Websites that offers programs with bundled crapware or PUP (Rev: 1.1)

To cover their operating costs where advertising may not generate enough revenue, majority of websites have offer software programs with bundled crapware, or Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUP). Below are those websites that offers programs with bundled crapware or PUP:

• download.com or download.cnet.com
• FileHippo.com
• FreewareFiles.com
• MajorGeeks.com
• NoNags.com
• Softpedia.com
• SnapFiles.com
• SourceForge.net
  (FileZilla software had opt in to the crapware ads. More info at "Warning: Don’t Download Software From SourceForge If You Can Help It")
• tucows.com
  (Almost everything in their top downloads list is a scammy fake scareware applications)

How to avoid unwanted crapware or PUP

1. Download the software from the original author's website because it minimize additional installer that serve unwanted crapware or PUP. However, there is no guarantee that they are free from unwanted crapware or PUP.


2. If the programs have both the installer and portable versions, download the portable option to prevent unwanted bundle programs to be installed. For example,
   
   • CCleaner Portable
   • CDburnerXP Portable (Kindly click "More download options" to show the Portable version download page)
   • CPU-Z ZIP English (32 or 64-bit version)
   • Everything Search Engine Portable
   • Notepad++ zip package or Notepad++ 7z package
   • TeamViewer Portable (under "For mobile use")
   • WinSCP Portable executables
     
3. If you cannot find the portable version at the author's website, please try
   
   • PortableApps.com
   • PortableFreeware.com
     
4. Before starting to install the programs on your physical computer Operating System, please test running the download programs in an isolated virtual environment such as
   
   • VirtualBox (Runs on Windows, MAC and Linux. Support snapshots. Free)
   • VMware Player (Runs on Windows and Linux. Does not support snapshots. Free for personal use only)
   • VMware Workstation (Runs on Windows and Linux. Support snapshots. Not free)
   • Parallels Desktop for MAC (Support MAC OS X Yosemite and snapshots. Not free)

References:

1. Yes, Every Freeware Download Site is Serving Crapware (Here’s the Proof)

2. WebUser issue 369 (April 2015), page 37, Why you can't trust download sites  

3. "Warning: Don’t Download Software From SourceForge If You Can Help It".