How to stop answers that link to Adware

[kentrob]

So I downloaded the CrystalDiskMark program suggested in this tutorial: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/faq/id-1953684/test-performance-harddisk-solidstatedrive.html

And it comes with a bunch of adware that hijacked all my browsers. Doesn't the community moderate what is posted on here? Also, why not have an Alert button so that we can alert the community to people posting dangerous downloads.

 

[Saga Lout]

I clicked on the link and didn't see any Adware but it did lead me to a binary file download so I pulled out quickly.

I'll raise it with the Community Management team and someone will post their comments here.

 

[ex_bubblehead]

In the interim, I've disabled the links.

 

[Saga Lout]

Thanks.

 

[McHenryB]

I'd say that any "tutorial" that links to a single piece of software (or more than one piece of software from the same publisher) is just a sophisticated form of Spam. But I appreciate that it is impossible to police this effectively without a requirement that tutorials are pre-moderated. In fact, that may be something worth considering just to avoid poor tutorials and/or obvious plagiarism from being published.

 

[Someone Somewhere]

CrystalDiskInfo is a pretty well known piece of software, and I'd expect a spammer to either link to the official page or not link there at all.

That poster seems to have posted quite a few tutorials in a variety of areas a few years ago, so I don't think it's spam. Also not written like it.

 

[Karsten75]

I've encountered this (and not from links in this forum) CrystalDiskInfo, like a few other utilities I can name has that opt-out install of additional software in the installer. Java also does that. SO one has to be careful to NOT just click install, but to make sure not to install the add-on software.

It's as annoying as heck, but I guess a site like Tom's that live off advertising can understand revenue-driven models.

Edit: Sometimes when I post links to these types of utilities, I tell people to take care. Other times I'm too lazy.