Deceptive, Misleading, Delusive, Fallacious ... software

Sources,

• MSNBC: http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4243032/
  Anti-spyware vendors come under fire
  Interest group complains about 'deceptive' marketing
  By John Borland
  Updated: 11:58 AM PT Feb. 11, 2004
  
  and
  
• ZDNET UK: http://news.zdnet.co.uk/business/0,3...9146150,00.htm
  Anti-spyware 'deceiving consumers'
  John Borland
  CNET News.com
  February 12, 2004, 12:20 GMT

"Anti-Spyware" products that actually install software widely viewed as spyware:

• Mail Wiper's Spy Wiper and Seismic
• Trek8's Spyware Nuker
• Enigma Software Group's SpyHunter
• Spyban / Look2Me (defunct)

Other programs that present the potential for serious system performance degradation, invasion of privacy and system crashes include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Alexa
• Any BuySmarter Product
• BDE/Brilliant Digital
• BargainBuddy
• ClientMan
• ComputerShield
• CoolWebSearch (Some variants use HOSTS file to block access to anti-Adware/Spyware sites)
• Cydoor
• DownloadWare
• Grokster
• HackerSmacker
• IGetNet
• IMesh
• InternetAntispy
• KazaaPlatinum
• Kazanon
• Lop
• MP3U
• MediaUpdate
• nCase
• Newnet
• PC ToolWorks 2003
• Popupguard
• RapidBlaster
• S Scanner
• SaveNow
• SpyDeleter
• SpyHunter
• SpyKiller Pro
• SpyWiper (MailWiper, Inc)
• VirusGuard
• Vloading
• webHancer
• Windows Antivirus 2004
• Xupiter Toolbar
  
• More: http://www.spywareguide.com/spywarelist.html http://www.allentech.net/parasite/FavoriteMan.html

To educate yourself about spyware and adware, the methods of how it finds it's way onto your computer, and helpful suggestions on removing it, set aside a few minutes and read this detailed page: http://www.womelsdorf.com/TIPS/adspyware.html

Anyone wishing to file a formal complaint may do so at https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.s..._ORG_CODE=PU01

IMHO,this definitely needs to be a 'sticky'!
Thanks Vernon :)

No no, Thank You! :D

Lots of good info, Vernon. Definately rates a sticky and well worth passing along to non-members! :)

Stickified. Glad to see action is being taken.

It makes me somewhat question their guidelines if Alexa is included in that. There is a difference between purposefully deceiving people into thinking your spyware is a spy hunter and sending information on the sites you visit for the sake of gathering information on the sites people visit. If there is a reason Alexa is there besides the fact that their purpose of existence is to gather and disseminate such information, I'd be interested to know. I notice Yahoo, Google, and Dictionary.com, who also distribute similar toolbars, aren't on the list so I figure it's not a performance issue.

IMO,the Alexa thing is a false/positive in a way. I think M$ felt it to be a helper when they included it with IE. But i've also heard it can be compromised to include spyware sites in it's list. This site doesn't think it's a baddie as such, but it 'does' tell you how to remove it(other than with SpyBot or Ad Aware):
http://www.felgall.com/brsie9.htm

Hi,

Another great post!! yes it should be a sticky...

but it's got me to thinking!!! Over last couple of months I've noticed such a huge increase in posts concerning spyware and all sort of other malicious activities.. (yes I know it been going on for years, but its really starting to show now)...

Isn't it about time that Isp's tackled this issue? Or isn't it about time that Governments started introducing Guidelines/legislation to impose the ISP's partial responsibility to tackle these issues?

I'm not going as far as saying the isp's should restrict access to dubious sites or try to block downloads of suspicious software...

I would like to see ISP's acting as Guardians of the internet, educating new and experienced users of the "great WWW" to the pitfalls as well as the advantages of surfing...

Perhaps I am being Naive, but why do the fixes and cautionary tales have to be distributed via forums like vdr.... dont get me wrong.. I love vdr and the like, but I'd rather be discussing the differences in software and hardware as to achieve my goals rather than pointing people to spyware-this and anti-hack that!!!

I'm feeling rather disillusioned with this whole internet thing at the moment .....:(

Sure I'll get over it tho';

Phil

Great info Vernon! The Spyware and Adware issues have gotten to be a huge pain in the bass. Thanks for the info.

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Originally posted by techallenged
Isn't it about time that Isp's tackled this issue? Or isn't it about time that Governments started introducing Guidelines/legislation to impose the ISP's partial responsibility to tackle these issues?

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What they need to do is support existing business legislation as it applies to internet-based companies. The major blockade to this has been law enforcement's ignorance of computer and internet technology - it's constantly improving, but it's been a long, slow haul.

I wonder if you meant Web hosts rather than ISPs. An ISP is the ability to access information, a Web host is what serves up the "information" (and, sometimes, the code that alters your computers). Holding hosts responsible for their users' content is an ongoing issue.

Quote:

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I would like to see ISP's acting as Guardians of the internet, educating new and experienced users of the "great WWW" to the pitfalls as well as the advantages of surfing...

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Well, AOL has always tried to do that - but frankly, they and other ISPs are lucky to still be in business, let alone worry about being their users' babysitters. Hence we have NetNanny, Cybersitter, and other censorware - and customizable settings on what you'd like to filter on email and the web.

Quote:

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Perhaps I am being Naive, but why do the fixes and cautionary tales have to be distributed via forums like vdr.... dont get me wrong.. I love vdr and the like, but I'd rather be discussing the differences in software and hardware as to achieve my goals rather than pointing people to spyware-this and anti-hack that!!!

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That's why we have lots of forums here - you can talk about what you like :)

Quote:

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I'm feeling rather disillusioned with this whole internet thing at the moment .....:(

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The internet is a digital reflection of the whole world, and the same rules apply.

Spybot, Avast and Adaware. Are any of those deceptive?

THANK YOU, VERNON!:D :D :D

I've used this to file complaints against VirusGuard & Lycos for driving me crazy for the past few days (see "Caught Some Kind Of Worm?" :mad: ). Now I can go after those other shmucks, too!

You guys are really great! (So much to learn, so little time...*sigh*)

Evelyn

I bought a copy of PC TOOLS 2003 Professional Version for about $10 on the Internet. The package looks like it is from a company CD Micro. I have not installed it because I was waiting for my Norton license to expire. Is this the same program you listed? Did I waste my $10 and is it going to screw up my computer? Thanks.

Quote:

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Originally posted by jleekc
I bought a copy of PC TOOLS 2003 Professional Version for about $10 on the Internet. The package looks like it is from a company CD Micro. I have not installed it because I was waiting for my Norton license to expire. Is this the same program you listed? Did I waste my $10 and is it going to screw up my computer? Thanks.

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I tried to find information on "PC Tools," which led me to www.pc-tools.net - is this the same organization? Then searching for CD Micro brought me to this page - http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/s...ml?jst=s_rs_hl

It doesn't look like the same people, at least not when I skim it. If you have any other information from your order, I'd be glad to help you find info on the company :)

Please add Xoft to this list.

See this thread for more info.

Deceptive, Misleading, Delusive, Fallacious

I got the MS Security Update disc today (dated February '04).

I'd like to know why I "have" to have IE6 and OE6 and Media Player 9 and DirectX 9.

Someone tell me how I'll explain to the Mom's and Pop's running '98 that they needed the updates for security, and now their machines crash all the time from extraneous and completely unnecessary "upgrades" foisted on them.

(For those who don't know, the disc has a control that checks to see what version of IE, OE, etc, and throws in the latest and greatest version, whether you need it or not. There's no dialogs giving you any choice in the matter. Hey, all those little old ladies who log onto the AARP aren't typically known for being gamers, but they just gotta have the latest DirectX, ain't that right? :rolleyes: ).

Not everyone knows how to explore the disc and find what they need in the appropriate folders, nor do they have a handy neighborhood geek at the ready.

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Originally posted by JoJo Gunn
Deceptive, Misleading, Delusive, Fallacious

I'd like to know why I "have" to have IE6 and OE6 and Media Player 9 and DirectX 9. (

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Because Micro$oft says so. Resistance is futile, you will be assimilated...

http://www.funkypages.com/gates_borg/gates_borg.jpg

Lol! :p

I didnt see anything for gator and the XXX toolbar, those are evil b@stards...

Quote:

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Originally posted by JoJo Gunn
Deceptive, Misleading, Delusive, Fallacious

I got the MS Security Update disc today (dated February '04).

Not everyone knows how to explore the disc and find what they need in the appropriate folders, nor do they have a handy neighborhood geek at the ready.

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JoJo Gunn, how would I....explore the disc?....can I install only what I want, or is that not at all possible?

I received them but not opened yet. My experience with M$ has been to update to a point and when the update messed me up I'd stop and undo. Consequently I've had no problems, and probably more secure than most......I got them as I thought it would be prudent....just my little story....:D

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Originally posted by POPPY4
JoJo Gunn, how would I....explore the disc?....can I install only what I want, or is that not at all possible?

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You explore it by right-clicking on the disk drive in My Computer and select.. Explore. Deceptively simple, no? :)

I haven't got the disk, but I would guess that, as with all InstallShield/Windows Installer installations, you can choose what you'd like to install.

Hello, Poppy. I wish it was very easy to explain, but it's something you have to be careful with and be patient.

I see on your signature you're using '98 and IE5.

If the disc auto-started just cancel it out. On the desktop open "My Computer" and there you'll have the CD icon. Right click on it and choose "Explore". There's a folder marked "Content". Keep going into Content>Win9x>Win98. There you'll see 2 folders, one marked "docs" (documentation) and one marked "updates", which has the actual updates in them. In the docs folder you'll see a web page icon marked "filelist9x". That will give you a brief description and the "K" number, and you'll usually find the appropriate update in the other folder.

Note that updates for ME are on the list, so you'll have to go through it methodically to choose what you want. And not every update has a number, such as the one marked "TelnetUp", which is this:


Security Update (Windows 98/SE) (KB240163)
Posted Date: September 9, 1999
Download size: 146 KB
Microsoft has released a patch that eliminates a vulnerability in the Telnet client that ships as part of Microsoft® Windows® 95 and 98. The vulnerability could allow arbitrary code to be executed on the user's computer. Read More online.

You'll see quite a few without a K in front of it, but I think most of them are what MS used to call "Q" numbers. Put a Q in front of the number and do a Google search and you should find the info on it.

If you feel satisfied knowing what the update is, all you need do is double click on any of them. They're all self executables, that'll ask you the usual about do you want to install, accept the license, then do you want to restart now, etc.

I don't know about XP, and assume it works for '98, but on my ME machine, getting the right updates online after having it scanned leaves those installed updates in the Temporary Internet Files cache. Grab 'em all right after a fresh reinstall of the OS and save them, and keep collecting them after each update is issued.

Thought you were going to lambast Microsoft going by the title Vernon :D :D

Thanks VerLux and JoJo Gunn......I may have time this weekend to wander thru the discs......for me it will be an adventure.....will let you know if I meet the 'mad-hatter'.

I was recently hacked so I went to the Microsoft site and upgraded to IE 6 and installed all the service packs / patches and did all the Windows 98Se critical updates -

I never had a prob. with the IE 5.5 , but it looked like the SP was not avail after Dec. 03 or that there might be a hassle installing the patches so that is why I upgraded .

It looked like it was going to automatically update the Outlook Express, which is not my default mail program and my WMP .

I had a Reg. change recently to my WMP so I had spybot correct that - think that was one of the multiple hacks I had .
Anyway, the IE 6 and updates did not update my WMP _ same old version.
Now , when I go to amazon,etc. to listen to music clips , I am getting a message saying I need to upgrade my WMP to current version. Zone Alarm asks me if I want to open the WMP because it is a changed progrm ( I guess either because of the IE 6 upgrade and.or the repaired Reg change ) .

Do you think my PC would crash if I upgraded to WMP 9 for 98 ?
Or is it still possible that this is a source of the hacker being able to access my computer and if I upgrade from MS , if it is indeed hacked, will that solve the issue ?

Thanks for the advice .

I've heard a lot of people are having trouble with WMP9. And I also here there is no uninstall for it. And the only way to gt rid of it once its installed is a complete system restore. It seems people having trouble with WMP 9 are being encouraged to just go back to WMP 7.1.


I also see a LOT of people having trouble with IE 6. I've seen quite a few just go back to 5.5

But this is just the word, for you to consider. :)

So far , no obvious problems with IE 6 .

I have VErsion 6 of WMP - where can I DL Version 7??
I thought I heard of people having problems with Version 9 , too ,esp. since I am running 98SE and have no interest in XP at this point .

http://oldversion.com/ 9MB

This looks like a great site ! I will bookmark it and give it a try .

I would recommend sticking with version 6.

I saw there was one comment about WMP9. I recently installed and much to my surprise, Spybot identified a couple of components as spyware. How valid that diagnosis is I don't know.

I don't have to consider the issue because I had the ridiculous proxy server fault and my copy is now in the Big Recycle Bin in the Sky.

http://pcpitstop.ibforums.com/axslin...iles/bogus.htm

Another list of Bogus Spyware Removal Tools.

***Edited by Moderator*** Removed for content and to comply with our AUP photolady


Oh, man, I hate this one. Nothing but porno... (kinda ironic naming...)