RSS/Atom feed Twitter
Site is read-only, email is disabled

Nasty website bundles GIMP with Adware/Spyware

This discussion is connected to the gimp-user-list.gnome.org mailing list which is provided by the GIMP developers and not related to gimpusers.com.

This is a read-only list on gimpusers.com so this discussion thread is read-only, too.

12 of 12 messages available
Toggle history

Please log in to manage your subscriptions.

Nasty website bundles GIMP with Adware/Spyware bktheman34 19 Aug 12:39
  Nasty website bundles GIMP with Adware/Spyware "Mikael St 19 Aug 17:08
  Nasty website bundles GIMP with Adware/Spyware "Mikael St 19 Aug 17:14
Nasty website bundles GIMP with Adware/Spyware Kevin Brubeck Unhammer 19 Aug 13:46
  Nasty website bundles GIMP with Adware/Spyware bktheman34 19 Aug 14:04
   Nasty website bundles GIMP with Adware/Spyware bktheman34 19 Aug 14:19
    Nasty website bundles GIMP with Adware/Spyware Burnie West 19 Aug 16:25
   Nasty website bundles GIMP with Adware/Spyware dh 19 Aug 20:04
    Nasty website bundles GIMP with Adware/Spyware Frank Gore 19 Aug 20:13
    Nasty website bundles GIMP with Adware/Spyware Alexandre Prokoudine 19 Aug 23:13
Nasty website bundles GIMP with Adware/Spyware Kevin Brubeck Unhammer 19 Aug 20:51
  Nasty website bundles GIMP with Adware/Spyware bktheman34 20 Aug 09:48
2011-08-19 12:39:38 UTC (over 12 years ago)
postings
9

Nasty website bundles GIMP with Adware/Spyware

I have come across this rather nasty website: "gimp.us.com" which appears to offer GIMP bundled with a bunch of horrible adware when you use their installer. The website looks like it's official, and they even tell you about all the adware it will install, they also claim that GIMP is "advertiser supported" which is why they can offer it for free, but is this legal? Can something be done? Aren't they breaking the GNU licence? I fear, if not challenged, websites like this will ruin the reputation of GIMP. I have come across quite a few people who have used this site to install GIMP, thinking it is an official download, and then found their computer compromised.

Kevin Brubeck Unhammer
2011-08-19 13:46:19 UTC (over 12 years ago)

Nasty website bundles GIMP with Adware/Spyware

bktheman34 writes:

I have come across this rather nasty website: "gimp.us.com" which appears to offer GIMP bundled with a bunch of horrible adware when you use their installer. The website looks like it's official, and they even tell you about all the adware it will install, they also claim that GIMP is "advertiser supported" which is why they can offer it for free, but is this legal? Can something be done? Aren't they breaking the GNU licence? I fear, if not challenged, websites like this will ruin the reputation of GIMP. I have come across quite a few people who have used this site to install GIMP, thinking it is an official download, and then found their computer compromised.

When I click their download link, I'm directed to sourceforge, ie. the official download. Also, I tried turning off Adblock Plus and I still see only one small advertisement at the very bottom of the page (where do they claim that GIMP is ad supported?)

I don't think they are breaking the license in any way, although they should of course note that http://www.gimp.org is the official home page. They do however link to gimp.org some places.

(I'm not at all endorsing gimp.us.com, but I don't think they're doing anything illegal, nor do I see signs of adware.)

2011-08-19 14:04:04 UTC (over 12 years ago)
postings
9

Nasty website bundles GIMP with Adware/Spyware

When I click their download link, I'm directed to sourceforge, ie. the official download. Also, I tried turning off Adblock Plus and I still see only one small advertisement at the very bottom of the page (where do they claim that GIMP is ad supported?)

I don't think they are breaking the license in any way, although they should of course note that http://www.gimp.org is the official home page. They do however link to gimp.org some places.

(I'm not at all endorsing gimp.us.com, but I don't think they're doing anything illegal, nor do I see signs of adware.)

Here is the offending page: http://www.gimp.us.com/free-photo-editor/disclaimer.php

2011-08-19 14:19:06 UTC (over 12 years ago)
postings
9

Nasty website bundles GIMP with Adware/Spyware

Forgot to mention, when you click on the apparent source forge link, it starts to download the file from freefr.dl.sourceforge.net

Whereas the links from the official website point to this page on source forge: http://sourceforge.net/projects/gimp-win/files/GIMP%20%2B%20GTK%2B%20%28stable%20release%29/GIMP%202.6.11%20%2B%20GTK%2B%202.16.6/gimp-2.6.11-i686-setup-1.exe/download

Perhaps I am being overly cautious - but people I know have told me they have installed gimp, and other nasties at the same time from the offending website.

Burnie West
2011-08-19 16:25:19 UTC (over 12 years ago)

Nasty website bundles GIMP with Adware/Spyware

On 08/19/2011 07:19 AM, bktheman34 wrote:

Forgot to mention, when you click on the apparent source forge link, it starts to download the file from freefr.dl.sourceforge.net

Whereas the links from the official website point to this page on source forge: http://sourceforge.net/projects/gimp-win/files/GIMP%20%2B%20GTK%2B%20%28stable%20release%29/GIMP%202.6.11%20%2B%20GTK%2B%202.16.6/gimp-2.6.11-i686-setup-1.exe/download

Perhaps I am being overly cautious - but people I know have told me they have installed gimp, and other nasties at the same time from the offending website.

IMHO this is more a case of "buyer beware" - - I do find it offensive (and I suspect AAdobe is somewhat annoyed at GIMP being termed "free Photoshop" but that's their worry).

People who pursue such paths without a modicum of due diligence sort of get what they deserve. I hope we're not tending toward a national belief that making silly mistakes "should be illegal".

"Mikael St
2011-08-19 17:08:35 UTC (over 12 years ago)

Nasty website bundles GIMP with Adware/Spyware

On 2011-08-19 14:39, bktheman34 wrote:

I have come across this rather nasty website: "gimp.us.com" which appears to offer GIMP bundled with a bunch of horrible adware when you use their installer. The website looks like it's official, and they even tell you about all the adware it will install, they also claim that GIMP is "advertiser supported" which is why they can offer it for free, but is this legal? Can something be done? Aren't they breaking the GNU licence? I fear, if not challenged, websites like this will ruin the reputation of GIMP. I have come across quite a few people who have used this site to install GIMP, thinking it is an official download, and then found their computer compromised.

Perhaps sites like this would be less attractive if the GIMP team would provide an official binaries for Windows and Mac:

"The GIMP team doesn't provide official Mac binaries."

"The GIMP team doesn't officially provide any Windows binaries."

(This is nothing I personally need since I use Linux.)

"Mikael St
2011-08-19 17:14:18 UTC (over 12 years ago)

Nasty website bundles GIMP with Adware/Spyware

On 2011-08-19 14:39, bktheman34 wrote: > I have come across this rather nasty website: "gimp.us.com" which > appears to offer GIMP bundled with a bunch of horrible adware when > you use their installer. The website looks like it's official, and > they even tell you about all the adware it will install, they also > claim that GIMP is "advertiser supported" which is why they can offer > it for free, but is this legal? Can something be done?

Perhaps sites like this would be less attractive if the GIMP team would provide an official binaries for Windows and Mac:

"The GIMP team doesn't provide official Mac binaries."

"The GIMP team doesn't officially provide any Windows binaries."

(This is nothing I personally need since I use Linux.)

dh
2011-08-19 20:04:31 UTC (over 12 years ago)

Nasty website bundles GIMP with Adware/Spyware

On Friday, August 19, 2011, bktheman34 wrote:

When I click their download link, I'm directed to sourceforge, ie. the official download. Also, I tried turning off Adblock Plus and I still see only one small advertisement at the very bottom of the page (where do they claim that GIMP is ad supported?)

I don't think they are breaking the license in any way, although they should of course note that http://www.gimp.org is the official home page. They do however link to gimp.org some places.

(I'm not at all endorsing gimp.us.com, but I don't think they're doing anything illegal, nor do I see signs of adware.)

Here is the offending page:
http://www.gimp.us.com/free-photo-editor/disclaimer.php

I see no mention of the GPL or links to download the source code for GIMP on that page (or on http://dl.gimp.us.com/) . If their installer is providing the executable from their own repository then they are supposedly required to do this. (Perhaps these links are available in the installer?)

I believe the FSF provides enforcement of GPL related complaints.

http://www.gimp.us.com/ is providing an installer which is the "service and software" they take responsibility for. They do not claim authorship of GIMP, but the way they choose to distribute it seems (to me) to fail to comply w/ the GPL.

If anyone has tried this installer, and not had source code offered upon request (for GIMP, not the installer) then I would suggest they contact the FSF or GIMP developers.

see ya dh

Frank Gore
2011-08-19 20:13:56 UTC (over 12 years ago)

Nasty website bundles GIMP with Adware/Spyware

On Fri, Aug 19, 2011 at 4:04 PM, dh wrote:

I see no mention of the GPL or links to download the source code for GIMP on that page (or on http://dl.gimp.us.com/) . If their installer is providing the executable from their own repository then they are supposedly required to do this. (Perhaps these links are available in the installer?)

They are not providing a download. They are providing a link to an existing download. The whole web site does not actually DO anything except show misleading charts to users and offer up links to downloads they don't own.

Further, they DO provide a link to the source code right there at the bottom of every page, and they clearly acknowledge the fact that Gimp is GPL'ed software. They don't pretend to have created it or have anything to do with its development. Near as I can tell, this site's sole purpose is to show up in search results and display ads to people. There's nothing illegal about that.

-- Frank Gore
www.ProjectPontiac.com

Kevin Brubeck Unhammer
2011-08-19 20:51:55 UTC (over 12 years ago)

Nasty website bundles GIMP with Adware/Spyware

bktheman34 writes:

When I click their download link, I'm directed to sourceforge, ie. the official download. Also, I tried turning off Adblock Plus and I still see only one small advertisement at the very bottom of the page (where do they claim that GIMP is ad supported?)

I don't think they are breaking the license in any way, although they should of course note that http://www.gimp.org is the official home page. They do however link to gimp.org some places.

(I'm not at all endorsing gimp.us.com, but I don't think they're doing anything illegal, nor do I see signs of adware.)

Here is the offending page: http://www.gimp.us.com/free-photo-editor/disclaimer.php

Yes, that does mention an ad-supported program. However, I still find no way to install what they're advertising, only the official version. I've downloaded the Windows version, it really is the official Windows installer as packaged by Jernej Simončič. I guess they could be charged with not providing the most up-to-date download (2.6.11, they're providing 2.6.10), but the checksum of the two files are the same.

(Also, freefr.dl.sourceforge.net is still part of *.sourceforge.net/projects/gimp-win/*, so no problem there.)

It does seem though, that perhaps at some point in time they did provide an adware installer, and the disclaimer-page is a remnant from that? (They do have GPL links now, at least.)

Or perhaps they just never got around to writing that adware version? Best to keep an eye on them then =P

Alexandre Prokoudine
2011-08-19 23:13:01 UTC (over 12 years ago)

Nasty website bundles GIMP with Adware/Spyware

On Sat, Aug 20, 2011 at 12:04 AM, dh wrote:

I see no mention of the GPL or links to download the source code for GIMP on that page (or on http://dl.gimp.us.com/).

You what?

"Gimp is an open source product developed by The GIMP Development Team licensed under GNU GPL. Source code for Gimp can be found here." is in the footer of every page there, and
http://www.gimp.us.com/free-photo-editor/terms.php has the GPL text.

C'mon, people.

Alexandre Prokoudine http://libregraphicsworld.org

2011-08-20 09:48:57 UTC (over 12 years ago)
postings
9

Nasty website bundles GIMP with Adware/Spyware

Yes, that does mention an ad-supported program. However, I still find no way to install what they're advertising, only the official version. I've downloaded the Windows version, it really is the official Windows installer as packaged by Jernej Simončič. I guess they could be charged with not providing the most up-to-date download (2.6.11, they're providing 2.6.10), but the checksum of the two files are the same.

(Also, freefr.dl.sourceforge.net is still part of *.sourceforge.net/projects/gimp-win/*, so no problem there.)

It does seem though, that perhaps at some point in time they did provide an adware installer, and the disclaimer-page is a remnant from that? (They do have GPL links now, at least.)

Or perhaps they just never got around to writing that adware version? Best to keep an eye on them then =P

It sure does look like either they did offer the adware infected installer at some point in the past, but have since changed it back to the official download and simply forgot to remove this page. Probably it is best to still warn people to stay clear of this site.

As to some of the other comments here like "buyer beware" and people "get what they deserve". I'm sorry but I don't agree with that callous attitude. The internet can be a dangerous place, and lots of people who know little about computers can be easily duped into downloading something they didn't expect. Even though this site doesn't actually appear to be illegal anymore, I think it still is probably worth warning others to stay clear of it - hence my post.

And yes, I do care about what happens to other people.

I am not saying it should be made illegal for people to make mistakes, for goodness sake!