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Here is a good analysis by a music lawyer of how the royalties get whittled down to zero. Here is a detailed article about how it works. Here is the detailed Courtney Love presentation. Some more information on how it works. Here is a report by the Recording Artists' Coalition.

I think I speak for the vast majority here when I say this.

http://simplythebest.net/sounds/WAV/WAV_files/misc ellaneous_WAV_files/hallelujah.wavHALLELUJAH!

Better examples:

http://simplythebest.net/scripts/DHTML_scripts/dht ml_script_34.html
http://simplythebest.net/scripts/DHTML_scripts/dht ml_script_48.html
http://www.javascriptkit.com/script/script2/dhtmlc ombo.shtml

Better examples:

http://simplythebest.net/scripts/DHTML_scripts/dht ml_script_34.html
http://simplythebest.net/scripts/DHTML_scripts/dht ml_script_48.html
http://www.javascriptkit.com/script/script2/dhtmlc ombo.shtml

ISTbar's "infection vector" is ActiveX.

Probably didn't come through Firefox.

Third Party Advertising
The ads appearing on the Exeem.com Web site and within eXeem(TM) application are delivered by our web advertising partner, Cydoor. Information about users of eXeem(TM) and Exeem.com, such as the number of times they have viewed an ad (but not user name, address, or other personal information), is used to serve ads to users. If you would like more information about Cydoor, please visit: http://www.cydoor.com/Cydoor/Company/CompanyPrivac y.htm

Ads that might appear outside Exeem.com and eXeem(TM) application are Opt-out ads, that you have a chance to uninstall. Outside Exeem.com and eXeem(TM) application is eXeem's Toolbar LookSmart.

Spyware: Cydoor

NUISANCE LEVEL *****
THREAT LEVEL *****

Cydoor

This technology can be activated both in online and offline modes. The technology's architecture can be integrated into any software program. Cydoor can update or rotate banner ads not only when users are online, but also when they are offline. Upon installation of a software application integrated with their advertising technology, Cydoor Technologies sets a numerical identifier on your computer.

The following files are used:

In C:\Windows\System: cd_clint.dll, cd_gif.dll, cd_swf.dll and cd_load.exe.

Removal:

You can delete the C:\Windows\System\Adcache directory. Then remove all instances from the Registry. Look in HKLM\Software, HKCU\Software. Look also for entries in HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Run and in HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Shareddlls.

If you wish to KaZaa without the Cydoor spyware, copy the cd_clint.dll, remove the Cydoor agents with a spyware cleaner, and place the cd_clint.dll back in the Windows System folder.

The imilly site is just a shill for Alexa. Just check out the class action lawsuit (on Alexa's own site) as well as http://simplythebest.net/info/spyware/alexa_spywar e.html, http://www.ntcompatible.com/story6200.html, and http://www.barbarabrabec.com/homebiz/computer_Alex a_IE_crashproblem.htm to name a few. Face it: Alexa has a very long and ugly history of spyware.

Dear CharlesDonHall: THINK! Why do you think an outfit such as Alexa provides a built-in web search? To give you something with no strings attached? To say "sorry about all that spyware in the past, see we are nice folks now". No they setup yet another service to SPY ON YOU!

And microsoft lets them ... not because people were urging microsoft to provide them with yet another Alexa experience. The fact that Microsoft gives you a builtin "feature" to download the Alexa toolbar just shows where their prioritie$ lie.

Harmless indeed!

This is because Microsoft allows spyware to be installed as part of its critical updates!

Last month I watched as a friend:

1. removed his machine form the network
2. installed Windows 2000 on a new box from CDs
3. installed both spybot and AdAware 6.0 pro (anti-spyware tools).
4. ran a scan of the system (no spyware problems were found)
5. plugged in his machine behind a firewall
6. accessed (via IE) the Microsoft OS updates and office 2000 updates sites
7. downloaded the service packs and critical updates
8. disconnected his system from the network
9. installed the service packs and critical updates
10. Reran the spyware scan
11. looped back to step 5 until there were no more service packs and critical updates to install in step 6/7

During the last update and spyware scan cycle, AdAware discovered a spyware issue in the registry!

FYI: The spyware entry came into by friends system as a result of one of these Microsoft critical updates:

• Office 2000 Service Pack 3 - English version
• Outlook 2000 SR-1 View Control Security Update
• Office 2000 Security Update: UA Control Vulnerability
• Office 2000 Security Patch: KB822035
• Word 2000 Security Patch: KB830347
• Word 2000 Security Patch: KB824936
• Excel 2000 Security Patch: KB830349
• Outlook 2000 Update: December 18, 2002 - English version
• Outlook 2000 Collaboration Data Objects (CDO) Update: Security - English version
• Microsoft Office 2000/Windows 2000 Registry Repair Utility - English version
• Office 2000 WordPerfect 5.x Converter Security Patch: KB824993 - English version
• Access 2000 Snapshot Viewer Security Patch: KB826292 - English version
• Security Update for Office 2000: WordPerfect 5.x Converter (KB873380) - English version
• Microsoft GDI+ Detection Tool (KB873374)
• Security Update for Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 (KB833989)

AdAware discovered:

ArchiveData(auto-quarantine- 20-09-2004 10-33-41.bckp)
ALEXA
obj[0]=RegKey : SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Extensions\{c95fe080-8f5d-11d2-a20b-00aa0 03c157a}

For more info on ALEXA spyware see:

• http://www.itellu.com/spyware_alexa.htm
• http://simplythebest.net/info/spyware/alexa_spywar e.html

This is not the 1st time that I have seen somebody install a Microsoft critical update and receive spyware. No wonder Gates is not interested in building anti-spyware into his products!

These days I think the virus writers are just people who assemble a virus by collecting scripts and code from the Internet. Also the viruses they come up with do very little or no actual damage to the host system, instead they just "Propagate". If you are infected, delete a few files, remove a couple of registry entries and thats it. It has been a long time since I saw a virus with some real payload.

Virus writers used to be much more creative back in the DOS days. If you are somewhat older you might remember Stoned, Die-Hard, Natas, One-half, etc. Each had its nasty little payload, stealth techniques and difficult to disinfect.