Mission Statement

CNET Download.com equips our users with the digital expertise that brings technology to life. Our site is a trusted and secure environment where users can learn about downloadable content that might enhance their lives. Our goal is to create the most up-to-date, easy-to-use, and exceptional downloading experience on the Web.

We endeavor to maintain a trusted, safe, and secure Internet experience. CNET Download.com is more than simply a directory of files--our editors and staff use downloadable content in our daily lives, and we understand the need for a Web site that accurately and independently presents detailed information, editorial opinions, industry expertise, and media content. In that spirit, we are constantly working to earn our users' trust.

CNET Download.com offers expert editorial guidance on the downloadable content in our library that is timely, relevant, and credible. We provide our users with as much reliable information as possible about important new releases and updates, and as soon as we have it. Our editors provide unbiased reviews and ratings for thousands of products, and they work to deliver the most important and relevant information to our users in a compelling and dynamic way. We are committed to maintaining editorial coverage that is unbiased, accurate, and untouched by the influence of paid sponsors.

Principles of Quality

We test all software products submitted to us against a comprehensive set of criteria. In addition to screening for common viruses and spyware, we also look for other threats that might interfere with our users' security, privacy, and control. We consider publisher Web sites, publisher conduct, and our own experience with a particular product.

Given the rapid advances in technology and user control, we are here to demystify what may seem to be a confusing array of downloadable content. We try to explain technical requirements, legal issues, and performance standards in a manner that is clear and concise. In order to maintain the quality of our download library, we may decline to list software with stability problems, offensive content, or general quality issues as determined by our editors.

We believe our users should be able to easily access and use the downloadable content listed on CNET Download.com. We will provide direct download links whenever possible and may reject products that lack them. All acceptable products on the site must provide a minimum of features and functionality. In the case of software submissions, we do not allow passive demos, such as movies or presentations.

The integrity of our data is paramount to our business. We make every effort to ensure product information, download counts, user opinions, and all other data displayed on our sites are true and accurate. As part of that effort, we maintain a number of rules and best practices for publishers and end-users that are designed to guarantee the integrity of the library.

We are a customer-focused organization, and we believe our mission is dependent upon our partners' embrace of our principles. We expect third parties who submit material to our sites will comply with our policies, and we encourage all partners to remember our values as they do business with us. Our goal is to promote an environment of fair business practice, adherence to service level agreements, and mutual respect.