The RadLight 3.03R5.2 player secretly uninstalls Ad-Aware!

[Kleinkramer]

From the Lavasoft Support Board:

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It has come to our attention that the RadLight 3.03R5.2 (by Radlight)
software intentionally tries to uninstall Ad-aware components from your system, without requesting your permission or knowledge.

After reports from concerned users, our tests have shown that the Radlight
software indeed checks for the default Ad-aware installation path, and then removes
all files that are not currently in use, upon its first execution.
Until now, such a malicious behaviour was commonly known for viruses and trojans.

It does not slip through Ad-watch, or hides from the Ad-aware scanner,
Radlight is not (yet) targeted by Ad-aware or Ad-watch.

It performs an silent uninstall of the Ad-aware components, including desktop shortcuts and startmenu items.

This is not a bug in the RadLight software, it is intentionally uninstalling
Ad-aware, with the only purpose to make your system attainable for further malware installation.

And if this wasn't enough, the Radlight software is bundled with WhenU's SaveNow software, a well known data mining company.
If Ad-watch is running, it will correctly prevent the installation of Savenow.
If neither Ad-aware or Ad-watch is active, they both will be uninstalled through the Radlight software upon its first execution.

A fix is in progress, and we feel its necessary to add Radlight to the AAW target list.
This is malware at it worst.

Team Lavasoft

Urizen

[Mowergun]

Tony,

The reported behavior of radlight is a virus like activity in my book, or at least a very dirty trick. This angered me so much that I went to radlight.com looking to download a copy to send to symantec. I was forwarded to CNET Download.com where I was informed that "This title is no longer available". I wonder who the genius was at radlight who thought that this was a good idea. They should have known that behavior such as described would be quickly detected and that they would be likely to suffer a backlash, and damage to their reputations.

Mowergun

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God save thee Windows users, from the fiends that plague thee thus.

Drat these computers!

[Kleinkramer]

I agree.

I posted this all over the place, because I think as many people as possible ought to be informed of these (almost?) criminal practices.

There are already lively discussions under way in the following places among others :
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/rema...ty,1~mode=flat
http://www.security-pro.co.uk/yabb/Y...num=1019507174

[kingin123]

I think that this type of behavior from software companies deserves to be brought to cause before the courts. Try to get something organized. Any way I may help, I will.

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'S good ta be da king.
-Mel Brooks

[SerialExperiments]

Just saw the same report over at Metafilter and posted here today.
http://discussions.virtualdr.com/For...ML/059843.html

Sorry Kleinkramer... didn't see this from two days ago.

There is no way this is even close to legal. I do not care what the EULA says or doesn't say.

[ylen13]

here is what he have to say

All right, guys

here I'm again. You have posted really good posts. There are intelligent reactions to my hints and I must admit that I have a bit underestimated how powerfull userbase Adaware has.

I'm sure that many of you ask, WHAT WAS THE REASON of KILLING adaware
right after each start NOT looking into default directory (like some people think)
but using the uninstall registry keys and uninstaller LOG file
(this is a hint for adaware developers to make it invisible) ?

Actually, the point was NOT to destroy the adaware . This is almost impossible.
BUT TO SHOW WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF THE PROGRAMS START UNINSTALLING EACHOTHER.
As I believe that some of the "spyware" are just reguler legal programs I really
feel for their authors to see how their program is being uninstalled. I WANTED ADAWARE
TO SEE IT TOO and to revalue their pose to their "enemies". I understand that
ads brought by some programs aren't doing the clean job and don't have
approprietary uninstalling possibilites and they NEED TO BE REMOVED BY THE HARDEST
WAY, but NOT all of them are such rude. When removing legal software (as you say now
I remove adaware), having all what polite software should have (polite installer, EULA, Uninstaller and full description),
it may be really VERY UNPLEASANT.

They put me on the MOST WANTED list ? Yes, that's what I expected. It is natural
and if they didn't do that it would look STRANGE, wouldn't it.

They removed me from CNet ? Oh yes, again, I expected problems but you all must
admit that adaware is a "remover" too.

They wanted to send me to all AntiVirus companies ? Heh, detecting a "virus"
having EXEPath in regisry and no other files copied in any directory
would be pretty easy, don't you think ?

You all are angry on me ? Yes, I expected it. But if I didn't do this and only
started to talk about my opinions I would be just SOME ANOTHER GUY SAYING SOME
BULL**** and ignored (my life-experience with many people).
Generaly the people must see the acts first and then they will PERHAPS
start thinking more.

The non-adaware-killing RadLight was compiled 5 seconds after the adaware-killing
version. I thought that people would find it out immedieately but it took
more than a week until they noticed. It will be released immediately and no more software-removing actions will be taken. I can

only hope that Lavasoft will think about the reasons why this happened.

I know i will loose many of users who will ignore my player but It will
at least solve my server problems and I may rest for a while.

I can apologize now

"
I apologize to LavaSoft for all inconviences that happened by my RadLight
software when removing the ADAWARE application silently and without
users request.

I apologize to all RadLight users who may be disappointed or hurt by these
events.

I apologize to all ADAWARE users whose adaware was removed when launched RadLight.
"

Your indignation is an evidence for me that I succeeded and now,
at least the people who read messages on this forum understand how does
it feel when YOUR SOFTWARE is being removed.

With friendly regards,

Igor "RadScorpion" Janos

[Ridgerunr]

A classic example of "backstepping" if i ever read one!

IMHO,he'd have been better off just saying:"I screwed-up,please forgive me" and let it go at that...

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Badges? We don'need no Steenkin'badges!!

[k4]

Quote" They removed me from CNet ? Oh yes, again, I expected problems but you all must
admit that adaware is a "remover" too. " end quote.

But adaware asks you whether or not you want to remove the files. Rad light didn't.



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The omnibus onion

[JoJo Gunn]

Typical garbage. They get caught, blast everyone for catching them, and then "apologize".

Such sincerity. I'm impressed.

By the way, you have a link to that?


Another edit-and just what about the people who bought the AdAware Plus? Some sewerware goes and removes software you paid for?!?

[This message has been edited by JoJo Gunn (edited 04-26-2002).]

[Prophet]

RADLIGHT stinks. I 1st tried it last Fall when I was looking for a program to play some DIvX's produced in Hash's Animation Master.
It's not the only program out there that sucks. There's alot more crapware around than when I 1st started on the Net.

"Everybody uses Windows, so it must be good".

And McDonald's has sold billions of ****ty little cardboard burgers too. Try again.



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PROPHET of the POD, c.1998
www.NUTBURGER.com

[ylen13]

don't have the link to it anymore.The owner took the main page down it seems.