Although what I found in looking at the program for my review didn’t match the inflated claims made for the software by its publisher, I didn’t think much about it, and described it as a not very useful, but legitimate, tool.
When I tried to remove the program from my computer, however, I found the software wouldn’t unintstall cleanly – and that it had peppered registry and hard drive with pieces of itself. I finally managed to uninstall it using a third-party uninstaller tool.
Later still, I found, to no great surprise, that several security programs list WhiteSmoke as malware. Not as bad as a computer virus or full-blown Trojan, perhaps, but definitely not something you want to install on your hard drive.
So the closing line of my review changes from
“The grammar checker is somewhat better than MS Word. If that is important for you, then you might consider paying for the annual license”to
“Although this grammar checker might be somewhat better than MS Word, who cares!: you don’t want to risk infecting your hard drive with an uninstallable program that is borderline malware”.
Some year ago I installed Whitesmoke and it caused a mess in my pc. I spent days in trying to find out what had happened and, at last, I found someone in a forum who had my same problem and explained me how to solve it. I don't remember exactly what it happened but I was very happy when at last I disinstalled it.
ReplyDeleteWhiteSmoke is not a legitimate, ethical business as I see it. Every attempt to stop them spamming me with their unwanted advertisement has been unsuccessful (presumably my e-mail address was sold to them by ProZ). That a company with their trashy business practices also trashes one's Windows registry isn't very surprising. There is simply no positive value proposition there and every reason to call them to account for their practices. I hope to have the pleasure of meeting a representative of that company at a conference sometime in the future. The pleasure will be very one-sided.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your great advice once again. although i have also ready your earlier post regarding whitesmoke and posted my comments and ask for your suggestion for another software which was suggest by you.. I have followed your suggestion about that software and for WhiteSmoke as well.
ReplyDeleteIndeed a good information provide by you related with this software
Thanks.
Really great and useful tool. I often use dictionaries, spell checkers and thesauruses. And most of all I like online versions of them, because they avaliable anywhere, where I can get Internet access, like synonyms dictionary.
ReplyDeleteAnd it's possible because I always traveling and working on my small notebook, so such apps are great in different cases too.
I never used it. Got suspicious when it added a toolbar which I didn't want. Then when it wouldn't install and kept putting up annoying popups, frustration turned to anger. Reputable companies don't treat customers this way.
ReplyDeleteThen the laborious process of overcoming their nefarious, insidious contamination of my computer. Revo finally seems to have finished the job. Thank you very much, Revo and the forums that recommend it and other helpful uninstallers. I will be more careful in the future.
Does anybody know a program equivalent to WhiteSmoke?
ReplyDeleteWhitesmoke is a piece of crap program that installed on my computer even after I clicked “Skip”.
ReplyDeleteNow I cannot get rid of it no matter what I try: Remove programs, system restore, malware removers, nothing has worked. I contacted their online chat who told me they are only their for sales and they recommended I use their support email which I did. No reply.
Google “Whitesmoke malware” if you don’t believe me. And I find it incredibly ironic that some of some peope paid for something I got for “free” that I do not want.
Grammarly.com is muc better and doesn't require a download
ReplyDeleteWatch out: they're now pushing a new 2012 version. I was burned so badly on the last one I wouldn't dare try again.
ReplyDelete