Scam/Virus VLC site?

[ilikeeggs]

I was stumbling today, and came upon this website:
www videolansoftware com
Is this a virus or scam site, or just another site.
I tried to download, seeing where it was coming from, and the download source was was
"origin-ics.clickpotato.tv"
What is this site?

[Lotesdelere]

No idea what this site is, and yes it seems to use nasty scripts.

Once again, the only safe place to download VLC from are the videolan.org sites.

[Malekal_morte]

Hello all

Im coming to speak about that (and asking for a question), and i found this topic ! wonderfull.
First, my english sucks, so sorry

Everything is explain in this page : http://translate.google.fr/translate?hl ... 29633.html

I resume for you : An Advert company distribute a "VLC plugin" and bundle others softwares with it (Offerbox, ClickPotate/ShopperReports etc) [For Clickpotato search for the therms Hotbar in Google, it's an old stuff, Antivirus know it very well].
The Advert compagny probably earn money for all successfull install and the website that shows the adverts probably earn money when users click on the banner.

They use a yellow bar (like ActiveX for Internet Explorer) and a message that says "there is a new version of VLC" or "you need the vlc plugin to see the vidéos" etc.
Some people think it's an official version and the message is coming from the Web browser.
So the way to make install the software is very boderline and very close to an hoax (but very disgusting that sure ).

Other information, the installer of VLC and of the installer for the bundle software are separate.

=> hxtp://www.telecharger-vlc.org/i2.php?s=5443&c ... f6e0e7460e

The Advert company say they have 10 000 websites.
If you type, for example, "streaming tv" in the FR Google, must of the siteweb have this banner.
So there are very present.

So my question...
I don't know very well about GPL licences and stuffs like that, i don't think VLC is a trademark (like Mozilla).... My question is it's allowed to use the name VLC (and host and distribute the software) to bundle others programs? or as VLC is an opensource, "i can do what i want" ?

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

It is very hard to fight them, but please try!

[JimCockfield]

Hello:

I noticed a new member posting a link to a site that appears to be related to the VLC project this morning (nice looking site about VLC that's not videolan.org). I was suspicious and uploaded the file you get using the download button (VLCSetup.exe) to http://www.virustotal.com

26 of 43 malware scanners flagged it as malicious (contains adware/spyware).

Here's the site. Warning, the download you get (VLCSetup.exe) if you click on the Download button appears to contain malware.

www dot downloadvlcplayer dot net

So, I wanted to let you guys know about it (someone has a site masquerading as being part of the Videolan project that's distributing malware) I've now banned the member posting the link, and filtered it so that nobody else joining under a new member name can post links to that site.

Best Wishes.

JimC

Edit...
P.S.

I'm an Admin for a digital camera forum, so we do see that kind of behavior (posting links to sites containing malware) on a regular basis. It's sad to see someone using the good name of this project (vlc media player) to do that kind of thing though. But, the link to that site is now being filtered by our forums software (I just use the Censored Word LIst for that purpose) so that nobody will be fooled by it and install adware by following links posted in our forums to it.