A month ago if someone would have asked me the best and most secure site to go to for downloads I would have told them to go to download.com. I have sent so many people to this site that the number would choke a goat. I to have been with them since 1997 or 98. There was a time that if you wanted a true reliable review or a safe download this was the place you came to. I could even come to the forums to find fixes for the weird problems that people rarely saw. Now the reviews are a joke and their secure downloader is what I consider spyware and on top of that it is pushing toolbars and software that no one is going to want. It is my believe it is powered by Open Candy but I will not download it to find out. Open candy to me is by my definition is spyware. I know it is not phoning home with our financial data or passwords but it is phoning home with what we have installed on our hard drive. If anything sends data that contains any information about by puter I consider it spyware. I just wish they would have held a news conference to announced that they are in trouble and have decided to hose all their user before they have to shut down their servers.
Get this!
CNETs new download rig totally messed me up in a way I bet they haven't heard about yet.
I'm setting up a new server. IE is VERY crippled by default on windows server, so I often install an alternative rather than un-cripple IE. The alternative IS THE DEFAULT BROWSER.
I decide to get ashampoo (for light, occasional burning tasks), so I was clicking the "Download Now" button on cnet. I get a quick blip and realize I don't really have the program, just a stub. What if I wanted to put the installer on my usbKey for other customers, etc?? Pretty worthless now for most of the downloads I do, BUT that isn't what was weird!!
EVEN THOUGH I have an alternative default browser the following occurred
1) I clicked on the "stub" to REALLY get the file and got a open file security warning (clicked run to proceed)
2) Get CNETs new downloader "step 1" window (clicked next)
3) WAS PRESENTED INTERNET EXPLORER'S CONTENT WARNING from IE's "Enhanced Security" ASKING me to add it to trusted zone.
4) I refused! I'm NOT USING IE! (damn it).closed the window.
5) CNET's step 2 window is still on screen with checkboxes redying to force the Startnow toolbar, Bing and MSN homepage down my throat.
6) I unchecked them and clicked "next step"
7) CNET'S DOWNLOADED IS LOCKED-UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had to use task manager to kill it.
I'll say it again to remind, IE is NOT the default browser. and I didn't use it to download the "stub".
What a mess. Sure, this doesn't happen on a normal PC, but they still try to force feed you stuff you don't want AND DENY YOU the ability to just put the download on my USBkey where I can use it on other boxes. I am a tech after all.
Guess that is it for me here. I had to sign up just to say goodbye. Ironic.
I might just use cnet for locating programs, but won't DL them here any more.
BOO CNET! Bad call from where I am sitting. I'm sure it serves your purposes just fine. I can even hear you thinking; "don't let the door hit you on the way out". That concludes a 13-15 year relationship.

Chowhound
Comic Vine
GameFAQs
GameSpot
Giant Bomb
TechRepublic