Google Toolbar - Really necessary?

[bigketch]

This is the best product I have worked with. I am a small reseller, but have purchased and resold at least 20 copies of your product this year. It seems they have not compromised thier product like so many other Anti-spyware companies have done. Then with the later installs I see the option to install Google Toolbar!!!

Ok, Google is fine, great, popular. maybe even a golden cow. But I have no clue what spyware is included with Google toolbar.

What's worse is I've come to depend on SD for their hard stance against spyware and not compromising thier product. I have no clue if Google tool bar includes spyware or not. I never choose to intall it. I remove it from every computer I service.

SD, Don't start compromising now!! I would like to hear a response from a SD employee concerning this.

[Support]

Hi Bigketch,

There is no malware included in Google Toolbar, giving away Google Toolbar together with Spyware Doctor certainly is not a sign of PC Tools compromising on our stance.

We would never affiliate ourselves with anyone that manufacture, distribute or promote spyware.

The option to not install GTB is also given to customers that are installing our programs. So the choice is up to the customer.

Kind Regards,

Eric
Customer Support Services
PC Tools Customer Support Services

[ejr]

Originally Posted by bigketch

This is the best product I have worked with. I am a small reseller, but have purchased and resold at least 20 copies of your product this year. It seems they have not compromised thier product like so many other Anti-spyware companies have done. Then with the later installs I see the option to install Google Toolbar!!!

Ok, Google is fine, great, popular. maybe even a golden cow. But I have no clue what spyware is included with Google toolbar.

What's worse is I've come to depend on SD for their hard stance against spyware and not compromising thier product. I have no clue if Google tool bar includes spyware or not. I never choose to intall it. I remove it from every computer I service.

SD, Don't start compromising now!! I would like to hear a response from a SD employee concerning this.

I totally agree with you. I think the association with Google is a bad one. Why? Becuase Google is like big brother. Google saves and indexes your searches, then creates a profile for you. They also save an index every email you send from your Gmail account. They then use these profiles for advertisers to target ads to you. Google is pretty much an antiprivacy company.

For a well reputable company like PC Tools to get in bed with a company like google that has zero respect for privacy, it's just a bad decision. Security software companies and antispyware companies should not be giving their customers the option to intall Googles little spybar. Call it a search bar. Call it whatever you like. Google wants it on your PC so that they can monitor and profile you.

Great product in Spyware Doctor. Bad decision to associate with Google.

[Michele]

I love Gmail but lately I've felt that Google Toolbar isn't an asset. For instance, give some thought to your privacy next time you run that helpful little spell checker! I understand there's a Firefox extension that keeps your Gmail https after login, but that doesn't stop its "reading"!

My only issue with Spyware Doctor is the loading time & the updating time. Gotta be a less intrusive, more expedient way to handle these.

[tom_keefer]

In addition what has already been posted regarding the Google Tool Bar is that its Popup Blocker really does the job.

[ejr]

Originally Posted by tom_keefer

In addition what has already been posted regarding the Google Tool Bar is that its Popup Blocker really does the job.

Both Internet explorer and Spyware Doctor have pop up blocker. How many do we need?

At a bare minimum, the option to install Google toolbar should be UNCHECKED by default.

[tom_keefer]

Originally Posted by ejr

Both Internet explorer and Spyware Doctor have pop up blocker. How many do we need?

At a bare minimum, the option to install Google toolbar should be UNCHECKED by default.

You need only one Popup blocker. I use Google's because it works, plain and simple. I have Spyware Doctor installed, but not configured to load at startup or run in the background. SD is one of 4 anti-spyware apps I use and I run manual scans with all four on a regular basis.

Your last sentence doesn't make any sense. Also, you all are a tad bit paranoid about Google. If you are uncomfortable with some of the toolbar's options, just uncheck them.

[ejr]

Originally Posted by tom_keefer

You need only one Popup blocker. I use Google's because it works, plain and simple. I have Spyware Doctor installed, but not configured to load at startup or run in the background. SD is one of 4 anti-spyware apps I use and I run manual scans with all four on a regular basis.

Your last sentence doesn't make any sense.

My last sentence is referencing the fact that when you install Spyware Doctor, the option to install the google toolbar is checked by default. If you don't want to install the toolbar you must manually uncheck the box.
Many people don't read the installation instructions that carefully when doing the install, they simply click the "yes" or "next" button to install the program as quickly as possible. They then end up with the google stoolbar installed when they don't want it.

Instead of giving the user the option to UNCHECK the Google install box at install, the box should be unchecked by default and give the user the option to check the install google tool bar box. That way, the toolbar doesn't get installed by accident.

[tom_keefer]

Originally Posted by ejr

My last sentence is referencing the fact that when you install Spyware Doctor, the option to install the google toolbar is checked by default. If you don't want to install the toolbar you must manually uncheck the box.
Many people don't read the installation instructions that carefully when doing the install, they simply click the "yes" or "next" button to install the program as quickly as possible. They then end up with the google stoolbar installed when they don't want it.

Instead of giving the user the option to UNCHECK the Google install box at install, the box should be unchecked by default and give the user the option to check the install google tool bar box. That way, the toolbar doesn't get installed by accident.

That's a good point. I've had the Google Toolbar installed for years and have used Spyware Doctor for quite some time as well so I don't really recall the automatic "opt in" bit. I'm with you, all software should give the individual installing it the right to choose add-on options rather than de-selecting those options. What you have here is marketing departments running amok!!