Fresh off SlashDot (and off my Google homepage) comes a notice about a new piece of software that supposedly offers up to 40% better video quality, and boosts audio quality as well. Whether or not it really does that is moot, since in reality, this program is adware that downloads trojans, rootkits, and other malicious software.

Here's what part of the article--and system security outfit, Panda Software--says:


So, chances are that second file wouldn't run if you use Firefox or Opera, but the rest of zCodec is disturbing, especially since the program (and website) passes itself off as a freely legal and safe download. If you're interested in reading the entire article at Techworld, then go here: Codec Promises Video, Delivers Nasties.

Anyway, that's about it. I saw this and thought that everyone here should be alerted about this program. I figure most everyone here keeps pretty safe Internet habits, so perhaps this warning wasn't even really necessary. Regardless, I felt it'd be good to have here.

This is why people should stick with FFDShow or FFDShow based packs like CCCP.

Thanks for posting, DPX. I still find myself being foolishly trusting when I look at downloadable programmes - not in terms of downloading the material, but in terms of thinking first, "Oh, now nice of someone to create something for free download, may heaven rain blessings upon their head", and then thinking, "Haaaang on..." and hoping it's not a sneaky way to attempt to use people rather than help people.

So my caution is secondary to my instinctive wish to trust. <sigh> However, it's so rapid a process that it takes less than a second. Unfortunately, we all have to had that "Haaaang on" reaction in the Brave New Internet World in which we live.