Another Flight Gear ripooff?

[+streakeagle 871]

This link is from an ad on CombatAce.com:

http://lp.vertitechnologygroup.com/flightSim/?o=33&campid=352&creaid=33&cm=D67C5214-D9DD-4F58-8475-1FA942100125

 

"FreeFlightSimulator"

 

Purports to be an upgrade of Flight Gear with combat.

This looks all too familiar.

Not even going to bother investigating any further, just asking the question: is this legit? Or does CA need to get rid of it.

[RogerSmith 72]

from their website:

 

FlightGear - Free Flight Simulator

FreeFlightSimulator is a modified and upgraded version of Flightgear, which is available for free on their site. The virtual controls are based on Real Life cockpits and you will find night flying more enjoyable with ground lighting concentrated in urban areas, car headlights on major roadways and accurate airport approach lighting.

 

[+streakeagle 871]

But is it really upgraded and are they charging for it? There are several guys out there reselling FlightGear. These guys are at least admitting it is flight gear, but is this a legit payware project or just the same scam (maybe even by the same people?) misrepresenting their "product" to get people to buy software that is publicly available for free? It seems like they are using this as bait to get you to install their "Rocketfuel Toolbar".

Edited July 30, 2012 by streakeagle

[RogerSmith 72]

doesn't seem like you need to pay, and Mcafee siteadvisor says it's clean. even though WOT does give it a bad rating, there's only 1 review, not enough to tell us anything.

 

I wouldn't download it myself, if they really wanted to show good intentions they would have posted a thread in Flightgear's forums releasing their mods instead of creating a whole new website downloading the same thing with only a few changes.

[FastCargo 412]

Well, FlightGear themselves sell DVDs of the program with the world terrain. If I were going to buy from anyone, it would be them directly.

 

FC

[RogerSmith 72]

if you look closely those are the same pics as the ones on FlightGear's main page

[+Stary 2,427]

their logo seems like that guy's logo back then (the first FG scam) dunno

[+eburger68 201]

Guys:

 

Verti Technology Group is a company known to use free/open source software as bait to push other unrequested junkware on unsuspecting users, including adware/spyware. From their Terms of Use:

 

All downloads on Verti sites are managed by the Verti RocketFuel Installer that (i) downloads the files needed to install the software; and (ii) scans your computer for specific files and registry settings to ensure software compatibility with your operating system and other software installed on your computer. Once Verti RocketFuel Installer has been initiated, you will be presented with a welcome screen which allows you to choose to install the software or decline. We may show you one or more partner software offers that may offer to: (i) change your default search provider; (ii) change your browser's homepage; and/or (iii) install icons on your computer's desktop, including third-party offers. Our partner's software will generally notify you if their application includes advertisements.

 

There are a number of similar companies out there whose business model involves "monetizing downloads," and this is just another of them. If you really want Flight Gear, get it from the original developers. Don't put money into these people's pockets by clicking through their crapware installer.

 

Eric Howes

[Lazarus1177 164]

What makes these retards think that someone will actually buy this Ripoff?Lets hope that nobody is gullible enough to install this.

[+eburger68 201]

Lazarus1177:

 

Unfortunately, companies like this (along with the adware/junkware companies whose software they install) are making plenty of money. Some of them have even done deals with large, respectable companies like CNet.

 

Eric Howes

[UK_Widowmaker 571]

There's no such thing, as a 'Free Lunch'

[RogerSmith 72]

What makes these retards think that someone will actually buy this Ripoff?Lets hope that nobody is gullible enough to install this.

 

unless that person has never heard of Flightgear

[Lazarus1177 164]

@eburger68, maybe thats cause they are using an installer made by Cnet?@RadPig94, everybody's heard of flightgear cause it's free!

[+streakeagle 871]

Not every body has heard of Flight Gear, and the clones trying to rip you off by selling you free software are all too common.

The "honey" for this one is the idea that it fully supports combat.

I doubt it contains any more support for combat than can be obtained via the Flight Gear website.

There are plenty of people who are not in the online flight sim community and wander to what ever website their browser take them to.

The presentations on these ripoff sites look very convincing and only someone already in the know can readily distinguish their tricks.

If this one isn't asking for any money, it's not too bad.

Plenty of legit software installers try to trick users into installing Google toolbar, Bing toolbar, etc.

As long as it is as "harmless" as all the other bloatware (i.e. little performance penalty and easily uninstalled), it isn't as bad as it could be.

Arguably, Facebook is as bad as any of them even though quite a few people, including myself, are willing to tolerate the invasion of privacy for the free services it provides.

[JediMaster 451]

If it didn't make them money, they wouldn't do it.

 

It obviously makes them money.