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Author Topic: Installing apps without permission  (Read 2955 times)

Offline kimmer

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Installing apps without permission
« on: March 03, 2011, 12:34:37 PM »
A couple of days ago "Little Snitch" alerted me that "Growl" wanted to reach out and touch someplace. I had NO clue what Growl was and denied the request. I then began researching "Growl" and found this page:

How did Growl get on your system?
http://growl.info/thirdpartyinstallations.php

It appears that CS5 installed it without my permission. mad.gif I followed this link and was surprised to find that CS5 wasn't in the notification list, but "MacJournal" was. I deselected "enabled" for "MacJournal" and figured I'd check into whether Growl was something I wanted on my system. Then I forgot about it.

This morning "Little Snitch" again alerted me that "Growl" wanted to reach out on behalf of "MacJournal". I denied and verified that "Growl" was disabled for "MacJournal". Then I went in to make a quick journal entry and discovered that some of my recent entries were gone. Now I'm ticked. MacJournal is overriding my prefs for "Growl" and it's suddenly gone weird and is losing data. I'm composing a note to Mariner Software about this. I'd write to Adobe, but they likely don't care. wink.gif

My quick research shows me that several trusted apps do use "Growl", but they aren't in that "enabled" list, so I'm assuming they aren't using Growl on my machine to check for updates, etc. and I figure I'm safe in removing it (unless someone here tells me it's an okay thing to leave on my system).

Anyhow, I am curious 1) if anyone knows anything about "Growl" and 2) if anyone else has had apps just install an app without asking.
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Offline kimmer

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Installing apps without permission
« Reply #1 on: March 03, 2011, 01:27:15 PM »
Additional info: I just discovered that CS5 installed "Adobe Media Player.app" without asking. mad.gif It's now overriding my prefs for VLC. Most annoying.
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Offline Paddy

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Installing apps without permission
« Reply #2 on: March 03, 2011, 02:16:41 PM »
Some people like Growl. Others, like me, consider it a complete nuisance and uninstall it ASAP. I don't find it unobtrusive - it kept popping up to notify me of things I wasn't the least bit interested in - I really don't need it! dry.gif

Interestingly, Growl is NOT happy about other apps installing it without permission.

http://growl.info/thirdpartyinstallations.php

And I've never seen Adobe so apologetic about anything:

http://blogs.adobe.com/oobe/2010/05/growl_...with_adobe.html

You (and I) are far from alone, Kim! Just remove it - problem solved.

http://growl.info/documentation/growl-package-removal.php

Sounds like there is no point in keeping Adobe Media Player around:

http://www.adobe.com/products/mediaplayer/ (why are they still including it with CS5??) - I'd drag it to the trash if it's causing trouble.
« Last Edit: March 03, 2011, 02:17:18 PM by Paddy »
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Offline kimmer

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Installing apps without permission
« Reply #3 on: March 03, 2011, 06:24:30 PM »
Both apps now trashed. Considering Adobe apologized back in May 2010 and I installed CS5 in Feb. 2011, I'm taking their sincere apology with a grain of salt. wink.gif

Sure was a frustrating way to spend a few hours.
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Offline Xairbusdriver

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Installing apps without permission
« Reply #4 on: March 03, 2011, 07:39:47 PM »
My 2¢:
Growl is useful for various notifications that I otherwise wouldn't get. But what I find intrusive was Little Snitch!

I have re-installed it many times...about every seven months when I forgot that I trashed it seven months before! Perhaps if I paid for it and ran it for a few weeks, it would stop asking for my permission to allow stuff to work. Does it have a 'learning' period? dntknw.gif It really gets annoying and slows me down to keep getting requests which often don't provide any real help in determining whether the access should be "Once", "Till Shutdown", "Forever" or until I can't stand the app any longer! laughhard.gif blush-anim-cl.gif Since I don't touch type, I'm not looking at the screen that much (I need to look at the keyboard to make sure the letters are still where their supposed to be...), but I know when Little Snitch 'warns' me about something because then my typing becomes nothing but a series of 'beep, beep, beep...' rolleyes.gif Then, I have to stop what I'm doing, look at the screen/read the dialog/decide which buttons and/or tabs to use/clear the dialog. Growl is nothing like that, you can view them or just ignore them, they will disappear on their own after the time period you choose. And, I think it's free.

So, what does MacJournal do for you, I've never used it. I thought it was a 'writers aid' thang! dntknw.gif
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Offline kimmer

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Installing apps without permission
« Reply #5 on: March 03, 2011, 08:13:38 PM »
QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Mar 3 2011, 05:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
My 2¢:
Growl is useful for various notifications that I otherwise wouldn't get. But what I find intrusive was Little Snitch!

LOL! To each their own. I've "taught" Little Snitch and set up rules, so it doesn't bother me for all the things that I want to go through. It does alert me to things that are not the norm, and it's been a big help.

I can see where Growl might be useful as it could be set up to work with a lot of apps that I currently run, but I was annoyed to have it installed without my permission and so it's gone.

QUOTE
So, what does MacJournal do for you, I've never used it. I thought it was a 'writers aid' thang! dntknw.gif

I got it originally on a special deal with Mariner Software. I use it to do journaling ... like an electronic diary. I've also used it to "blog" with as I can write up whatever, add pics, etc and then tell MacJournal to post. Came in very handy when we were moving, and every time we've traveled. smile.gif Mariner Software does have writers software: StoryMill. I've never tried it as that's not my thing. wink.gif
« Last Edit: March 03, 2011, 08:14:43 PM by kimmer »
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Offline antony

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Installing apps without permission
« Reply #6 on: March 04, 2011, 01:12:24 AM »
QUOTE(kimmer @ Mar 4 2011, 11:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Both apps now trashed. Considering Adobe apologized back in May 2010 and I installed CS5 in Feb. 2011, I'm taking their sincere apology with a grain of salt. wink.gif

Sure was a frustrating way to spend a few hours.

I also discovered so after I installed the CS5 in December 2010. It took me a long time to figure that out.
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Offline Xairbusdriver

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Installing apps without permission
« Reply #7 on: March 04, 2011, 09:15:48 PM »
How long does it take to "train" Little Snitch?

Growl tells me when and how many emails I get when I have Mail running but covered up by other apps windows. No intrusive modal dialogs (I thought X was supposed to get rid of those things...).

Speaking of intrusive, I've got to go find a way to turn off Spotlight with whatever the magic key strokes (command-space, I think) are that opens that nearly useless little box. My thumb (the fat one) tends to hit both those keys too often and I end up listening to the beeping keys again... sad.gif
« Last Edit: March 04, 2011, 09:18:11 PM by Xairbusdriver »
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Offline jchuzi

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Installing apps without permission
« Reply #8 on: March 05, 2011, 05:37:41 AM »
QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Mar 4 2011, 10:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Speaking of intrusive, I've got to go find a way to turn off Spotlight with whatever the magic key strokes (command-space, I think) are that opens that nearly useless little box. My thumb (the fat one) tends to hit both those keys too often and I end up listening to the beeping keys again... sad.gif
System Preferences>Keyboard>Keyboard Shortcuts. Select Spotlight and uncheck the boxes.
« Last Edit: March 05, 2011, 05:40:12 AM by jchuzi »
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Offline krissel

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Installing apps without permission
« Reply #9 on: March 07, 2011, 12:53:47 AM »
Don't know what installed Growl on my Mac but I disabled it many months ago as soon as I encountered it crashing another app..  dry.gif
« Last Edit: March 07, 2011, 12:54:44 AM by krissel »
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Offline kimmer

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Installing apps without permission
« Reply #10 on: March 07, 2011, 12:40:35 PM »
I'm sorry I'm not alone with this annoyance.
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Offline Xairbusdriver

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Installing apps without permission
« Reply #11 on: March 07, 2011, 04:09:28 PM »
Oops! I forgot to say "Thanks!" for the info, Jon! But you're gonna' make me even lazier if you don't stop giving such complete answers!!! blush-anim-cl.gif The intensely busy weekend is now over, so I can now clear out the backlog of mini-tasks! flail.gif multitask.gif swoon.gif

QUOTE
I'm sorry I'm not alone with this annoyance.
I think I know what you meant to let us hear you say... laughhard.gif
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THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF COUNTRIES
Those that use metric = #1 Measurement system
And the United States = The Banana system
CAUTION! Childhood vaccinations cause adults! :yes:
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