Latest Windows version installing a F*book launcher?

[hbilke]

hbilke last edited by

Just installed an oper 68.x on a win8.1 vm. Automagically there was a f*book launcher starting the opera process and can be seen in the process list. Downloaded the installer directly from Opera.com

WTF has happened? Is the installer installing this?

[burnout426]

burnout426 Volunteer @hbilke last edited by

@hbilke said in Latest Windows version installing a F*book launcher?:

Is the installer installing this?

Sounds weird and unlikely. But, something to investigate. Where is the facebook launcher installed?

[burnout426]

burnout426 Volunteer last edited by burnout426

Look for Opera, assistant, and Opera autoupdate logs in "C:\windows\temp" and "C:\Users\yourusername\AppData\Local\temp" and see if they say anything.

Is there an uninstall entry for the launcher? I'd search for the filename of the launcher in the registry to see if it shows any any Opera-related keys.

[hbilke]

hbilke @burnout426 last edited by

@burnout426 C:\Users\xyz\AppData\Local\Programs\Opera\launcher.exe www.facebook.com

and there is a freakin' link on the desktop and a button in the taskbar. NO uninstaller. Even worse - I thought I start Opera (the launcher showed the Opera-Icon).

The installer has been download from opera.com, bears a valid cert/sig (Opera AS, Digicert)

I'm really p* o*. I am using Opera since the 90s of the last century, paid for it and used it on OS/2, winscrap, *nix and MAC. If this is the route they're going to:
ANY instance will be wiped.

Hilsen
Harald

[hbilke]

hbilke @burnout426 last edited by

@burnout426 said in Latest Windows version installing a F*book launcher?:

Some facebook on th blacklist - but I see connections blocked to freakbook. Me thinx - har det bra Opera - it's over with us.

[donq]

donq @hbilke last edited by donq

@hbilke said in Latest Windows version installing a F*book launcher?:

@burnout426 C:\Users\xyz\AppData\Local\Programs\Opera\launcher.exe www.facebook.com

and there is a freakin' link on the desktop and a button in the taskbar. NO uninstaller. Even worse - I thought I start Opera (the launcher showed the Opera-Icon).

Actually this launcher.exe IS the Opera normal launcher - but usually it doesn't include any web addresses. Just remove this facebook address from Opera button properties (right-click on button, right-click on Opera, properties, edit target field).

[hbilke]

hbilke @donq last edited by

@donq et al.
Thanks - but this behaviour did it for me. This is my last posting via Opera browser.
It's going to be exstinguished from all my devices at home and at work.
I don't tolerate this setup done w/o my consent.

Cheers, bye over and out
Harald

[hbilke]

hbilke @donq last edited by

@donq And why do I have to remove the scrap? It shouldn't be there automatically!

That's it - read your post a second time.

[donq]

donq @hbilke last edited by

@hbilke
Actually this is the first time I have read about such behavior - usually Opera shortcut/button is installed without any extras. Well, I haven't seen Opera installer many years - maybe there was some checkbox to include promotional content?

Anyway, the choice is yours. If Opera by itself (without my consent) added facebook or instagram or something similar to my installation, I would seriously considering switching browsers either.

[hbilke]

hbilke @donq last edited by

@donq Hei,
I'll check whether I had missed an Option during install and give Opera a second chance. My Workflow could be switched to another browser but it's really cumbersome.
Will report back.
Cheers stay save and sound.

[hbilke]

hbilke @donq last edited by

@donq
Just downloaded and installed Opera Win anew. The downloaded Installer ist slightly larger (about 1kbyte) and Therme are only the options for installing to
All Users
the single User
portable Mode

I saved the other Installer and check this one, too.

Greetings

[hbilke]

hbilke last edited by

Just installed the older download and "Bingo" f*bokk reappeared in my taskbar. The older download is slightly smaller (280 Bytes). Same cert and sig.

Failure, oversight? I'll control and watch IT very closely.

[donq]

donq @hbilke last edited by

@hbilke said in Latest Windows version installing a F*book launcher?:

Just installed the older download and "Bingo" f*bokk reappeared in my taskbar. The older download is slightly smaller (280 Bytes). Same cert and sig.

Failure, oversight? I'll control and watch IT very closely.

Looks like failed experiment - or someone (at Opera) simply screwed things up. Not the first occasion unfortunately

Case closed then.

Maybe Opera should start selling their browser (again) - this way they will need to have some responsibility over their actions. I likely would pay for it - if they could gurantee that options and behavior don't change in unpredictable ways.

I'm developer of paid software - our customers would just vote with their wallet, would we add someting similar to our application.

[leocg]

leocg Moderator Volunteer @hbilke last edited by

@hbilke Did you already check your system for malware?

[burnout426]

burnout426 Volunteer last edited by

To me, it sounds like some malware is modifying the shortcuts to Opera's launcher.exe to pass facebook.com to it.

[donq]

donq last edited by

This all would be pretty easy to check - let @hbilke share f-booking Opera installer and we can install it and see what happens.

[hbilke]

hbilke @leocg last edited by

@leocg It's a VM that is reset after each test. I ran the install w/f*book three and the Installer w/o two times. The "f" always Puts the f-shortcut onto my taskbar - the other one not. Neither MS Defender nor Sophos online scan fires an alarm. Sysinternals autochecking autoruns against virustotal gives no suspicous files/processes. To me it Looks Like it's in the Installer I downloaded on 05/09 22:00 from opera.com

Cheers and stay healthy these dass
Harry

[hbilke]

hbilke @donq last edited by

@donq Nice Idea. Am a bit Low in the bandwidth side due to corona-home-office. But If someone wants the file send me a link or PM.
Maybe someone from Opera leser dette og kunne klarer opp forholdet? Dere kan gjerne komme in i diskusjonen.
Harald

[leocg]

leocg Moderator Volunteer @hbilke last edited by

@hbilke It was the online installer or the offline one?

Downloaded from opera.com?

[hbilke]

hbilke @leocg last edited by

@leocg online - it's about 2megs