WARNING: JUNK AHEAD

Jane Hoskyn putst ththe boot into tech villains, jargon-spouting companies and software stuffed with junk

Junk offender: Opera

Is Opera the new Yahoo? Yahoo is by far the most common PUP I come across when researching this page and Best Free Software. But in recent weeks I’ve noticed a couple of PUP appearances from another web giant that should be looking after its reputation more carefully: Opera.

Free browser Opera ( www.opera.com) is currently doing the rounds in the installer for Dvd-ripping program Cdburnerxp, which has been tried by reader Anthony Swalwell (see What Should I Download?, page 19). I’ve also found Opera junk bundled with Easeus Todo Backup Free (see this page, Issue 506).

The PUP is pretty classic, as you can see from the screenshot. It’s on the dreaded ‘Install Additional Software’ page of Cdburnerxp’s setup wizard, and its ‘Yes, Install’ box is pre-ticked. If you untick it, you don’t get the PUP, but if you’re inexperienced or in a hurry, you might just click Next – and suddenly find Opera is your new default browser.

Is that such a bad thing? Opera is a superb browser. I thoroughly recommend it as a spare, in addition to Chrome or Firefox. It even comes with a free VPN and ad-blocker built in. The PUP is easy to uninstall, without having to resort to an adware-remover such as Malwarebytes Adwcleaner.

But it’s still a PUP. You should be free to choose whether you want Opera, then download and install the latest version by yourself, from its official website. The raison d’être of PUPS is to remove that choice from you.

We have to assume that Opera is circulating in installers with the blessing of its creators, or at least its creators’ marketing department. I suggest they re-think their strategy, because breaking into people’s PCS is no way to improve your reputation – especially if you’re touting an ad-blocker as one of your best new features. Opera, you are so much better than this.

Ofcom has proposed that ISPS should pay customers a minimum of £10 a day for loss of service BT, Sky and Virgin Media want to cut that to £7 a day Campaigners say this would mean UK customers losing £52m a year in refunds