OpenCandy was an adware module and a potentially unwanted program classified as malware by many anti-virus vendors.[1][2][3][4] They flagged OpenCandy due to its undesirable side-effects.[5][6] It was designed to run during installation of other desired software. Produced by SweetLabs, it consisted of a Microsoft Windows library incorporated in a Windows Installer. When a user installed an application that had bundled the OpenCandy library, an option appeared to install software it recommended based on a scan of the user's system and geolocation. Both the option and offers it generated were selected by default and would be installed unless the user unchecked them before continuing with the installation.[7][8]
OpenCandy's various undesirable side-effects included, changing the user's homepage, desktop background or search provider, inserting unwanted toolbars, plug-ins and extension add-ons in the browser. It also collected and transmitted various information about the user and their Web usage without notification or consent.[1][9] After massive criticism of the software occurred, it was eventually discontinued in August of 2016.
^ abPUP.Optional.OpenCandy, Malwarebytes, retrieved 3 February 2018
^OpenCandy, Sophos, retrieved 3 February 2018
^ADW_OPENCANDY, Trend Micro, retrieved 3 February 2018
^Virustotal analyses of OpenCandy, Virus Total, retrieved 3 February 2018
^Richards, Gizmo (16 April 2017), Controversial Advertising Program Now Being Embedded in More Software, Tech Support Alert, retrieved 2 February 2018
^ADW_OPENCANDY: Trend Micro page, 30 April 2016
^Needleman, Rafe (11 November 2008), OpenCandy brings ad market to software installs. What?, CNET news, retrieved 18 August 2009
^Cite error: The named reference venture was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^"What is OpenCandy and How to remove it?". Appuals.com. 24 January 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
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