User Concerns: – On 15 May 2015 , Carole wrote: My daughter sent me this. What do you all think now?
Qihoo is a Chinese-based provider of free security and Anti-virus software (360 Total Security, 360 Internet Security, 360 Browser, 360 Security, 360 Mobile Safe, 360 Vault, etc). There has been a lot of controversy surrounding Qihoo to include it’s reporting other anti-virus software and search tools as being malicious, deceptive marketing practices and various privacy issues.
- Qihoo 360 Fakes A Microsoft Security Patch
- Privacy Issues With China’s Qihoo 360 Technology
- Online security firm accused of stealing user info
- The 1 Company You Need to Avoid in 2013
- Qihoo’s “Backdoor” Suspicions Erupt In User Backlash
- The 360 Safe Browser is not as “safe” as you might think
Microsoft MVP – Consumer Security 2007-2015
Member of UNITE, Unified Network of Instructors and Trusted Eliminators
Let me start with… my response is general and just “My Personal Opinion”. I in no way promote or condemn this product.
After reading these and many other articles, (keep in mind that some are dated as far back as 2010), but either way they are not doing anything more than commercial software manufactures are doing these days, and I must say that these types of tricks have been around for some time, and do still currently exist.
From what I have read in these and many other articles which I am still “Googling”, there biggest crime was trying to take advantage of a weakness in windows software to force you to use there browser back in those days.
We are now in 2015, and my personal opinion is that if you “Googled” many of the other suppliers of these types of software, we would draw a picture that they all have “dirty laundry” surrounding their products somewhere, they have all been in the spotlight, been sued or are suing someone, bottom line is they are all stepping over themselves for top dog position.
So, I think that if the reality of security threats concerns people, then a simple removal of the “360 Total Security” product is warranted.
(If there any issues removing it please let me know as in the last meeting on Thursday, 21-05-2015, one , or more group members did have some issues with the product, so i I freely offer assistance if required).
This is a more recent article that lets “360 Total Security”, respond….!
http://blog.360totalsecurity.com/en/qihoo-360-statement-regarding-cheating-in-lab-test/
—————–> Further General Reading…
Firstly, look at “Adobe Flash” it will install “McAfee”, Sun Java will install the “ASK” toolbar, and the biggest company in the world “Microsoft”, will install “Bing” search, and a lot of other software you don’t necessarily want or even need for that matter. The only time you can stop this from happening is to be aware of how to use the “custom settings”, during the install period, or if you have read everything before you click on the install button to tell it not too.
Also, lets not forget what AVG has done to us of very recent times, with their “Un-install”, that’s really not an uninstall of their software…!
(Here is a link to the AVG Official Instructions, If there any issues removing AVG, I am happy to assist in any way I can if required).
https://support.avg.com/SupportArticleView?l=en_US&urlname=How-to-uninstall-AVG
These days a lot of what was just starting in the early 2010’s, that was seen as unethical, is just normal practice for software supply companies now a days to get their affiliations software installed on your system. We just have to look at what “Bloatware” comes with any new computer today, and it doesn’t mater if its desktop, laptop, net-book, chrome-book, or tablet.
Whilst some of these articles are old, and this may have been the case in the beginning, the issue with “360 Total Security”, was primarily limited to its unethical installation of its browser, which I believe is under no further development.
Personally I am always suspicious of any free software, regardless who supplied it, and will always research the product and do a search on forums, google, and for as much information I can muster before using, or even recommending a product to anyone. I look for historical information as well as current so I can assess what the software company is up to on a global level, and I always encourage others to do so as well.
Freedom of product choice and educational information that is “current & up to date” not just “outdated”, reflects a very good way to see trends of history and prospected future of a company and is always best when faced with a situation of choice of any products in general…
I have over 20 years in the IT game, from the times when IBM, DIGITAL & SUN ruled the computing worlds, something called “Windows” was just an idea, and a mouse was something you set traps out to catch…!
Companies today can and will always “blow their own trumpets”, and tell you “this is the best”, and “don’t use that its not good” !.
I feel everyone must do some simple research of a product and make it their choice to use it or not.
Lets not forget that, today every piece of software used by a user collect statistical information on all of us, even if you have paid for it… This including Microsoft and their products, as well as 98.9% of software that is made for a windows based platform. If people took the time to “REALLY READ”, the hundreds of pages of conditions that comes with their software they would be “MORTIFIED”, at what they are answering “YES” to…?
So, in conclusion I speak the following….
In a perfect world…
- There would be no secrets.
- Google would not exist.
- Microsoft would not have Windows.
- Apple would still be something you ate,
- A mouse would be something we put traps out for.
- Linux would not be serving as a major backbone to the “Global Super Highways Of The Worlds Internet”.
REMEMBER, big brother is always watching you… as long as there in internet access, they will always know.