Go!Zilla

{{Short description|Download manager}}

{{distinguish|Godzilla|Mozilla}}

{{unreliable sources|date=November 2014}}

{{Infobox Software

| name = Go!Zilla

| logo =

| screenshot =

| caption =

| developer = Headlight Software

| latest release version = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q4039529|P348|P548=Q2804309}}

| latest release date = {{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q4039529|P348|P548=Q2804309|P577}}

| latest preview version = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q4039529|P348|P548=Q51930650}}

| latest preview date = {{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q4039529|P348|P548=Q51930650|P577}}

| operating system = Windows

| platform = PC

| genre = Download Manager

| license = Shareware

| website = {{url|http://gozilla.com/}}

}}

Go!Zilla was a proprietary download manager originally developed by Aaron Ostler in 1995, and later purchased by Radiate in 1999, for use on Windows. It is shareware and its previous ad supported version drew controversy among users and privacy advocates. Upon being acquired by Headlight Software in 2008, the ad-supported versions were discontinued and the software now offers a free limited trial. The URL is not currently associated with the company as of 2025.

Go!Zilla was one of many download managers, also called download accelerators.{{cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-2047702_ITM|title=Speed up Your Internet Connection|access-date=2008-05-21 |work=Australian PC World | date=2001-12-01|url-access=subscription }} These particular programs were especially useful when dial-up internet access was more common as it was more difficult to download data due to slow speeds and disconnections. Download accelerators allowed users to stop and resume partial downloads.{{Cite web|url=http://www.computing.co.uk/vnunet/features/2130020/supersonic-dial-web-access-part|title=Supersonic Dial-up Web Access - Part 2|access-date=2008-05-21|date=2004-04-20|author=Kyle MacRae|work=Computing}} The software also allowed people to schedule downloads for a convenient time; including while they were away from the computer{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AK&s_site=ohio&p_multi=AK&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB6D87342C17E3A&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=Go!Zilla Can Attack Task of Downloading Programs|access-date=2008-05-21|date=1999-11-01|author=Paula Schleis|work=Akron Beacon Journal}} and was credited with allowing companies to provide a parallel distribution system for their products.{{cite journal| author=Michael Brock, Andrzej Goscinski| title=A Parallel Download Protocol for Internet-based Distributed Systems| journal=Grid and Service Oriented Architecture Research Group| url=http://www.deakin.edu.au/scitech/sit/dsapp/archive/upload/20071109_214647Brock%20and%20Goscinski%20-%20PHTTP.pdf}}{{Dead link|date=December 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In July 2000 the software won PC Magazine's ZDNet's Seventh Annual Shareware Award for Best Utility and was estimated to be used by ten million people at that time.{{cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-28067988_ITM|title=ZDNet Names Radiate's Go!Zilla No. 1 Software Utility|access-date=2008-05-21|publisher=PR Newswire|date=2000-07-18}}

In January 2008, Go!Zilla was acquired by Headlight Software, and Go!Zilla 5 was the first version released with all new source code and without the bundled adware, which had caused some controversy{{Cite web|url=http://www.gozilla.com/|title=Go!Zilla 5 - A New Start|access-date=2008-05-21|publisher=Headlight Software|date=January 2008}}{{cite journal|author=Ronald L. Ropp |title=I Know What Your Browser Did Last Night |journal=GIAC Security Essentials Certification |date=February 2004 |url=http://www.giac.org/certified_professionals/practicals/gsec/3744.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621112919/http://giac.org/certified_professionals/practicals/gsec/3744.php |archive-date=2010-06-21 }} despite notifying users that adware was bundled.{{Cite web|url=http://www.zdnet.com.au/reviews/software/graphics/soa/Download-Deathmatch/0,139023432,120208124-2,00.htm|title=Download Deathmatch|access-date=2008-05-21|publisher=ZDNet|date=2001-09-25|archive-date=2012-07-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120710025022/http://www.zdnet.com/topic-reviews/|url-status=dead}}