Getting Started

The quickest and easiest way to get started is to watch the tutorial which shows all of the features and how to use them.

Frequently Asked Questions

When I click on the launch button, it doesn't work. Whats wrong?

This is more than likely because a recent version of java is not installed. Go to Sun's Java Website and download the latest version.

Why do I get a warning "The application's digital signature cannot be verified" when I click on launch the first time?

You will see this box the first time you load Bitvo. This has to do with Java's security sandbox, which is a good thing for security but can be a nuisance the first time it's run. Bitvo requires access outside of the sandbox to write media files to your hardrive under the Desktop/Bitvo directory. To allow it to function, click on the "Always trust content from this publisher." button.

Does it contain any malware/spyware/keyloggers/viruses/trojans?

No. In fact, one of the main purposes of bitvo is to protect from malware and other types of nefarious software. Bitvo is written 100% in java which is arguable the current most secure language. The lack of spyware can be verified by running a tool like the most excellent and free Wireshark.

Why doesn't it work on some sites?

There are some sites which Bitvo cannot crawl. Certain formats such as flash (eg. youtube.com) are not downloadable. Give us feedback at support@bitvo.com if you'd like us to work on adding your site.

How does it do what it does?

Bitvo “crawls the primary site looking for media of interest". The software analyzes the media based on various attributes and only downloads the images and videos that meet the specific criteria. Bitvo then finds any links on the site and follows those links to find more media.

How can I use it?

New ways to use Bitvo are discovered on a daily basis. Visit our Blog site to see the latest input from our users: Bitblog

Can I get adware, malware, etc when using it?

Since Bitvo does not use a browser the potential for dangerous content is greatly reduced, but not totally eliminated.

Does it maintain information about me or my computer?

No, Bitvo loads to your computer and communicates with the Bitvo website to check for updates.

Can the images I download be retrieved after I use the “shred” function?

No, see File Wiping on Wikipedia.

It knows not to redownload files that have already been downloaded. Does that mean there is a record of the files that I have downloaded?

If the Redownload Media option is disabled in the control panel, a hash of the downloaded urls is saved to make sure it's not downloaded again in the future. These hahses are just numbers and can not be converted back into the site urls that were downloaded.

How can I view the videos in my it folder?

There are many options. Windows media player is the most common and will allow you to view the videos. Just start the first video in the folder and media player will play all of the videos sequentially.