OpenCandy and Yontoo Layers Spyware in Game Installer

GameHouse Forums > Support

The daily game today pops up the game installer as expected, but it now contains the mentioned spyware.

I won't be downloading any more games until this situation is resolved!!

I suggest you don't either.

This is in direct violation of the FAQ answer to the spyware question!

Posted on Wed Mar 16 15:21:04 PDT 2011

Huh? I think you got it wrong dude, Yontoo Layers doesn't support games, this software supports a Facebook layouts app called PageRage. Not quite sure what you are referring to, you may want to contact the company to see if they can guide you in the correct directon - www.yontoo.com.

Posted on Wed Mar 16 16:48:39 PDT 2011

I don't really care what it is. It shows up on the download page, along with an OpenCandy license agreement - which basically Ok's their spyware. OpenCandy and Yontoo Layers may be totally unrelated, but the spyware has no place in the downloader. So I think someone else has it wrong - dude!

Posted on Wed Mar 16 17:16:01 PDT 2011

Hi 'keithrw' -- and welcome to the GameHouse Community Forums.

The offer you saw during the download and installation of Today's Free Game is totally optional and it is not spyware. The offer is to optionally install the Yontoo Layers browser add-on, which comes with features such as PageRage that supports Facebook layouts, themes and styles. The box marked "Install Yontoo Layers" can easily and instantly be un-checked to decline the optional offer.

Neither Yontoo Layers nor OpenCandy are in the business of spyware. The offer is presented only within the game installer and, again, it is easily and quickly declined if you do not want it.

I hope that helps and I hope you enjoy playing Today's Free Game "Making Mr. Right."

Thank you for playing at GameHouse!

Bill

Posted on Wed Mar 16 17:34:28 PDT 2011

It is not exactly spyware, but both Yontoo and OpenCandy are cruddy bloatware.

It is now included with EVERY download, not just the freebies. I hated the ads on the site, the auto-play videos on the download pages, and now the addition of scammy adware that I have to UN-CHECK every time I download a game is pushing me back to other game sites.

I know GH is in business to make money, and they're using revenue from these ad sources to keep prices down, but the addition of these extra programs added to the downloads, I think they've crossed the line.

"The offer is to optionally install the Yontoo Layers browser add-on, which comes with features such as..." Yea, it also comes with features like - "Gamehouse gets paid a chunk of cash and if only a few people complain or quit we'll still be ahead."

Makes me feel like I'm back on WildTangent. Gamehouse is quickly going from looking slightly cheezy to looking very sleazy.

Posted on Thu Mar 17 15:59:40 PDT 2011

I'm another unhappy user...I do not want to agree to the end user license for OpenCandy. And Bill, if you're still checking on this thread...on my machine there is no way to opt out of OpenCandy. The Download page says "By clicking on Next, you are agreeing to the end user license for OpenCandy." No radio button, no check box.

I don't want the other crap either, but at least I am able to opt out of that.

I won't be downloading any games until this is gone and if it isn't removed fairly quickly, I'll be closing my account.

Posted on Fri Mar 18 17:20:54 PDT 2011

I complained about the EULA about a week ago, and tried again today to download a game ... see that it's still there. As a FunPass member who is paying a fee every month, I resent having no option to opt out (there is no option on the OpenCandy). I agree with Rooie, if this
isn't taken off, I will be closing my account.

Posted on Fri Mar 18 19:34:58 PDT 2011

It to me looks like a way to make Gamehouse more money. It looks like if you install Advanced Registry Optimizer they get paid if you don't they don't. It is just a way to make Gamehouse money. I have no problem with that. It is not spyware. I use Malwarebytes Pro and Malwarebytes never detected anything in Gamehouse's installer. I also use Antivir (free).

Posted on Sat Mar 19 01:02:02 PDT 2011

Yes OpenCandy does show up on the download games page which I never saw before.
All you have to do is click on the bullet that say's you don't want to download OpenCandy
and press next to continue on to download your game. I talked to a GH rep. yesterday
and that is what she said too.

Posted on Mon Mar 21 13:39:52 PDT 2011

Hi everyone,

We appreciate your feedback about the offers you have been seeing when downloading games from GameHouse.

If the download offer is accepted then the OpenCandy EULA is accepted as well by clicking "Next."

But if the download offer is not accepted, clicking "Next" does nothing more than continue the game download process. The OpenCandy EULA will not be considered accepted if the download offer itself has not been accepted.

I hope that helps while we work to make that clearer in the download offer presentation.

Thanks for playing at GameHouse and for participating in the GameHouse Community!

Bill

Posted on Mon Mar 21 15:39:43 PDT 2011

I got this today (my first game download for a week or two), there were two products offered, one (I can't remember what it was called) had a radio button to check to opt out, but the other, which was OpenCandy, didn't have any kind of opt-out, just a line saying that by clicking 'Next' you accept their terms and conditions!

I have no idea what this is, what am I downloading? What am I agreeing to?

Suki

Posted on Mon Mar 21 15:45:39 PDT 2011

Hi Suki,

I understand the confusion...thanks for your comments. Let's see if I can help clarify things more for you and everyone.

Each download offer has its own End User License Agreement that would be accepted only if you choose to accept the download and installation of the product or service being offered. For example, a few minutes ago I downloaded the game Guardians of Magic - Amanda's Awakening. The offer presented to me was the Advanced Registry Optimizer 2011 (ARO 2011) with a description of its benefits. I was presented two options, install or do not install, with the additional explanation "By installing Advanced Registry Optimizer, you agree to its: End User License Agreement." That phrase is an active hyperlink that opens up a new tab showing those applicable terms.

We understand the confusion lies mainly with the additional sentence "By clicking NEXT you agree to the OpenCandy End User License Agreement." The underlined portion of that sentence is also an active hyperlink that opens up a new window to explain that (copying only the first sentence here) "This installer uses the OpenCandy network to recommend other software you may find valuable during the installation of this software." That window also has a link to OpenCandy's Privacy Policy. It is that part of the offer presentation that I was referring to in my post immediately above yours.

We're working with the OpenCandy network to make it clearer that "By clicking NEXT..." our customers would accept the OpenCandy End User License Agreement only if they have chosen to accept (install) the offer being presented during the game download. If they have decided to not accept that offer, clicking "NEXT" does not mean acceptance of the OpenCandy End User License Agreement...it only means that the game download will continue.

We're working to implement a revised presentation as quickly as possible...please stay tuned.

Cheers!
Bill

Posted on Mon Mar 21 17:02:37 PDT 2011

Bill, thank you for the clarification. But yes, the download page is confusing and should be rewritten...that would have saved a lot of consternation!

Glad to know I can continue to get great games without additional downloads I don't want.

Posted on Tue Mar 22 12:22:37 PDT 2011

Good morning everyone,

We have implemented the revised presentation of the optional download offers and the associated "By clicking Next..." that is relative to conditional acceptance of the OpenCandy End User License Agreement. When downloading a game the download offer will be presented with the option to accept the offer or to not accept the offer. At the bottom of the installer window you will see:

"If you accepted this offer, by clicking Next you agree to the OpenCandy End User License Agreement."

Thanks again for your feedback and for your patience while we worked with OpenCandy to revise this presentation. But most of all thanks for playing at GameHouse!

Best wishes,
Bill

Posted on Wed Mar 23 09:59:31 PDT 2011

So, let's say there are two websites offering the same game for download.

You download a game from Site A and go through the following process:
1. Game page pops up with ad-supported content, including a video that plays automatically.
2. Game loader gives you an option to download extra "scammy" sounding software, which you must OPT OUT of.

You download a game from Site B and go through the following process:
1. Click download on a page with no outside advertising.
2. Game downloads and installs.

Which one looks more legit? Which one would you trust if you had no prior experience with either company? Which one would you be more willing to give your credit card information to?

Gamehouse had better take a good hard look at all these external ads and see if it really is making money for them in the long run.

It's not a money maker if it's a customer-loser.

Posted on Wed Mar 23 14:47:07 PDT 2011

ducatisti wrote: So, let's say there are two websites offering the same game for download.

. . .
Which one looks more legit? Which one would you trust if you had no prior experience with either company? Which one would you be more willing to give your credit card information to?

. . .

Over many years, I have had prior experience with 3 game companies (4 if you count RA). Gamehouse has my credit card info and my confidence and my business.

What I did with the other two game companies when I became unhappy with their service was simply quit them. Didn't stick around to complain after the fact. With what little extra time I have, I'd rather be playing games than complaining about them. Which makes me wonder why I'm posting on this topic . . . Tired after a long day is all I can think up. Enjoy your games. What are you playing now? What's your favorite all-time game. I'm a Farm Frenzy addict and a Delicious aficionada.

Posted on Wed Mar 23 18:11:48 PDT 2011

If you read McAfee's full report on the Gamehouse site, they rate it as good, and their links get good ratings as well. Maybe the report is before this OpenCandy Yontoo thing came up. Maybe not.

Posted on Thu Mar 24 20:09:33 PDT 2011

Asking once is fine.....

Every time is akin to being a cyber sex pest!

Take it off or you won't be getting the $$$ next month, OR any after.

S/W like this is NASTY - I am a trading floor security specialist, and know what I am talking about. Call it what you want, say it's for whatever, but it ISN'T going near my PCs!!

I advise all others to decline this 'kind offer' - remember nothing is for free, kids!

Posted on Fri Mar 25 05:19:41 PDT 2011

wbeal wrote: Hi 'keithrw' -- and welcome to the GameHouse Community Forums.

The offer you saw during the download and installation of Today's Free Game is totally optional and it is not spyware. The offer is to optionally install the Yontoo Layers browser add-on, which comes with features such as PageRage that supports Facebook layouts, themes and styles. The box marked "Install Yontoo Layers" can easily and instantly be un-checked to decline the optional offer.

Neither Yontoo Layers nor OpenCandy are in the business of spyware. The offer is presented only within the game installer and, again, it is easily and quickly declined if you do not want it.

I hope that helps and I hope you enjoy playing Today's Free Game "Making Mr. Right."

Thank you for playing at GameHouse!

Bill

Posted on Fri Mar 25 15:30:27 PDT 2011

Hi everyone. x2wolverine here. I thought I would come on and confirm some of the things wbeal has been posting on the forums regarding the sponsor offers. I attempted to redownload my games, and then when launching a game installer executable, it showed a sponsor offer. I clicked no, but noticed the following print at the bottom of the install.
By accepting the offer, you agree to the Open Candy licensing agreement. I clicked on NO and pressed next, and the game proceeded to install as normal. I used a program installation monitor to keep track of what was being placed on my computer as the installation took place and none of the mentioned software that a majority of you are calling spyware was not detected in my machine.

Posted on Fri Mar 25 15:50:56 PDT 2011

So, GameHouse, if this Yontoo Layers is so whiter than white and something you're incredibly generous in giving us, why does typing the text, 'Yontoo', into your support pages search yield zero results?

Surely, if it's such good stuff, you'd have a page there to uninstall it, right? Cos we'd NEVER want to, so why don't you - for those less IT literate amongst your user base, maybe?

And, like any truly great s/w, it MUST have a list of filenames and default locations, just in case they need manually removing, along with registry keys associated with it / modified by it?

The lack of this must just be a horrble coincidence, an oversight, maybe?

Not holding my breath...

Posted on Wed Mar 30 12:43:00 PDT 2011

I just received a noticed that IE was preventing the horizontal line imaging (or something akin) to run to prevent possible virus or malware. Now when I open Gamehouse, the front page is OK, but when I click on a game, the Forum and Customer Review part, which is usually to the right, is below the game and the space to the right is blank. The white blank space goes to the bottom of the page. This is happening in both IE and Chrome (Chrome is what I usually use).

It may be another matter because I know the Review section is quirky, but when I click on that part, nothing at all comes up. However, the forum section will open.

The reason I put this on this thread is that when I looked up Yontoo, it said something (not much, though) about running horizontal (or vertical) lines, so maybe that's my issue.

Today is the first time this has happened. What do you think, Gamehouse?

Posted on Thu Mar 31 17:20:50 PDT 2011

Hi 'yusef' -- Thanks for your comments.

I don't believe your recent experience would be related to the OpenCandy download offers, as they have been discontinued while we re-evaluate that program. Please see my separate post linked below:

Download offers: Follow-up

I just spoke with one of my colleagues who is working on our website redesign (some of our customers have seen the new home page from time to time) and I learned that we're testing a new design of the game product page but only for three titles. By chance were you trying to view the product page for Plants vs. Zombies™, Bejeweled 2 Deluxe or Gardenscapes™?

Cheers,
Bill

Posted on Thu Mar 31 17:41:07 PDT 2011

Hi Bill, It was a temporary glitch because everything works fine now. The two games I was looking at were My Farm Life and Magic Sweets, which I remember because I had written a review for each. I didn't look at the three you named. Thanks for your quick reply.

Posted on Thu Mar 31 20:09:51 PDT 2011

if GameHouse was not greedy and money hungry.....wouldn't they have these options as "OPT-IN" and NOT "OPT-OUT"????

Candy Coat it as much as you want to (no pun intended....lol).......YES GH STAFF I AM REFERRING TO YOU!!!!!!

YOU ARE BLATANTLY FORCING USERS INTO THESE THINGS!!!

YOU KNOW THAT OVER 90% OF YOUR CUSTOMERS HAVE NO IDEA HOW OR WHAT THESE "AGREEMENTS" ARE FOR.....IT IS A VERY SHADY PRACTICE TO FORCE USERS TO "UNCHECK" RATHER THAN "CHECK" IF INTERESTED!!!!

Posted on Mon Sep 19 14:56:16 PDT 2011