BitTorrent Harmful Malware OSX/Spigot.A

AVG Warns of Malware on all versions of current BitTorrent downloads
I recently installed the free version of AVG anti-virus for Mac OSX, AVG  Version 2015.0 (4743) after being bitten by AdWare crap from installing an 'authorised' app from the Apple's App Store - thanks Apple, I don't think you've followed the Lenovo / Superfish trail, but you could at least scan apps before allowing them to be accessed from your servers. Anyway, thanks to AVG, at this point my system was clear from virus and adware.

The next time I used my BitTorrent app, it began crashing immediately it opened. Not sure of the reason for this, but being naturally suspicious, I thought the best course was to completely remove it and get a fresh install of BitTorrent. That's when the problems began.

When the .dmg file had been downloaded and opened, AVG anti virus popped up, warning of a Potentially harmful program OSX/Spigot.A. AVG was not able to clean or delete the problem application so I scrapped the download and began looking into Spigot.A. Nasty annoying AdWare that changes your browser's default search engine, injects their sponsored results into your searches and basically renders your browser unusable. The very reason I installed AVG in the first place.

I tried a few different sources for the BitTorrent, including uTorrent but all of these torrent downloaders are now bundled with AdWare. BitTorrent are now plainly in league with Download Valley - Beware.

Even more unpalatable are various responses on various bitTorrent web forums telling concerned visitors that they should ignore the warnings and install BitTorrent anyway - nice!

A safe replacement for BitTorrent
After a few experiments I discovered Transmission for Apple Mac OSX. It is Open Source, free from AdWare and it just works; straight out the box, no configuration, no noise, no fuss. It just downloads torrents. Well done Transmission, and goodbye BitTorrent, forever!

Directly from the Transmission website:


 * Transmission is an open source, volunteer-based project. Unlike some BitTorrent clients, Transmission doesn't play games with its users to make money:


 * Transmission doesn't bundle toolbars, pop-up ads, flash ads, twitter tools, or anything else.
 * It doesn't hold some features back for a payware version.
 * Its source code is available for anyone to review.
 * We don't track our users, and our website and forums have no third-party ads or analytics.

Be nice and donate to them.

This adware business makes an awful lot of money!

 * Genieo Innovation is an Israeli company, specializing in unwanted software which includes advertising and user tracking. - Wikipedia
 * Babylon is a computer dictionary and translation program, developed by Babylon Ltd., an Israeli public company. - Wikipedia
 * Conduit is a software developer of browser hijackers. - Wikipedia
 * Download Valley is a cluster of software companies in Israel, producing and delivering additional software to be installed alongside with downloads of other software. - Wikipedia