Registry keys to prevent Java installs from adding sponsors (Ask/Google/Yahoo Toolbar, McAfee virus, etc) via: Super User
Posted by jpluimers on 2014/06/02
One of the reasons I quit Java development a while ago is that for years, each and every Java client update on Windows wants to install “add-ons” like Ask/Google/Yahoo toolbars, McAfee viruses, etc.
Many people have complained about it, just to name a few and show an on-line petition against it:
- A close look at how Oracle installs deceptive software with Java updates | ZDNet.
- Java scam: How Oracle and Ask profit from sneaky add-ons | The Industry Standard – InfoWorld.
- Oracle will continue to bundle ‘crapware’ with Java – Computerworld.
- Petition | Oracle Corporation: Stop bundling Ask Toolbar with the Java installer | Change.org.
There are many cumbersome ways around it:
- Manually download the right version of the silent offline installer, then run it.
- Download the offline installer, get java.msi from it, then make a GPO-deployment.
- Disable the auto-update check and script your own install.
- Silently Uninstall Java. Then don’t install it (a few friends were so fed up that they did this).
- Internet Explorer only: Disable third party browser extensions. But then you loose all other extensions as well.
Though suited for corporate installs, all of those are impractical when your friends keep calling “hey, how do I get rid of these toolbars” and you cannot control their complete install process.
Super User user Danilo Roascio made my day when wanting to get rid of that behaviour.
His registry way to prevent those installs is way easier!
It not only disables the installs of any sponsored add-on, the Java update does not even show the checkbox any more (so the install process is shorter).
Digging a bit into the problem myself, I’ve found that there’s an hidden switch to disable sponsor offerings in the auto-update installer.
Open the following keys into the Windows Registry Editor (regedit.exe):
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\JavaSoft(available only on Windows 64-bit)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\JavaSoftand create in both of them a new String Value (type
REG_SZ) namedSPONSORSof valueDISABLE(both name and value must be uppercase).Alternatively, copy and paste the following code into a text file called
disable_java_sponsors.regand double click on it to import these values in your Registry.Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\JavaSoft] "SPONSORS"="DISABLE" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\JavaSoft] "SPONSORS"="DISABLE"Please note that this switch not only disables the Ask.com toolbar installation and prompt, but disables all of the sponsors potentially bundled with the Auto-update setup/Online setup (Google toolbar, Yahoo toolbar, McAfee something, etc…)
–jeroen
via: How can I prevent Ask.com Toolbar from being installed every time Java is updated? – Super User.
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Registry trick now fails to work for the Yahoo Search Engine update in Java 8 – was: Registry keys to prevent Java installs from adding sponsors (Ask/Google/Yahoo Toolbar, McAfee virus, etc) via: Super User « The Wiert Corner – irregular said
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John Smith said
No longer functions like this
Look here
https://www.java.com/en/download/faq/disable_offers.xml
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\Software\JavaSoft\DeploymentProperties]
“install.disable.sponsor.offers”=”true”
jpluimers said
Thanks!
Thank you, thank you, thank you, | No Substitute said
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Registry keys to prevent Java installs from adding sponsors (Ask/Google/Yahoo Toolbar, McAfee virus, etc) via: Super User | Digitale Notdurft said
[…] One of the reasons I quit Java development a while ago is that for years, each and every Java client update on Windows wants to install “add-ons” like Ask/Google/Yahoo toolbars, McAfee viruses, etc. Many people have complained about it, just to name a few…Registry keys to prevent Java installs from adding sponsors (Ask/Google/Yahoo Toolbar, McAfee virus,… […]