Filetrip Site Updates!

[RupeeClock]

@[member='RupeeClock']
you make it sound like there is no option to download the file without the installer, while it's actually there (and bolded now)

Yes that was somewhat the point, I had a hard time finding how to download the file without the installer initially.
I had the patience and figured out how to download the regular file. Hundreds of others won't.
Still thanks for making the direct download more obvious.

 

[McHaggis]

@[member='McHaggis']
" I got an email saying that my application had been reported as spam and removed"
who did the email come from, and who removed it? are you sure it is related to this?

The email came from [member='AnotherWorld']. I know it's related because we were discussing it in the release thread, a couple of users said that they were getting an exe that wanted to install a toolbar instead of the app I uploaded. I couldn't repro the issue (because I'm on Linux), but I told them to report the problem because it sounded like a cross-site script injection attack. [member='FAST6191'] sent me an apologetic PM to let me know the problem was resolved, so there are no hard feelings here.

I realize FileTrip needs to make money, and I want it to make money for you to help support the network, but I fear that this approach may alienate users. Even the really annoying sites that make you wait 60 seconds before the download link appears aren't as annoying as this sounds to me. People will get frustrated that their browser's native download manager isn't being used and they have to jump through hoops to get to the file they want. Video advertising is becoming more common, can't you do something with that? For instance, user clicks to download, the popup appears and starts playing a video ad. Several seconds in, the download starts. These ads could be targeted, like game trailers or whatever. Kind of like YouTube.

The improvements you've made sound like they will help a lot, though.

 

[Dirbaio]

any other suggestion please post here

Suggestion: Remove all this spyware installer nonsense. No, really. It's the only good thing that can be done.

Reason:

Wrapping installers is a terrible practice. For one thing, it can be a violation of a program’s distribution terms — but Download.com has no doubt ensured that its TOS states that if you let them mirror your files you’re giving them free reign. It’s also a serious slap in the face to users, who wind up not with a clean, genuine version of the installer they tried to download but a modified beast that shoves toolbars, home page, and default search engines changes down their throats.

(From http://www.extremetech.com/computing/93504-download-com-wraps-downloads-in-bloatware-lies-about-motivations)

 

[gamefan5]

Agreed. An app for IOS and android and BOOM.
Filetrip will instantly take over, considering if we can sync it with other devices and have access to our files while offline too like Dropbox.
If that happens, I'm instantly sold. XD

 

[Deleted-236924]

I'm sorry, but there's nothing cool about spyware...

That's definitely not spyware unless you can demonstrate it collects information about you without you knowing.

 

[Dirbaio]

That's definitely not spyware unless you can demonstrate it collects information about you without you knowing.

https://www.virustotal.com/file/43978563dc296ba08fb36bf201342e3073d90b26bbc51314f22b053a218863a4/analysis/1348265981/
> a variant of Win32/Somoto.A. See what I mean!?

Also if you open the exe using a tool like 7zip, you see there's files inside it. One is named config.ini and contains this:

[config]
affiliate_id = filetripgzri
software_id = newsupermarioleveleditorbuild345
software_name = New Super Mario level editor Build 345

And the other is named BetterInstaller.exe. The first exe just executes BetterInstaller.exe telling which thing to install.
Look what happens when analyzing BetterInstaller.exe in VirusTotal:
https://www.virustotal.com/file/d4032354c8ca3b93fd18414d6a7935bcecb18f25534b2259eeaf7d3081ec13ec/analysis/1348266198/

AGAIN. Win32/Somoto.A. Adware.Somoto.8. Reputation -37 !!!

I also tried to run it and look at what information it sends to the BetterInstaller servers with Wireshark and what stuff it changes in the system but it doesn't work on Wine. I'll maybe do it later using a Windows VM if more evidence is needed that this is badware.

This looks VERRRRY sketchy. It's adware/spyware/crapware/bloatware/whateverware. NOT good.
My god, what is this, FileTrip!?

 

[SifJar]

To be fair, 2/43 AVs detecting it as bad isn't too severe IMO. The vast majority don't flag it as bad. It may be annoying and irksome and whatnot, but it doesn't seem to be an actual virus or piece of spyware.

 

[Dirbaio]

To be fair, 2/43 AVs detecting it as bad isn't too severe IMO. The vast majority don't flag it as bad. It may be annoying and irksome and whatnot, but it doesn't seem to be an actual virus or piece of spyware.

99.9999% of legit files are NEVER marked as virus by NO antivirus. 0/43.
See a scan of a legit NSMB Editor zip. NO virus detection. Go, try it with any file you want. Really.
https://www.virustotal.com/file/409a981adca6221408cdb00012afca14de1bddddca7881c1b9a044fb0e242894/analysis/1348268273/

If AVs detect *something* it means there's something going on.
And that thing *is* a virus. Or at least something that looks very close to one. http://blog.teesupport.com/win32adware-somoto-a-infection-how-to-remove-win32adware-somoto-a-virus-completely/

Also LOOK AT THIS: https://dashboard.betterinstaller.com/
That's the admin page for their clients. What does it say? SOMOTO!
We got on one side a virus called "somoto". On the other side, the webpage says somoto. The conclusion is obvious to me.

Also, think about the money. BetterInstaller is paying FileTrip lotsa money for putting the crapware installer. Now, think. Where does BetterInstaller get the money from? They MUST get money from it somehow. If not, they wouldn't pay. (For example, I wouldn't pay people to install NSMB Editor, even though I want it to be the most popular piece of software ever, lol). What's the source of money? Ads. Data mining. It's SPYWARE/ADWARE.

 

[SifJar]

Adware, yes. Spyware, probably not.

 

[Dirbaio]

There's no fucking way to know. I'd test it out but it just isn't worth it.

Also, get informed. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CoolWebSearch
There's really evil software out there. An old laptop in our family that ran Win2k got infected with that one and I had to format it completely because it was completely unfixable.

Anyway, this discussion is useless. I just don't care. They can do what they want with filetrip. But yeah, this pisses off users, and also content makers like me. FileTrip reputation was kinda OK before, but with this change it will go down and down. Good job!

 

[VatoLoco]

no read whole thread, no time.
thumbs down to this .exe shenanigans =(
just upped nesDS as a zip and now when i want to DL said zip, its an .exe file. eww, no. not good.
please to be fixing, yes.


edit: just seen the "Alternatively, click here to download the file straight from your web browser". nice to see there's still a direct link too.

 

[Rydian]

I just tried again and now Avast is blocking "betterinstaller" when I try to download. This new edition seems unable to download anything... it always gets to the downloading step and does nothing (no progress bar), and Fiddler's log doesn't show it making a request. I need to kill it with the task manager, since trying to X it out gives me an error from the program that I can't stop it at this time.

The filetrip installer itself is adware, in that the only reason it exists is to display advertisements to the user for revenue from linked companies.

However I see no indications of data mining or personal data being sent out, the only keys appear to be gbatemp's referral key, a NONCE or two for some session stuff, things of that nature.

EDIT: Re-arranged the post so it's more clear the logs are to show a lack of personal data before the download step, since that's as far as I get now.

 

[Dirbaio]

Those connection logs prove nothing. Have you looked at the whole request headers and URLs? What about POST data? I see some URLs containing lotsa data, like the "/pinger" thing. It's informing them of what are you exactly doing on real time. Certainly looks like spyware.

Also it seems it's offering to install incredibar and babylonTB.

About incredibar:
Read their EULA. http://www.incredibar.com/Eula/2
They're basically stealing all your facebook data.
Also read: http://www.2-spyware.com/remove-incredibar.html

MyBabylonTB doesn't even seem to have a website. If you google it, you just get instructions on how to remove the spyware and all.

 

[Rydian]

Those connection logs prove nothing.

You know, the old "You haven't proved that it doesn't exist so that means it does" is a logical fallicy so old it's named in latin.
(Argumentum ad ignorantiam)

Have you looked at the whole request headers and URLs? What about POST data?

the only keys appear to be gbatemp's referral key, a NONCE or two for some session stuff, things of that nature.

Note that those things aren't shown in the screenshots.

If you'd like, I can go and grab all the info and post it in a big-ass spoiler, I just did a screenshot of the main output to show...
A - I actually ran a log.
B - I ran it more than once it and the program tried to get more than one piece of software.
C - It sends out referral key data and tries to grab installer files in return.

I see some URLs containing lotsa data, like the "/pinger" thing. It's informing them of what are you exactly doing on real time. Certainly looks like spyware.

So if the bank has cameras inside it, they're spying on you? As far as I see, the only data transferred is data directly related to your use of the program while it's running. Are Chrome and Firefox spyware because they collect usage statistics too?

If it can be shown that these programs are actually digging personal (that is, identifiable and private) data out of the user's computer (that is, data that existed outside of this program beforehand) and sending it, then it's spyware.

As far as I can see, however, it's just adware.

Also it seems it's offering to install incredibar and babylonTB.

Yeah I don't like the shit it wants to install either.

EDIT: Small correction to my list of reason to run it.

 

[BrianPhan_296723]

1.I would suggest having an app for Apple products, and Android products. Maybe just to see how many downloads youve got on your files(because I dont see how you can download zip and exe files on your device ).

Maybe just one for gbatemp.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2.Also, I wonder why my my file I uploded Is the second top ten files? How does It work?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. you should add stuff like highlighting the texts and and for loged on users yuo could put in random downloads some random downloads from the categories they viewd.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Great job on creating a file hosting site without surveys for FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Pleng]

When I click on a link to download something and I get a dodgy .exe, I click cancel, blacklist the site, and never go back.

You seem like a bunch of cool guys who have just made a severe error of judgement. I hope with the feedback you've had, you will reverse the decision you've made as it appears you've upset a lot of your users. I haven't had cause to use filetrip since you made the change, so I haven't blacklisted you yet (if you see what I'm saying...? )

People have suggested an Andriod app. I might be able to help with that. PM me if you like.

 

[SifJar]

1.I would suggest having an app for Apple products, and Android products. Maybe just to see how many downloads youve got on your files(because I dont see how you can download zip and exe files on your device ).

Maybe just one for gbatemp.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2.Also, I wonder why my my file I uploded Is the second top ten files? How does It work?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. you should add stuff like highlighting the texts and and for loged on users yuo could put in random downloads some random downloads from the categories they viewd.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Great job on creating a file hosting site without surveys for FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have a suggestion for you: Stop using stupid colours. There is a reason the default colour is black; it's easy to read without hurting everyone's eyes.

Anyway, in response to your suggestions:

1. Of course you can download ZIP and EXE files on a mobile device. You can't run the EXE files, but so what? I don't know about you, but I have downloaded plenty of DOL and NDS files over the years, which I haven't been able to run on my computer. Just because you can't run it on the device you download to doesn't mean it's useless. And with ZIP files (and other archives) you can certainly open them and extract the files contained within. Plus, FileTrip supports streaming media hosted on the site; this could be useful in a mobile app for obvious reasons.
2. No idea about that one.
3. The chances of a random download being useful or desirable to a user are low, in my opinion. As for "highlighting text", if you mean making download pages look like your post, no thanks.
4. No surveys, but they try to install adware with every download on Windows, and use some rather misleading ads.

 

[NekuSoul]

Downloads now come bundled with adware by default? While I see that money is necessary, this is one of the baddest ideas. I didn't liked many of the recent changes like the personal upload and other stuff but this is too much. I just deleted all my files and switched over to good old SourceForge again.

Goodbye FileTrip...