Google blacklisting uTorrent over third-party software bundling, report says

Historically, Google has dragged its feet when it comes to implementing the kind of robust copy protection and search result de-listing that the copyright industry has clamored for. A new report suggests that the software giant is taking steps to block the popular uTorrent client from installing and now flags certain uTorrent websites as unsafe. It’s not clear, however, if this is a new effort to play slightly nicer with Hollywood and the RIAA, or if the company is responding to uTorrent’s questionable choice in system software.
Multiple independent virus scanners now flag uTorrent as a virus, Techdirt reports, though this may be related to the company’s use of OpenCandy. OpenCandy is considered adware by numerous vendors, including Microsoft, so the decision by smaller AV companies to flag the executable may be a means of pressuring uTorrent to remove the adware bundler.
Earlier this year, uTorrent got into trouble for installing bitcoin mining software invisibly on users’ systems, which many saw as a fundamental breach of trust. uTorrent claims that reports of an invisible installer were inaccurate, but the company still chose to partner with a cryptocurrency company whose software hijacked CPU time and was evidently meant to do the same for GPUs, once it was farther along in development.

uTorrent with OpenCandy registering as potential malwarez

According to Google, these changes weren’t meant to target uTorrent or torrenting specifically, but to crack down on unauthorized software installations. In a recent blog post, Google detailed how it was rolling out new improvements to its malware detection engine, stating: “In the coming weeks, these detection improvements will become more noticeable in Chrome: users will see more warnings [about] unwanted software than ever before… Safe Browsing’s focus is solely on protecting people and their data from badness. And nothing else.”
The problem I have with services like this is that while they’re useful in 95% of cases, they inevitably misclassify some software or downloads. Once this happens, the only way to download the content is to turn off Google’s malware protection from the Advanced Options menu, download the file, and turn it back on. From Microsoft to Chrome, we’re seeing an increasing trend of companies exerting more and more control over how users get updates and which software versions they can run. It’s fine to offer novice users defaults that mandate security updates, but those of us who understand the risks and are willing to take them should have greater control over when and how such barricades slam down. Ultimately, it’s my PC — not Google’s, and not Microsoft’s.