JRICH604 Posted September 23, 2022 Share Posted September 23, 2022 Recently I saw a mod of mine was uploaded to a site named Softonic. Google informed me it was a legit safe site to get software from. When I visited it did not look that way. Entering "skyrim' in their search under games and alot of mods including my own started showing up. You guys know anything about this site and why it is hosting mods? There is a link back to my page and I am being credited so that is something but its descriptive text is so distorted from my original it made be chuckle, like was computer generated to shorten or run through a really bad translation software. Anyways I dont really want it there so I asked for my file to be removed using the report so hopefully it will be but since I saw many other mods I thought id let MA here know so they can check and see if one of there own is being hosted without consent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scythe Bearer Posted September 23, 2022 Share Posted September 23, 2022 This site is known for hosting pirated software, including mods, and has been identified as having shared content which has been "altered" from the original. If you look, you will see versions of Notepad ++. SKSE, the CK, and even Skyrim on this site. If your content is on this site, you can ask them to take it down. If they do not oblige, your only recourse may be a DCMA or other legal action. Softonic's "Softonic Downloader" was described by the company's CEO as having "facilitated bad behaviour amongst third party vendors which ended up harming the user" due to malicious links impersonating as the downloader itself. In March 2015, Softonic announced it was discontinuing the Downloader as part of a move to "regain the trust of users". - https://novobrief.com/softonic-scott-arpajian-interview/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRICH604 Posted September 24, 2022 Author Share Posted September 24, 2022 1 hour ago, Scythe Bearer said: site is known for hosting pirated software Well thats not good. I guess im a little surprised that its based in EU as I usually see sites like that from countries outside the west where there is little or no regulation. Hopefully reporting does more then nothing, well see Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sigurð Stormhand Posted September 24, 2022 Share Posted September 24, 2022 Softsonic is similar to Fileplanet and other now-defunct hosting sites. Theyt started out in the 90's hosting shareware and demo software but today they're riddled with bad ads and pirated software. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthmoor Posted September 24, 2022 Share Posted September 24, 2022 Weird thing is, I went to check the site to see what's up with mods, can't find a single thing relating to Skyrim or any other AAA title using their built-in search. It's all nothing but bad mobile games all over their site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nico coiN Posted September 24, 2022 Share Posted September 24, 2022 And yet: It's possible to download USSEP 4.2.5b there... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scythe Bearer Posted September 24, 2022 Share Posted September 24, 2022 1 hour ago, Arthmoor said: Weird thing is, I went to check the site to see what's up with mods, can't find a single thing relating to Skyrim or any other AAA title using their built-in search. It's all nothing but bad mobile games all over their site. Here,maybe this will help: https://en.softonic.com/author/arthmoor Or this: https://en.softonic.com/author/unofficial-patch-project-team Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghastley Posted September 26, 2022 Share Posted September 26, 2022 OK, how did you find a search by author? I imagine that’s what we all want to run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scythe Bearer Posted September 26, 2022 Share Posted September 26, 2022 I entered the authors name in the search bar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthmoor Posted September 26, 2022 Share Posted September 26, 2022 Well, see, that's the thing. I go to the front page of the site. I type in what I want to look for. I hit enter. The page flashes briefly. I get no result, just the main page reloading again. I suspect they're doing some kind of suspect cookie tracking which I have disabled on all sites by default. I'm not about to unlock that because sites that force cookie tracking just to search are often trying to do a lot more beyond that too. Uncus 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smr1957 Posted September 26, 2022 Share Posted September 26, 2022 6 minutes ago, Arthmoor said: Well, see, that's the thing. I go to the front page of the site. I type in what I want to look for. I hit enter. The page flashes briefly. I get no result, just the main page reloading again. I suspect they're doing some kind of suspect cookie tracking which I have disabled on all sites by default. I'm not about to unlock that because sites that force cookie tracking just to search are often trying to do a lot more beyond that too. And, unfortunately, there is not much that can be done even if a person spots an illegally uploaded mod. A site which makes it a practice to allow pirated mods, is not likely to remove a mod just because the author - or someone else - files a complaint (as has been seen on a number of sites that engage in the practice). All we can do is to be forewarned and practice safe internet surfing whenever and wherever possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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