The basics of preventing crapware. [GUIDE]

Hello everyone,

Here's a little guide on how to prevent crapware in the first place.
When installing software, most people are used to to just click "Next", "Yes" and "Install". A lot of people don't really care to read what they are accepting.
Nowadays it's all about $$ for program makers. When you try to install a program, it'll usually try to install other crap to. Some installers ask your permission explicitly, but some are really nasty, as I'll show you below.

My goal is to make you aware of nasty tricks used by installers to install unwanted crap on your PC. (Usually those toolbars and programs you have no idea about where they came from)
In this guide I'll use the Daemon Tools Lite installer, which has surprisingly much (hidden) crap in it. I noticed that some parts are in Dutch, even though I set the installer's language to English, but that's not relevant for the purpose of this guide.

So, let's start installing.


All good here, no need to actually read this, lol.


This one is not very important, but pay attention. We want the free version, not the paid version. Note that this window also appears when you download the installer for the free version. It's just a marketing trick, I guess. Select the "Free License". (Unless you really want to pay for it, which I doubt)


Usually this step will try to add a lot of unwanted stuff, like toolbars. But surprisingly not this time. But... you should ask yourself whether you really want that sidebar Gadget. How often do you really use Daemon Tools Lite? Less Gadgets = less pressure on your system, keep that in mind.


Stop right here, this is where the fun starts. "Express" installation? Didn't think so, always choose "Custom", so YOU decide what you want to install. "Aangepaste installatie" in the screenshot below means "Custom installation (Advanced)". Choose that one and continue carefully. Ps. "Advanced" is just a word to scare you. There's nothing advanced about a custom installation.


After choosing "Custom installation", we find out that it was actually trying to install "Search Protect"(?), which is probably some kind of annoying toolbar. (Part of "Conduit", as you can see)
It was also trying to change your homepage and change other stuff! What?! I'm just trying to install Daemon Tools Lite here, but instead it's installing a lot of other (unwanted) stuff.


Thought that the worst is behind us now? Think twice! On the next screen, it'll try to install "SpeedUpMyPC 2014" (Always be careful with that kind of fancy names), by using the old "Accept license agreement" trick, most people accept without reading. You're actually accepting the SpeedUpMyPC 2014 license agreement here! (Remember how we already accepted the one for Daemon Tools Lite itself?


Hehe, finally, we're safe now.


I hope this guide helped you guys realize to pay more attention when installing software and accepting stuff online. The Interwebz is huge, and there are (good and) bad people everywhere.
There are some other tricks used by companies too, like slowly loading installer pages, so impatient people will just click "Next", without noticing that they just accepted to install a lot of crap. But... I'm sure you'll find out about those really quick, if you just pay more attention.

Is the harm already done? Don't worry! First of all, we're here to help you. Second of all, you can use Your Uninstaller! Pro from www.games4theworld.org or http://goo.gl/qqdFU to force uninstall crapware and nasty toolbars. Remember to use the "Super Mode", to clean all leftover Registry entries too. If you're trying to remove a toolbar, remember to close all your browsers first. (The uninstaller itself will probably warn you about this too, but just in case)

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this little guide. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to post them in this topic!

I had a Conduit infection on my pc.  Trust me, you never want this.  It was hard to remove it all.  And it changes all your browsers to their search engine and their homepage, and I mean all of them, if you use IE, Firefox, Chrome, it will hit all of them.  Make a system restore before you install anything, if you ever see Conduit on your system, do a restore or it will be really hard to get it off.

OMG! I started doing this a few years ago, after I realized how much these crap extras would mess up my computer. Even now software that I have used before will put in these crap programs during updates that they never did before. So please, also be cautious with those updates as well as those new ones!

Hello all,

Thank you for your replies!
I've added this little part at the end:

Admin wrote:Is the harm already done? Don't worry! First of all, we're here to help you. Second of all, you can use Your Uninstaller! Pro from www.games4theworld.org or http://goo.gl/qqdFU to force uninstall crapware and nasty toolbars. Remember to use the "Super Mode", to clean all leftover Registry entries too. If you're trying to remove a toolbar, remember to close all your browsers first. (The uninstaller itself will probably warn you about this too, but just in case)

Good lord. Thanks for the guide, Admin! I am always aware of that. I always customise the installation before clicking "Next", although I rarely overlook some small details and accidentally click "Next".

My mum used to get malwares and crapwares on her computer. I had to do a factory reset for her. I told her to be aware of crapwares (They are all made in China...). Most toolbars are malwares and should be opted out when you are recommended to install them. (I got heart attacks with Norton Identity Toolbar some time ago)

J.T. wrote:My mum used to get malwares and crapwares on her computer. I had to do a factory reset for her. I told her to be aware of crapwares (They are all made in China...). Most toolbars are malwares and should be opted out when you are recommended to install them. (I got heart attacks with Norton Identity Toolbar some time ago)

Hi J.T.,

You're welcome!
Instead of factory resetting, I think it's easier to clean the PC, by using Your Uninstaller! Pro (Or any other similar program) to (force) remove the software first.
After that, run a CCleaner scan, then a Spybot Search & Destroy scan (preferably via the new Boot CD feature) and finally an anti-virus scan, by using also a bootable disc. Kaspersky and G Data are generally good anti-virus software.

Hello Admin,

I wish I could have done so, but her PC couldn't even run any web browsers properly. I couldn't download CC Cleaner any other cleaner programs for her, and sadly I didn't have any external storage devices (USB/external drive) at that time to store the setups of all the programs you mentioned.

J.T. wrote:Hello Admin,

I wish I can do so, but her PC cannot even run any web browsers properly. I cannot download CC Cleaner any other cleaner programs for her, and sadly I don't have any external storage devices (USB/external drive) to store the setups of all the programs you mentioned.

Hi there,

That's too bad. You can skip the CCleaner part and just burn either the Spybot S&D and/or anti-virus .ISO to a disc and then boot her PC via that (bootable) disc.