WARNING: Junk ahead
Junk offender: Kmplayer
When Microsoft ditched Windows Media Centre (WMC), adware-makers rejoiced. WMC’S demise boosted demand for free media software (a favourite conduit for PUPS). So I wasn’t surprised to find a dodgy search engine bundled with the popular WMC alternative Kmplayer, but I was shocked that it sneaked on to my PC before I’d even run Kmplayer’s installer.
Worried users
Search Google for Kmplayer and you’d assume it’s a top-notch program. It gets great reviews on Cnet’s Download.com (one of Kmplayer’s partners) and Softpedia (another partner – according to Kmplayer, anyway), and Wikipedia cites glowing reports ( www.snipca.com/19690).
What Wikipedia doesn’t mention is the concerns raised by security sites such as Fixyourbrowser.com and by worried users on forums, including Yahoo ( www. snipca.com/19703), AVG ( www.snipca. com/19704) and Kmplayer’s own site ( www.snipca.com/19705).
I’ve seen replies by Kmplayer employees (including someone or something called ‘Red Dawn’) claiming the installer must have been infected with a ‘virus’ on a third-party downloads site. Maybe, but that’s not the whole story.
KO KM
There’s a clue to Kmplayer’s dark side on the Wikipedia page: “This article contains content that is written like an advertisement (January 2016)”. Marketing is Kmplayer’s forte. Its website is a polished production that hits you with adware the moment you click Download.
The ‘official Kmplayer new tab extension’ box looks like terms and conditions (see screenshot). But unless you untick it, Kmplayer’s search engine will infect your browser. I’ve seen reports that adware in its installer can attack your HTTPS encryption. That’s similar behaviour to the infamous Superfish bug bundled with Lenovo laptops.
Tread very carefully with free media players. The best and safest is VLC ( www. snipca.com/19693), a non-profit, open-source program that’s constantly updated and patched.
THE FACTS
Apple is refusing to unlock the iphone of terrorist Syed Farook, who killed 14 people in California The FBI wants Apple to weaken the phone’s encryption to help with its investigation Prosecutors say Apple has previously allowed law-enforcement agencies to access iphones 70 times