Software publishers are permitted to distribute their titles via CNET's Upload.com site for free, or for a fee structure that offers enhancements.

According to Sean Murphy, then a General Manager at CNet, "Spigot continues to be a great partner to Download.com, sharing our desire to balance customer experience with revenue.

"[2] In August 2011, Download.com introduced an installation manager called CNET TechTracker for delivering many of the software titles from its catalog.

[4][5][6] CNET admitted in their download FAQ that "a small number of security publishers have flagged the Installer as adware or a potentially unwanted application".

[7] In December 2011, Gordon Lyon, writing under his pseudonym Fyodor wrote of his strong dislike of the installation manager and the bundled software.