[Unapproved iTop software creating video files without asking (?)]

Except when I downloaded an update for Iobit Malware Fighter, iTop Screen Recorder installed BEFORE I even opened the MF installer!!!

It literally opened after installing itself before I hit "Open" on the MF download!

That is utterly beyond any "partnership" or "recommendation" and goes straight into "malicious" 

I've been happily using Iobit products for years, but this iTop crap is pushing me to consider other computer cleaning software, because I should not have to open an uninstaller every time I update your products.

[Seriously pissed off with IOBits colloboration with ITop]

On 9/18/2021 at 5:05 AM, Cicely said:

Hello Guys,

At present, we are partnered with iTop VPN to help promote its product iTop VPN, which can provide private access to the Internet with military-grade protection.

Almost all IObit products are recommending this app, if you do want it, please just you can untick the checkbox for iToP  VPN if you do not want it. You can find the chexkbox at the left concern of IObit programs' installtion windows. 

I have forwarded your concern to our product team and market team. They will consider this kind of marketing activities and make a better balance in future.

Have a good time!

There is a very big difference between promoting (via pop-up ads or such) and essentially packing a third-party software with your own.

Maybe there is a tick box. Maybe. It certainly isn't noticeable enough to be relevant. Such "opt-out" options should be VERY obvious in order to avoid customer dissatisfaction, and in worst cases, legal issues. It's actually better for the box to be "opt-in" where they have to check the box to add the third-party software to the download. That way people who aren't paying attention, have vision issues, or whatever, don't get upset when they find things they weren't expecting on their computer because of your program installation.

If the opt-in/out box isn't obvious, it's less a marketing issue and more of a legal issue, because it makes you at least seem sneaky, and therefore untrustworthy, costing you customer confidence and trust. This whole topic is essentially a legal grey area, but it's very possible that actual laws will be passed, and at the very least is is ethically wrong to do so.

As a long-time user of Iobit products, the sudden issue of having to uninstall iTop programs every time I update an Iobit program is incredibly aggravating and pushes me towards considering a new provider of computer security and optimization products.