FYI - McAfee Site Adviser warning

Thursday, October 21, 2010 by k10w3 | Discussion: WinCustomize 2011 Feedback

I was surprised today when I came to visit and my McAfee SiteAdviser popped up red at WinCustomize, claiming the downloads include "adware, spyware or other potentially unwanted programs."

Maybe someone official could check this out.  The offending download is Xbox_360_Desktop.exe.  There's a place at the top of the page in the link above for the "owner to leave a comment." 

I just thought I would make the staff aware of this.

First Previous Page 1 of 2 Next Last
RPGFX
Reply #1 Thursday, October 21, 2010 2:11 PM

More than likely this is due to the fact that McAfee is a worthless piece of crap program. 

DrJBHL
Reply #2 Thursday, October 21, 2010 2:20 PM
I think it's due to the fact that the ad is linked....could also be a question of the cookies the site has. There was an Ad.something that Norton didn't like too much.
k10w3
Reply #3 Thursday, October 21, 2010 2:56 PM

It's not due to the ad -- Per this page on McAfee (http://www.siteadvisor.com/sites/wincustomize.com/downloads/2152673/), the following link is the offending download: http://stardockmedia.wincustomize.com/ViewSkin.aspx?SID=7562&SkinID=559&LibID=22&comments=1

it's due to the Xbox 360 Lite suite, which McAfee is claiming changes their system settings.  I just thought it would be important for someone official from WinCustomize to enlighten McAfee on what's going on.

willistuder
Reply #4 Thursday, October 21, 2010 5:16 PM

I noticed this last night. The program Site Advisor is one I'd recommend; sometimes it is wrong about the dangers of a site, but when you go to a site that is KNOWN to mess with your browser, it will divert you to a page explaining why. The owners of a site and interested parties are allowed to enter their comments, etc. They do change their ratings when they know that an offending file (or other situation) has been removed.

Stardock.com is also listed as a Red site.

Island Dog
Reply #5 Thursday, October 21, 2010 5:18 PM

We are aware and working on it.  Thank you!

skyzyk
Reply #6 Thursday, October 21, 2010 6:20 PM

I just happened to me also. It just started today. Joe User is Still be shown as an attack Site as this was a few weeks ago. Thanks for the heads up ID

Uvah
Reply #7 Thursday, October 21, 2010 7:04 PM

Seems Google is still dragging their feet on the attack page. I just turned on FF's option to block attack sites and it still lists the forums as an attack page. What's up with these people??

starkers
Reply #8 Thursday, October 21, 2010 9:36 PM

Seems Google is still dragging their feet on the attack page. I just turned on FF's option to block attack sites and it still lists the forums as an attack page. What's up with these people??

Makes you wonder if somebody has an agenda. 

This is an easily fixable issue... yet it's not... 'tis nowhere near fixed 3 weeks later.

Another reason I can't stand the evil Google is/has become/always was

Uvah
Reply #9 Thursday, October 21, 2010 10:15 PM

To show the length and breadth of Google's determination to control the world overnight. They're investing in a wind farm ... in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean!

starkers
Reply #10 Friday, October 22, 2010 1:40 AM

If Google want wind... I got 'wind'

And I'd be only too happy to give it to 'em.

And a bowl of triple concentrated curried cabbage 'd make it prime, too.

JcRabbit
Reply #11 Friday, October 22, 2010 6:53 PM

Now Winstep is also red in McAffee site advisor because it links to Wincustomize!

All because of that XBox_360_Desktop.exe, whatever that is. Are we all connected in disgrace, or what?! lol

tazgecko
Reply #12 Friday, October 22, 2010 7:44 PM

I was following Bill Pytlovany's troubles with McAfee. His program Winpatrol was flagged as a virus. McAfee was the only security program which would throw up a virus warning when you try to install the new version of Winpatrol.

All they did was drag their heels while the documentation was sent to India to be 'assessed'.

It only took a week to get their act together   With some pressure from the security community. 

False positives is one of the reasons I took McAfee off my hard drive a long time ago.

starkers
Reply #13 Saturday, October 23, 2010 7:53 AM

False positives is one of the reasons I took McAfee off my hard drive a long time ago

I had that free McAfee Advisor install itself on my PC (despite unticking it) with a cleaner I wanted to try (Wise Cleaner or something like that) and it popped up several times with a red flag about something or other I knew I could trust, so I uninstalled it and the cleaner inside the first day.

It ain't necessarily good just cos it's free.

DrJBHL
Reply #14 Saturday, October 23, 2010 8:10 AM

starkers
False positives is one of the reasons I took McAfee off my hard drive a long time ago

I had that free McAfee Advisor install itself on my PC (despite unticking it) with a cleaner I wanted to try (Wise Cleaner or something like that) and it popped up several times with a red flag about something or other I knew I could trust, so I uninstalled it and the cleaner inside the first day.

It ain't necessarily good just cos it's free.

Happened to me also. That's far from polite behavior for a software firm to engage in...especially one touting itself as an advocate of Internet Security!

I do wish SD would put the screws to them...I have a special Aussie bloke in mind who is quite expert at doing that.

DaveBax
Reply #15 Saturday, October 23, 2010 8:16 AM

This was a serious problem a little while back. Than it appeared to be cleared up and now about 3 weeks later it started again. I understand the need for ads but they need to be checked. How about when this is cleared up and everything working fine a test is done in house for future additions. When new ads or exe are added to  a page(s) and tested in house than all of the people using the McAfee Advisor wouldn't be red flagged. McAfee has been know for producing false positives for years and that is why I stopped using it about 4 or 5 years ago but it's still used by many people. Comcast customers use to get the full version for free, than about a year ago they switched to Norton. The switch was done because of all the complaints about red flagging. Just a thought.

DrJBHL
Reply #16 Saturday, October 23, 2010 8:21 AM

McAfee has been know for producing false positives for years and that is why I stopped using it about 4 or 5 years ago but it's still used by many people. Comcast customers use to get the full version for free, than about a year ago they switched to Norton. The switch was done because of all the complaints about red flagging. Just a thought.

I do hate to admit it, but my nemesis is rarely correct, and this is the rarely.

starkers
Reply #17 Saturday, October 23, 2010 8:28 AM

Happened to me also. That's far from polite behavior for a software firm to engage in...especially one touting itself as an advocate of Internet Security!

The thing that pissed me off was that it gave me the opportunity to opt out , then simply ignored it when I opted to use it.  In fact, I didn't know McAfee Advisor was installed on my machine until the first red flag, at which point I thought WTF and considered it's immediate uninstallation.  Trouble was, I was converting video at the time and didn't want to risk having to do a reboot in the middle of it. It was gone at the first clear opportunity, however.

Still, it was pretty rude, just the same.

DaveBax
Reply #18 Saturday, October 23, 2010 8:30 AM

One correct for 2010, YEA. I was just given the highest honor one can get from the Doc. I'm so excited I'm going to go and celebrate now.

DrJBHL
Reply #19 Saturday, October 23, 2010 8:53 AM

DaveBax
One correct for 2010, YEA. I was just given the highest honor one can get from the Doc. I'm so excited I'm going to go and celebrate now.

That's from 0-2010. And take a designated driver. Finding another nemesis isn't easy.

 

The thing that pissed me off was that it gave me the opportunity to opt out , then simply ignored it when I opted to use it.

Exactly my point. That kind of rude is intolerable. It is precisely the same as saying to a salesman, "No thanks." and finding you can't close your door because his foot's at the jamb. 

starkers
Reply #20 Saturday, October 23, 2010 9:40 AM

Exactly my point. That kind of rude is intolerable. It is precisely the same as saying to a salesman, "No thanks." and finding you can't close your door because his foot's at the jamb.

Precisely!  There was a similar issue with a media player I once liked to use.  The installer also installed Google's browser without consent and no opt out (obviously), so I simply discontinues its use because I simply will not have Google apps on my rig... period.

Please login to comment and/or vote for this skin.

Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:

  • Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums and downloading skins.
  • Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
  • Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
  • It's simple, and FREE!



web-wc01