On: CNet's Download.com now bundling Nmap with malware

[feir]

Off the topic here, are there still many people download software programs from download sites, like download.com, brothersoft.com or softpedia?

[dangrossman → feir]

Yes. Download.com is the 173rd highest traffic site in the world. They're probably pushing over 100-200k downloads a month at least. Nothing compared to the Apple or Android app stores, but still a significant number.

[burgerbrain → dangrossman]

Assuming an average download time of 1 minute, that's merely 5 or so simultaneous downloads at any particular point in time. That is nothing.

[peteforde → dangrossman]

I'm guestimating that you're off by an order of magnitude.

According to Alexa, somewhere between 0.6% and 0.8% of the entire web goes there every day.

[jiggy2011 → peteforde]

Download.com users are probably over-represented on Alexa simply because of all the tracking crapware they have installed.

[tonyedgecombe → feir]

I pulled my apps from download.com years ago because the traffic was neglibile. It's probably alright if you are in the top ten for a category, otherwise there are much better ways to promote your software.

[sp332 → feir]

I'll often use File Hippo, but they've always seemed "cleaner" to me somehow. I even use their updater on some computers, which I wouldn't even consider doing with those other sites.

[ramidarigaz → feir]

Only for Windows...

[technomancy → feir]

Yes, but the Venn diagram of them and serious nmap users probably looks like a figure 8.