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Which Adware and Spyware are the Most Insidious?

Posted by Cliff on from the sneaking-on-to-a-machine-near-you dept.

the_dreadnought asks: "I was just asked today which adware and spyware are the most insidious by an acquaintance. He asked me if this stuff was really legal, or was it just not important enough for law enforcement to deal with? I know the porn stuff (not from experience,,,ok, from experience) that dials out to foreign countries is one of the more extreme examples, and Gator is well known, but if Slashdot readers could describe what adware and spyware they think is the sneakiest I would appreciate it. Also, any thoughts on whether some of this stuff is even legal, as it is almost certainly not ethical."

7 of 840 comments (clear)

  1. I would not know by the_2nd_coming · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    I runSecure OSs like OS X and Linux

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    I am the Alpha and the Omega-3
  2. It's not spyware, but adware counts as well by yerricde · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    the most evil form of spyware I am personally aware of is the infamous insidious Gator.

    Gator is adware, and it may be evil adware according to some users, but but it's not spyware.

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    Will I retire or break 10K?
  3. Re:a musical analogy by Canadian_Daemon · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    said creed to his moderators:
    Mod me offtopic

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    This sig is definitive. Reality is frequently inaccurate.
  4. Re:One word...GATOR by puppetman · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Gator is only bad because it is ubiquitous.

    I figure just about anything I download that is a free-utility is spyware. Even the Google search bar will send anonymous databack (but they ask you openly, and it's easy to turn off).

    I had one once that took over my computer desktop and start-bar; the sad ending was a corrupted Windows OS that required a re-installation.

  5. You know what you are? by Raunch · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    A playa hater.

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    George II -- Spreading Freedom and American values, one bomb at a time.
  6. Re:Pre-Installed Dell Software by idsofmarch · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit! Now I have to wait 14 seconds before I can hit submit. Eat me! 'Slow down cowboy,' JFC!

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    Anyone who whines about being modded down should be.
  7. Re:One word...GATOR by jontsok · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    your signature is badly misquoted from douglas adams

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    ook ook