The major point is not around the “crapware” since it’s put upfront it would be our fault installing it when we don’t want to, the real issue is with using our pc/bandwidth for your purposes, WITHOUT asking us first and setting it as enabled by DEFAULT!
This is what you should have answered to and you have completely ignored.
Hi,
I work at Plura Processing and would like to address the main issue raised here. We’ve been talking with Digsby and they are aware that the main concern is that a user is not properly informed of the chat client being integrated with Plura. The Digsby team is currently working on an update to the installer that will make using Plura an “opt-in”, rather than enabled by default. Hopefully this will address the major concern most users have by making use of Plura more apparent.
Thanks,
Shion
Plura Processing
I’m no typical end user, and I’ll admit, I didn’t read the EULA…who does? I’ve been a Digsby pusher for quite some time now, introducing it to anyone who’ll listen. The crap in the installer? Eh, such is life. I generally carry the latest and greatest on a thumb drive – the clean install, not the bloated one, but now I have to go turn off the research (or explain how) to at least 30 people! I’d love to hear the rationale behind the research crap and being enabled by default! I really am disappointed in Digsby for this sneaky, underhanded attempt to make money.
Will I continue to use Digsby? You better believe it…it’s a solid program that suits my needs. But thanks to Mysticgeek, I now have this research option turned OFF!
They actually set the research thing on by default and didn’t tell me about it. I can’t believe it. I’m uninstalling Digsby right now!
You can also use a THIRD PARTY Add/Remove programs utility (I recommend the Revo Uninstaller) registry cleaner (I recommend Glary Utilities or the Eusing Free Registry Cleaner) to wipe the registry clean of the crap.
Alternatively, just simply click on the DECLINE button & KEEP CLICKING ON IT until all the crap passes.
Simple.
Haha, Lifehacker is “suing” Digsby for Bundles crapware and use our computer to crawl the web at the AllRise court – http://bit.ly/AllRise238
Go, Digsby!
This reminds me of Xupiter.
Hi. I would like to point out that the latest version of Digsby released a few days ago no longer uses InstallIQ: http://blog.digsby.com/archives/732 Build 65 also gives an option to turn on or off the research module after installation and is no longer buried.
Thanks.