Editing FileZilla (section)

===Bundled adware issues===
{{Update|section|date=July 2021|reason=See https://www.howtogeek.com/218764/}}
In 2013 the project's hosting site, SourceForge.net, provided the main download of FileZilla with a [[Download manager|download wrapper]], "offering" [[Adware|additional]] software for the user to install. Numerous users reported that some of the adware installed without consent, despite declining all install requests, or used deception to obtain the user's "acceptance" to install. Among the reported effects are: web browser being [[Browser hijacking|hijacked]], with content, start page and search engines being forcibly changed; popup windows; privacy or [[Spyware|spying]] issues; and sudden shutdown and restart events possibly leading to loss of current work. Some of the adware was reported to resist removal or restoration of previous settings, or were said to reinstall after a supposed removal. Also, users reported adware programs to download and install more unwanted software, some causing alerts by security suites, for being malware.<ref name="Brinkmann" />

The FileZilla webpage offers additional download options without adware installs, but the link to the adware download appears as the primary link, highlighted and marked as "recommended".<ref name="Brinkmann" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://blog.emsisoft.com/en/12678/mind-the-pup-top-download-portals-to-avoid/|title=Mind the PUP: Top download portals to avoid - Emsisoft - Security Blog|website=blog.emsisoft.com|date=11 March 2015|access-date=8 June 2018}}</ref>

As of 2016, FileZilla displays ads (called sponsored updates) when starting the application. These ads appear as part of the "Check for updates" dialog.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://filezilla-project.org/sponsored_updates.php|title=FileZilla - Sponsored Updates|work=filezilla-project.org|access-date=12 September 2016}}</ref>

In 2018, a further controversy about FileZilla's use of a bundled adware installer caused concern.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/filezillas-use-of-bundled-offers-sparks-outrage-from-users/|title=FileZilla's Use of Bundled Offers Sparks Outrage From Users
|work=.bleepingcomputer.com |access-date=6 January 2019}}</ref>