Why I am avoiding Foxit PDF reader
 

I am now boycotting foxit after it's most recent version installed a browser search bar (ask.com) without asking me and then proceeded to change my home page to an obscure web link that malwarebytes blocked as insecure. In previous versions of foxit there was an installer option to prevent this but not in the current version (April 2010). If you search on various forums and blogs you will find references to this issue. I complained to filehippo.com about this and so far no response from them nor warnings on their download page for foxit. Some links related to this issue:
http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail...r/1102316680/1
http://krebsonsecurity.com/2010/04/s...icktimeitunes/

Many reputed freeware like utorrent, ImgBurn etc nowadays come with such bundled software, and its increasingly becoming a trend. So long as they provide the option to opt out, its OK, otherwise not. No one wants to see a toolbar, search bar, or a change in home page without their permission.

When u install foxit it asks u whether u want to install dis or not..u must not have unticked d option..i am myself using foxit and i had unticked dose options so no problems for me

I too have Foxit, but I can't remember if there was an offer for the Ask toolbar. Perhaps you could uninstall and reinstall it, checking for an opt-out option on the toobar.

I also have the Adobe PDF Reader (my niece must have it to access her schoolwork), and I must say it is a large install, and installed an start-up program besides. I much prefer Foxit.

I have very rarely come across .pdf files that do not open with Foxit.

drh2020, there is a version without a toolbar which is what I
installed when I got rid of Adobe a while back.
I have never had the problem about a toolbar, so maybe if you
install the Version I mentioned there will not be any chance of
getting the toolbar installed by mistake.
Bo.

I use PDF xChange - works well for me.
Adobe - As experts say - is a virus nest.
Foxit - i had issues with their installer earlier, update never worked for me in Vista or W7 - rights error - and as Foxit is becoming quiet popular - it also becomes a target for virus - always better to use something that's not that "famous".

I just upgraded to Win7 and installed the current Foxit PDF reader. I was sure I unchecked the boxes for ASK during installation but Foxit changed everything anyway. Maybe I went too fast to read the screens...

I think for several reasons, it is well worth considering a third option.

A good read, one of the reasons I don't like Foxit: :http://billpstudios.blogspot.com/ , http://billpstudios.blogspot.com/200...with-your.html :o

I've been using the foxit reader for over a year and it is a perfect replacement to Adobe. During installation it will either do a Standard installation meaning it will load the toolbar or a Custom Installation which will allow you to not install that toolbar or any of the google stuff as well. This is a great app!

My experience with Foxit has been as good as it can be expected,
and NO toolbar. If you want to use a good and light PDF reader
that works smooth then DL Foxit without the toolbar using the MSI
installer(third installer down the list).

http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/reader/download.php

This installer is like a slim version with NO chances whatsoever of
getting the toolbar installed.
Bo

There has been a change at the Foxit website because of a update,
and I don't see the slim installer (no toolbar) anymore so be careful.
Bo

I would say if somebody needs a software (only a small list is available for now) without all the crapware (Read ASK :mad:) then you can try this: http://ninite.com/

This is sort of a repackaging service using silent switches, they make sure that they take off all the crapware while doing so (i last tested it a month back :rolleyes:).

What about the portableapps version? Don't they also clean up software?

tushr thanks for the link.
Bo

Portable Version? Not sure off, I believe they do so...but that's altogether different category.
--------
For not so techie people :rolleyes:... "Ninite" has almost everything they would need minus spywares :).

My local newspaper has this:
Free PDF reader released to take on Adobe.

... Nitro PDF Reader was available for download online at nitroreader.com

Caution: I haven't been there, haven't done that :p

I agree entirely with you all as regards Ask toolbars: they are like a disease. That said, how is installing Foxit or any other Ask afflicted ware any different to going to the supermarket? I get my stuff, go to the checkout and i am offered stuff i don't want .

Q "Do you want the computers for schools vouchers sir?"
A "No."

Q "Do you have a loyalty card sir?"
A "No"
Q "Do you want a loyalty card sir?"
A "No"

Q "Do you wish me to pack your shopping sir?"
A "Do what?"
Q "Your shopping sir, would you like me to pack it?"
A "Umm...would you like to pack it?"
Q "It would be my pleasure sir"
A "Then no...i have no interest in pleasuring you"

And so on. I just installed Foxit a week or two ago, and i did it carefully using custom install, and i said No where appropriate. I have no Ask toolbar, no links to ebay, nothing but Foxit.
If i stopped using supermarkets because they offer me stuff i don't want i would have nowhere to shop.
I understand why you guys don't want Foxit but for me unchecking a box or two is a small price to pay for an app that does what i need it to.

Nicely Said grf

Even if you miss the check boxes to not install the Ask search bar or addon, you can always go back and remove them and/or uninstall them later. You can do this without touching Foxit Reader.

This appears to be becoming the name of the game - change anything with or without user permission.
Foxit, ASK...in a way you expect these things from these companies...but Microsoft? I installed Windows Live Essentials beta...there is no custom install there...it installed addons in the browser (for bing search), also some kind of search protection manager in the memory...without any user consent (try installing it with Winpatrol installed in the PC...watch the fun). If the live Essential installation fails, it says it reverting back the changes it has made...good part is that it leaves all changes it made to the search settings.

I agree with your boycott comments. My advice is to get rid of Foxit,.. I used it for a couple years and believed it to be the best. Following the advice of the good people who make up this site, I recently changed to "PDF XChange Viewer". This comprehensive yet light PDF reader certainly makes Foxit seem a little dated by comparison. Foxit was good in its day but the world has moved on. When software starts making changes to our PCs without asking permission first, then get rid of it !

http://download.cnet.com/PDF-XChange...-10598377.html

I was going to install PDF XChange Viewer but when I saw that it also has the
Ask toolbar, I stopped the install.

Bo

No big deal,.. just uncheck the Ask Toolbar option during the install. Far to often we skip through the installation procedure without taking time to carefully examine what is being installed.

Using sumatra pdf reader now...its also good

Hi,
Going for the portable version of any reader that has one, saves you a lot of hassle, plus you won't even know the app comes with ... extra goodies.
bo.elam, this applies to PDF XChange Viewer as well, try it it's a very good pdf reader.

Thanks 26Dolphins, I will try it sometime. I know that Foxit also have one.
I can upload the Foxit msi (no toolbar) to Rapidshare, if someone wants it.
Foxit sometimes, like now, dont make it available at their site.
Bo

Hi bo.elam,
I assure you that the msi installer for Foxit was listed here:http://www.foxitsoftware.com/downloads/index.php when it first came out. The whole lay out was different, the .exe, .zip and .msi installer were listed where "More Download" is now.
It must have been taken down sometime after June 30th - I wonder why :D.

They are always playing the game of "now is available and later is not". I dont
know the reason for, sometimes, taking the msi out but probably it has to do
with the Ask toolbar sponsoring of their software. I go often to their page and
what you describe is the behavior that I seen all the time.
The page gets modified often and the look depends on whether the msi is
available for download or not. When the latest version came out the msi was
listed, like you said, but it was taken out shortly.

Bo

I was lucky. Soon after Bo mentioned the msi, I visited the site and it was there although not in a position designed to grab eye-balls. I run Foxit with scripting disabled and in Sandboxie.

Hi,
Well, Foxit Reader updated to v4.1 and no .msi installer this time.
Anyone interested, go for the .zip - it's clean and portable.

I know this is an older thread , but just wanted to add that I have just installed Foxit reader and I unchecked all of the Ask Toolbar checks and it put the Ask toolbar on there anyway. I just went and uninstalled that toolbar.

This is disturbing in that even though you tell them not to do something , they do it anyway. But this isn't the first software that doesn't listen to you lol.:D

This was also the 4.1 version. I downloaded from Download.com

Hi Jillian, hate to read what happened to you but fortunately you were
able to uninstall the toolbar afterward. Next time you update Foxit, just
do it from within and you should be OK.
By the way, I lived in Macon,Ga in the late 70s and to this day Georgia
is always on my mind and a piece of my heart belongs there.

Bo

Hey thanks . I will update it from the inside of Foxit when I need to update..

So you lived in Macon at one time uh. I live about 40 miles south of Macon. And I do love that song "Georgia on My Mind " and also "Rainy Nights In Georgia , "

I am a Mercer graduate. I am still a Falcons fan and will be one forever.

Greetings from Nicaragua, Central America.

Bo

Hi,

@bo.elam
Is it cross-checked that if you have Foxit installed and do the update from within the program, it won't try any funny things?
I've installed it on my brother's machine and since I can't find the .msi installer was thinking of switching him over to the portable version.

I don't get one thing... you people are taking so much pain to install Foxit Reader without the Ask Toolbar. Why don't you all use PdfXchange Viewer. I found it a very good pdf reader... better than Foxit Reader. I left using Foxit Reader long ago.. and now I use PdfXchange Viewer.

Thanks Anupam. I did not know about that one. I am going to uninstall Foxit reader and install this one. :)

It really isn't a pain , but I certainly don't want a toolbar added. I had no trouble uninstalling the toolbar. Sometimes getting rid of toolbars can most certainly be a pain.

I did not know about the other one you mentioned. I will try it and see how I like it. Again thanks so much.

Welcome Jillian. Do try PdfXchange Viewer, and give the feedback whether you like it.

I talked about pain, because people are trying to find the zip, or .msi version of Foxit to avoid the toolbar. Also, toolbar getting installed even if you choose not to install it, is not good in my opinion.

Users who still choose to use Foxit Reader inspite of this, should write to the Foxit team and inform them about this regarding toolbar getting installed even if you choose not to.