“The CNET Installer is a tiny ad-supported stub installer or “download manager” that helps securely deliver your downloads from ’s servers. The adware installer changes the user’s homepage and default search engine to Yahoo, as well as installing various browser toolbars and add-ons, with names like “Slick Savings” and “Ebay Shopping Assistant.” The browser extensions appear to come from a company called Spigot, Inc.Īpps affected by the adware downloader will be listed as “CNET Installer Enabled” on the website, which provides this further information: When a user clicks the “Download Now” button, they receive the adware installer rather than the app they expected to download. It At this time it is not clear if CNET had provided any prior notification to the creators of affected apps, but it appears that many of the companies were unaware that their download links had been switched to one that installed toolbars and changed web browser settings. A wide variety of Mac apps have had their download links replaced with the adware installer, including popular Mac antivirus software. View CNet Adware Identification and Removal Guide for Mac OS X.ĭirect download links for a variety of popular Mac software products have been replaced on CNET’s with installers for browser toolbars, commonly used by adware to track user browsing habits. The guide provides detailed information, including step-by-step instructions to determine if the adware is installed on your system, and the steps to remove it. Update (10/29/13 12:15pm): SecureMac has prepared a guide to help users identify and remove the adware being distributed by CNET’s in place of popular Mac apps. CNET’s Adware Installer Bundled with Popular Apps – Advisory
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