TheWickerMan
join:2002-04-09
Enola, PA
1 edit | reply to pianotech
Re: Microsoft is in the pro-spyware business
said by pianotech  : You could not be more incorrect. Spyware exists because USERS don't look at what they're installing or what they're agreeing to when they accept a license. Sometimes, but not always. I've read numerous accounts of "drive-by downloads", where the junk was installed without the user even knowing it. I have experienced this myself one time. It was on one of those "free screensavers" sites. I clicked on the download link, and it started a "download manager." This raised a big red flag with me, so I ran Adaware after it was done. The "download manager" installed Comet Cursor. There were around 100 entries for it.
Another time, I was installing a game for my son. Toward the end of the install, it asked me if I wanted to install this extra component. They were somewhat vage about what it did, I didn't like having extra junk on my machine, and I had some privacy concerns about it, so I clicked "no." Interestingly enough, after I rebooted, my firewall caught something new trying to access the internet. It was the very same software I had told it *not* to install.
Even if you are asked if you want to install it, its intentions and terms of service are often vague. And they often make it difficult, if not impossible, to uninstall by regular means. I came across this really nasty one called Virtual Bouncer, on a machine that someone gave me to fix. Removed it thru "Add/remove programs", and it came right back. People who write this junk should be shot. |
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DaveNJ
No Fear
join:1999-09-01
New Jersey | reply to footballdude
ROFL |
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footballdude
Premium
join:2002-08-13
Imperial, MO
| reply to jazzy112
said by jazzy112 :Actually I recently installed weatherbug and I was able to get away with not installing the crapware with it. I confirmed afterwards by running spybot and ad-aware. You just have to pay attention on that one. The biggest propogation of spyware is a result of that massive "free lunch" crowd some may call Republicans  They want clean roads but don't want to pay the taxes to keep the roads clean. And that's so different from you wanting Weatherbug and not wanting to pay for it by getting their ads? |
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jazzy112
join:2003-12-05
Fargo, ND
| reply to dave
Actually I recently installed weatherbug and I was able to get away with not installing the crapware with it. I confirmed afterwards by running spybot and ad-aware. You just have to pay attention on that one.
The biggest propogation of spyware is a result of that massive "free lunch" crowd some may call Republicans They want clean roads but don't want to pay the taxes to keep the roads clean. I could go on and on with analogies but one should get my point across.
What I tell my customers is, "If it seems to good to be free, don't download it" Or "If you want a program that offers both free and for pay downloads....PAY FOR IT" For the most part their systems stay pretty clean and I don't have to worry about them calling me and telling me that the "internet is slow" |
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cybrdude
join:2003-08-16
| reply to pianotech
And more and more spyware is being spread by TROJANS. My laptop at work became infected SEVERAL TIMES, Norton's new Corporate Anti-Virus finally found the viruses that are classified as a "download trojans". Also, much Spyware is spread by simply clicking on a link, the malicious code acts just like normal HTML data and is downloaded to the system. If you think Firefox will not be affected in the future, you are mistaken. As their user bases increases, these virus writers and Spyware/Adware coders will change gears and adapt.
Kudos to MS for this SW. It has found spyware on my system that Adware 6.0 personal, Spybot, Norton, and others have missed. For the last couple of months I was averaging 2 to 4 cookies a week on my home system (no other files or adware/Spyware), then the MS beta found 200 entries for 9 apps on my system.
Late... |
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dave
Premium,MVM
join:2000-05-04
not in ohio
 ·Verizon Online DSL
 ·Verizon FIOS
| reply to nwrickert
As far as I can tell, 'weatherbug' is something that is willingly installed by users. It is thus not a matter of IE being 'insecure' or not. Users install weatherbug because they want to.
(This is not a defence of weatherbug. It's obviously adware. Nevertheless, it appears that it only gets on your system if you ask to install it. Can't read/won't read? Your problem.) |
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pianotech
Pianotech
Premium
join:2002-12-30
New Castle, PA
| reply to nwrickert
said by nwrickert :Spyware exists mainly because insecure microsoft software makes it possible. Microsoft could stop spyware cold by changing IE design. It sure seems like a scam for microsoft to be the enabler of spyware, and then to plan selling anti-spyware programs. You could not be more incorrect. Spyware exists because USERS don't look at what they're installing or what they're agreeing to when they accept a license.
Some things just have to be blamed on no one but the user, and this is one of them. |
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electric_dsl
join:2004-07-20
Pickering, ON | reply to nwrickert
More spyware comes from user initiated installs like kazaa, web bug etc. as well P2P downloads.
IE "flaws" are the minority here. Even if they fixed IE people would still be getting these programs on their PC. |
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a
@qwest.net | reply to nwrickert
it's not the software that is insecure, it's the users. |
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Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02 | reply to nwrickert
As Ironic as AOL claiming they fight adware by partnering with Aluria.
The whole sector is ridiculously incestuous. |
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nwrickert
sand groper
Premium,MVM
join:2004-09-04
Geneva, IL
·AT&T U-Verse
·AT&T Midwest
| Spyware exists mainly because insecure microsoft software makes it possible. Microsoft could stop spyware cold by changing IE design.
It sure seems like a scam for microsoft to be the enabler of spyware, and then to plan selling anti-spyware programs. |
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