Questions about PotPlayer and Audio Player Recommendations  

I think that if you get it direct you risk bundled optional software offers.

Regarding firewall - block the executable and disable auto update checks.

PotPlayerMini.exe

Well if you read that other thread I've scanned my machine for adware with multiple scanners and Potplayer comes up clean every time.

Firewall:

Whatever firewall you're using just block it.

RE: Anything unwanted. Here's PotPlayer running with all processes scanned on VirusTotal.

I don't know if it's of interest but it was once recommended to me by dsperber

to download the English version from:

DVB Support

best player - Page 2 - Windows 7 Help Forums

That's an old post mentioning an optional bundled PUP.

As I said a few times I never get it from the developer's site especially as I remember installing the non English GUI version then having to figure out how to change the display language.

So I'll download the current version from DVB Support Mirror and let you know what happens.

Okay forget that. It installs fine. No adware but also no additional codecs.

I'll install the Filehippo version.

Installed. No PUP's installed or offers to decline.

VirusTotal report:

VirusTotal

The one detection from Microsoft relates to the optional extra codecs that can be installed. If you don't want them get the DVB Support version but then you'll need to go hunting for codecs to install to make it play everything.

Malwarebytes Adware Cleaner report:

None of the detections relates to PotPlayer.

1) Folder created by HDPack - a utility to stream movies and nothing to do with PotPlayer or codecs installed by PotPlayer.
2) Third Party DNS Cache utility
3) Custom registry enrty added by me to block a file from running

So PotPlayer is not detected as adware.

bamajon1974 said:

I really want to use PotPlayer. It seems pretty stable with tons of customization options and features, just the ads built into the installer put me off. I will still block PotPlayer from communicating back to its distributors. Did you get a chance to confirm the new version from the vendor website was ad-free?

- - - Updated - - -

Also, the ad-free installer was reported in the PotPlayer forum!
PotPlayer • View topic - PotPlayer without adware - links

You keep asking about the developer's site but I have stated a few times that I never get it from there.

Anyway it used to come bundled with software that you could decline to install as per this post:

A problem with "Open" menu context - affects one particular program

That was sometime last year.

Also read from Post #37 onwards here:

A problem with "Open" menu context - affects one particular program