PDFCreator - Adware Toolbar Controversy

Adware Toolbar Controversy

Starting with version 0.9.7 (February 2009), PDFCreator included an adware toolbar. The end-user-license agreement for PDFForge Toolbar by Spigot, Inc. (versions prior to 0.9.7 have a different, optional toolbar called "PDFCreator Toolbar"), states that the software will:

...modify your Microsoft Internet Explorer and/or Mozilla Firefox browser settings for the default search engine, address bar search, "DNS error" page, "404 error" page, and new tab page to facilitate more informative responses as determined by The Toolbar.

PDFForge, which created PDFCreator, wrote a FAQ entry regarding the toolbar that stated:

Is this spyware then? I think the main difference is if this is done unasked and undisclosed amount...Furthermore, the company works together with major Anti Ad- and Spyware companies to ensure, that it can be consider transparent and unharmful for the user. These include: Microsoft Windows, Anti-Spyware Webroot SpySweeper, Computer Associates Pest Patrol, PC Tools Spyware Doctor, Aluria Spyware Scanner and Spyware Eliminator.

In November 2011, PDFCreator still installed the toolbar unless the user declined it. SourceForge, which hosts the downloads for PDFForge, hosted most of PDFCreator, but not the toolbar. The PDFCreator installer downloads the toolbar from another website if the option to install the toolbar is not unselected.

In March 2012 the company announced that the toolbar had been discontinued with version 1.3.0. The company stated:

We have also removed the Toolbar from the setup, as it caused some confusion among the users. We are now trying a different advertising partner. This should reduce the problems the users had with the toolbar, as they felt that it was installed without their knowledge."

As of 23 March 2012 PDFCreator included the MyStart toolbar by Incredibar.

On 13 June 2012 PDFCreator once again included another controversial bundled software package, which tests as spyware, called SweetIM.

In July 2012 the project disabled reviews and ratings on its sourceforge repository.

On 30 August 2012, PDFCreator version 1.5.0 was released which included an installer for the "AVG Security Toolbar." There was an option to disable installation of the "AVG Security Toolbar, but it was not clearly identified. Furthermore, installation of PDFCreator required acceptance of the AVG EULA even when installation of the "AVG Security Toolbar" was disabled.

On 23 October 2012, PDFCreator version 1.5.1 was released which includes an installer for iClaro Search adware/spyware. Compared to previous adware choices, once installed, iClaro cannot be removed using the "Add/Remove Programs" option.