ClipGrab

ClipGrab is a multi-platform software package for downloading videos from popular websites such as YouTube, Vimeo, Dailymotion or Facebook. It can convert the downloaded files to other file formats such as MP3, MPEG4, OGG Theora or WMV. It is published as free software under the terms of version 3 of the GNU General Public License.[1]

ClipGrab
Initial release5 November 2007 (2007-11-05)
Stable release
3.8.12 / 29 May 2020 (2020-05-29)
Operating systemMicrosoft Windows, macOS, Linux
Available inEnglish, German, French
TypeDownload manager
LicenseGPL v3 (free software)
Websiteclipgrab.org 

Features

ClipGrab officially supports the download from a handful of video websites which include YouTube, Dailymotion, Vimeo, and Facebook. In addition to this, the software provides a heuristic which can also download videos from sites that are not officially supported. When available, ClipGrab offers different quality options for a video. With this feature, the user can choose between downloading a high definition, standard definition or low definition version of the video. ClipGrab can automatically detect compatible URLs when they are copied to the clipboard. The program also provides an integrated search function for YouTube. It also provides the possibility to convert the downloaded files to other file formats such as MP3, MPEG4, OGG Theora or WMV. It has been especially praised for its clean and easy-to-use user interface.[2][3][4] Software review site softoxi.com states that "[ClipGrab] has a beautifully designed graphical user interface" and "stands out immediately for its look, feel and performance"[5]

License

ClipGrab is published as free software under the GPLv3 license[6].

Unusually for an open source project, file checksums, code repositories, developer documentation, or online issue trackers are not publicly available. Until 2015, ClipGrab published an online source code repository including a GPL open source license[7].

Development

ClipGrab was originally developed in the proprietary programming language PureBasic,[8] and could only download one video at a time. Later, the software was rewritten using C++ and the Qt framework and published under the terms of the GPL v3. Since version 3.0, the program is also available for macOS.

Criticism, Malware and Viruses

The ClipGrab installer for Windows includes installCore, an advertising software module.[9] Installers including installCore have sometimes been classified as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) or potentially unwanted application (PUA), by some anti-malware product vendors. Perhaps due to the dependency on installCore, versions of Clipgrab have been described as loaded with adware and malware [10]. It has been described as a "browser hijacker that urges users to buy products or services from sponsors" and "a virus". [11]. Online virus scanners report viruses and trojans in the supplied binary, including Riskware.Win32.Generic.1!c, W32/FusionCore.A.gen!Eldorado, Trojan.InstallCore.2889, W32/FusionCore.A.gen!Eldorado, Trojan.Malware.9883574.susgen.[12]. Viruses reported on the ClipGrab forum have not received a developer response [13] [14]. ClipGrab Articles on Clipgrab from 2018 onwards are more critical, and classify the software as malware, rather than as a helpful consumer product, as in reviews from 2011-2015.

The ClipGrab website features a smaller download link under the main download button that allows users to download a version of the software which does not include installCore.

See also

References
  1. "ClipGrab COPYING". Philipp Schmieder.
  2. "German newspaper "Der Tagesspiegel" recommends ClipGrab". tagesspiegel.de (in German). 6 February 2010.
  3. "Review by The Windows Club". thewindowsclub.com. 10 November 2011.
  4. "Review by the Chip Magazine". chip.de. 18 November 2011.
  5. "Review by softoxi.com". softoxi.com. 24 November 2011. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  6. "ClipGrab COPYING".
  7. "ClipGrab Git COPYING". Philipp Schmieder. 12 August 2013. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015.
  8. "Initial release announcement". purebasic.fr (in German). 15 November 2007. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  9. "Legal mentions". clipgrab.org. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  10. "Review by The Windows Club". thewindowsclub.com. 10 November 2011.
  11. "Remove Clipgrab virus". 19 July 2018.
  12. "Scan report for ClipGrab". 25 April 2020.
  13. "Remove InstallCore from your installer". 30 June 2019.
  14. "downloaded a copy from clipgrap.org. HAD A VIRUS". 15 April 2018.
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