Comodo i-Vault "upgraded" with Launch Pad advertising software

[ALeghart]

My installation of Comodo i-Vault was failing to launch when needed, so
I downloaded a fresh setup file. Now, Comodo is bundling a piece of
advertising software called "Launch Pad" with no obvious controls for
removal.

i-Vault is (and was) perfectly capable of running by itself until
Comodo chose to bundle it with the marketing vehicle.

As has been disussed in public forums, the Launch Pad is add-on
software used as a marketing vehicle for other Comodo products and
services. There is no documentation or mention of the add-on software
at Comodo's web site. As well, there is no method to un-install the
software without removing the desired application i-Vault.

From an end-user perspective, functionality of i-Vault has been

crippled. It will no longer auto-start with Windows or minimize upon
close. I am forced to launch the .exe manually or by associating the
..civ extension with i-Vault.

Comodo's overall image of trustworthiness is degraded by tactics
formerly reserved to scam artists. Upon first evaluation, I cautioned
other admins that lack of a paid version available to Comodo customers
indicated future use as an advertising gimmick. I think my prediction
has been borne out.

So far, Comodo's Technical Support's response is:

Comodo Launchpad is not a piece of spam, this is only a lauch pad to launch
all the products from comodo.

This accompanies with all the free SW from Comodo.

Regards
Adrian
Technical Support

I'm getting that prickly feeling on the back of my neck. I'm trusting
my most sensitive passwords and credit cards to a company who starts
bundling and crippling it's "free" products in order to present
advertising information multiple times per day.

Perhaps Comodo should call this "sponsored" software instead of free.
Disabling the advertising cripples the desired application. Sounds
pretty obvious to me.

Hoping someone more knowledgeable than Adrian from Comodo will respond.

Regards,
Alan Leghart

 

[Craig]

My installation of Comodo i-Vault was failing to launch when needed, so
I downloaded a fresh setup file. Now, Comodo is bundling a piece of
advertising software called "Launch Pad" with no obvious controls for
removal.
...<stuff deleted>...

Hoping someone more knowledgeable than Adrian from Comodo will respond.

Regards,
Alan Leghart

Alan;

That should be a good response. In the meantime, their forum is back up
and being monitored...might be worth your while to repost there as well.

thx, and pls let us know!

-Craig

 

[meow2222]

My installation of Comodo i-Vault was failing to launch when needed, so
I downloaded a fresh setup file. Now, Comodo is bundling a piece of
advertising software called "Launch Pad" with no obvious controls for
removal.

i-Vault is (and was) perfectly capable of running by itself until
Comodo chose to bundle it with the marketing vehicle.

As has been disussed in public forums, the Launch Pad is add-on
software used as a marketing vehicle for other Comodo products and
services. There is no documentation or mention of the add-on software
at Comodo's web site. As well, there is no method to un-install the
software without removing the desired application i-Vault.

crippled. It will no longer auto-start with Windows or minimize upon
close. I am forced to launch the .exe manually or by associating the
.civ extension with i-Vault.

Comodo's overall image of trustworthiness is degraded by tactics
formerly reserved to scam artists. Upon first evaluation, I cautioned
other admins that lack of a paid version available to Comodo customers
indicated future use as an advertising gimmick. I think my prediction
has been borne out.

So far, Comodo's Technical Support's response is:

IIUC it phones home regularly. If thats correct, I'm unclear how it
would be as above.

I'm getting that prickly feeling on the back of my neck. I'm trusting
my most sensitive passwords and credit cards to a company who starts
bundling and crippling it's "free" products in order to present
advertising information multiple times per day.

Perhaps Comodo should call this "sponsored" software instead of free.
Disabling the advertising cripples the desired application. Sounds
pretty obvious to me.

Hoping someone more knowledgeable than Adrian from Comodo will respond.

Regards,
Alan Leghart

There was some discussion about this in a couple of other threads, but
it seems to be an approach comodo is committed to, and you're not alone
in being unhappy about it.

Generally I realise this sort of thing can happen when redownloading
software, so its wise to always keep the old version install file
around. And use total uninstall so no matter what gets installed it can
be removed if necessary.

I await Comodo's response, but it seems theyre committed to this, it
just is what it is.


NT

 

[ALeghart]

Comodo's response:

At the moment Comodo Launch Pad provides you following functionalities:

1. Allowing you to launch all Comodo's desktop products from it's GUI
2. Letting user know if there is an additional s/w available from Comodo
3. Saving user's system tray space by having single tray icon for all Comodo's products.

Following functionalities we are going to add in CLP which will increase it's usability:
1. Per application user will be able to set certain configuration options from Launch Pad's
GUI itself, i.e. it is going to be converted into security suite.

So we do appreciate your remarks and are working in the direction to provide a better
experience of Comodo products. [snip]
So our intention is not to advertise but to provide end user free s/w which we keep
upgrading with user's comments and they become users' products, used by them
and future features incorporated as per their suggestions.
So just want to thank you for your comments and hope that future additions in
Comodo LaunchPad will remove your apprehnsions to some extent.

Regards
Carl
Technical Support

In other words...Comodo is turning their "products" into one "bundle",
but they still market them and provide installation and documentation
listing them as individual applications.

The products are not reliant upon each other, and the building of
config functions into Launch Pad is overly redundant. It seems a weak
excuse for justifying the bundling and crippling effects.

But, it's free. Comodo, from day one, has never added these products
our customer pricing lists. If they were honest, they would have
disclosed their intentions so that business users would not bother to
install the software for evaluation. Comodo is clearly aiming to a
less-than-saavy home user who needs hand-holding.

I have evaluate other password managers for use in small-business
environment. Keypass and password safe are not quite ready for prime
time. Omnipass is OK, but not great; the bundled version with APC
hardware is limited. Norton's password manager is not longer sold;
Symantec is trying to build an enterprise credential manager and place
it in a bundle/suite. Citrix password manager is even harder to figure
out than their access control suite. HP's Credential Manager (included
with some HP/Compaq computers) is incredible at passwords and
credentials, but lacks information storage like credit cards, generic
passwords, notes, etc. Also, the Active Directory integration requires
large fees for licensing...but allows an admin to handle changes,
adds/deletes, and hide info from the end use.

iVault was extremely useful for storing all of the information a
typical admin needs. And, it looks nice, not like it rolled out tof a
programming garage. End-users could use it without knowing how it
worked or learning syntax for customization.

Unfortunately, turning this into a bundled app pulls iVault out of the
running. I don't need another firewall. I certainly don't want users
to install it because of the daily advertising. Same goes with backup
software and fax services.

But, Comodo has chosen to cripple iVault in favor of advertising other
software and services. I'm already expecting the onslaught of replies
that "It's free...why complain?" That's Comodo's point of view. So,
why complain about a free product?

It's not free. In exchange for software, you are granting license to
advertise products and services. You can't disable it. You can't
un-install it.

Ever try to install Acrobat Reader without a Yahoo! search button
appearing? You can't, unless you spend the time and resources to use
the custom deployment kit to create your own installer. Adobe gets a
lot of negative feedback for forcing advertising (albeit small) into
their "free" product.

No such thing as a free lunch in this world. Oh, wait, there is. From
generous individuals and companies who are altruistic or who expect
good publicity without advertising.

We have learned that Comodo is not such a company. We can choose not
to use Comodo's free software. We can also choose not to buy any more
SSL certs. Comodo is changing their focus to home users and forced
marketing. I can't work without Adobe's software. Losing Comodo as a
vendor will not hurt me one bit.

Sad, considering I used to be a champion of Comodo's pricing and tech
support. I guess I'll let our deposit accounts dry up and change my
recommendations from Buy to Sell.

Sincerely,
Alan Leghart

 

[Comodo]

Alan

I can categorically state that Comodo Launch Pad is NOT a bundle! It
does not install ALL the applications.

Let me try to explain how it works

You install any one of the Comodo products, lets say Ivault, Backup or
Firewall.
When you do that, you simply download and install that product. Nothing
else. Each one of these products have a Launchpad screen. This screen
merely tells you what other free products you have available to you. It
does NOT install or download for you. It is upto you to download and
install them. It merely tells you whats available. Again its NOT a
bundle but merely a one page telling you whats available.

I hope this clarifies your concern
thanks

Melih
Comodo

Comodo's response:

At the moment Comodo Launch Pad provides you following functionalities:

1. Allowing you to launch all Comodo's desktop products from it's GUI
2. Letting user know if there is an additional s/w available from Comodo
3. Saving user's system tray space by having single tray icon for all Comodo's products.

Following functionalities we are going to add in CLP which will increase it's usability:
1. Per application user will be able to set certain configuration options from Launch Pad's
GUI itself, i.e. it is going to be converted into security suite.

So we do appreciate your remarks and are working in the direction to provide a better
experience of Comodo products. [snip]
So our intention is not to advertise but to provide end user free s/w which we keep
upgrading with user's comments and they become users' products, used by them
and future features incorporated as per their suggestions.
So just want to thank you for your comments and hope that future additions in
Comodo LaunchPad will remove your apprehnsions to some extent.

Regards
Carl
Technical Support

In other words...Comodo is turning their "products" into one "bundle",
but they still market them and provide installation and documentation
listing them as individual applications.

The products are not reliant upon each other, and the building of
config functions into Launch Pad is overly redundant. It seems a weak
excuse for justifying the bundling and crippling effects.

But, it's free. Comodo, from day one, has never added these products
our customer pricing lists. If they were honest, they would have
disclosed their intentions so that business users would not bother to
install the software for evaluation. Comodo is clearly aiming to a
less-than-saavy home user who needs hand-holding.

I have evaluate other password managers for use in small-business
environment. Keypass and password safe are not quite ready for prime
time. Omnipass is OK, but not great; the bundled version with APC
hardware is limited. Norton's password manager is not longer sold;
Symantec is trying to build an enterprise credential manager and place
it in a bundle/suite. Citrix password manager is even harder to figure
out than their access control suite. HP's Credential Manager (included
with some HP/Compaq computers) is incredible at passwords and
credentials, but lacks information storage like credit cards, generic
passwords, notes, etc. Also, the Active Directory integration requires
large fees for licensing...but allows an admin to handle changes,
adds/deletes, and hide info from the end use.

iVault was extremely useful for storing all of the information a
typical admin needs. And, it looks nice, not like it rolled out tof a
programming garage. End-users could use it without knowing how it
worked or learning syntax for customization.

Unfortunately, turning this into a bundled app pulls iVault out of the
running. I don't need another firewall. I certainly don't want users
to install it because of the daily advertising. Same goes with backup
software and fax services.

But, Comodo has chosen to cripple iVault in favor of advertising other
software and services. I'm already expecting the onslaught of replies
that "It's free...why complain?" That's Comodo's point of view. So,
why complain about a free product?

It's not free. In exchange for software, you are granting license to
advertise products and services. You can't disable it. You can't
un-install it.

Ever try to install Acrobat Reader without a Yahoo! search button
appearing? You can't, unless you spend the time and resources to use
the custom deployment kit to create your own installer. Adobe gets a
lot of negative feedback for forcing advertising (albeit small) into
their "free" product.

No such thing as a free lunch in this world. Oh, wait, there is. From
generous individuals and companies who are altruistic or who expect
good publicity without advertising.

We have learned that Comodo is not such a company. We can choose not
to use Comodo's free software. We can also choose not to buy any more
SSL certs. Comodo is changing their focus to home users and forced
marketing. I can't work without Adobe's software. Losing Comodo as a
vendor will not hurt me one bit.

Sad, considering I used to be a champion of Comodo's pricing and tech
support. I guess I'll let our deposit accounts dry up and change my
recommendations from Buy to Sell.

Sincerely,
Alan Leghart

 

[Ivan V. Klattrup]

Each one of these products have a Launchpad screen.

Just one simple question, why is it not possiple to install Comodo
Firewall without having a shortcut to the launchpad on the desktop, the
shortcut is unnessary. (I hate when I manually shall delete shortcuts that
programs place on the desktop without asking me if it should place it there)

 

[Barry]

Alan

I can categorically state that Comodo Launch Pad is NOT a bundle! It
does not install ALL the applications.

Let me try to explain how it works

You install any one of the Comodo products, lets say Ivault, Backup or
Firewall.
When you do that, you simply download and install that product. Nothing
else.

The software looks interesting but why is internet Product Activation
required for freeware?

 

[willy]

The software looks interesting but why is internet Product Activation
required for freeware?

Comodo products aren't freeware. They are free to use.
It's annoying advertising software; Launchpad will inform you with the
newest products, etc.

 

[John Fitzsimons]

You install any one of the Comodo products, lets say Ivault, Backup or
Firewall.
When you do that, you simply download and install that product. Nothing
else. Each one of these products have a Launchpad screen. This screen
merely tells you what other free products you have available to you. It
does NOT install or download for you. It is upto you to download and
install them. It merely tells you whats available. Again its NOT a
bundle but merely a one page telling you whats available.

< snip >

Is that another of your programs that stops working after a year if
people don't go to your site to continue activation ? If so then there
won't be a lot of people here wanting to bother with your product(s).

 

[Comodo]

Ivan

we have a forum at http://forums.comodo.com/ and you can come and
suggest the ways you want Comodo Personal Firewall to be
enhanced/changed. We have a topic called CPF Wish List in the Personal
Firewall section. I would invite to come and contribute in these forums
pls.

 

[Comodo]

John

All our licensing is being done so that they are permenant. Comodo
Personal Firewall is now a perpetual license, Comodo Backup is
perpetual license etc.

thanks
Melih

 

[Comodo]

Willy

I would invite you to http://forums.comodo.com/ to help us make CPF
better. Tell us what areas you would like to improve in these forums.

thanks
Melih