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Spyware Masquerading as Spyware Removal Software
Cocooner writes "News.com is reporting that some of the anti-spyware/adware software out there is doing more harm than good by acting as double agents. One example is a software package named SpyBan (google cache since the original site has been removed), which happened to be hosted by download.com, accused of installing Look2Me, which monitors and reports web surfing habits. SpyBan was downloaded over 44000 times before it was pulled. How 'low' can they go?"
The problem here was this program claimed to be so amazingly user friendly that it was hard for anyone to turn down. I know a couple people that swore by it due to its ease of use. Granted that other solutions out there aren't difficult to use either, but we are talking about the masses of non-techies out there.
The person or people who provide these products are claiming they do one thing but in actuality do another.
Sue their asses into oblivion for false advertising, deceptive trade practices and any other related matters.
You as an individual could also sue them on the same grounds.
I am not a big fan of suing for the sake of suing but this stupidity and outright fraudulent practices must be crushed by all means necessary.
IANAL but I do have a legal background (and I slept at a Best Western once).
Again, just my 0.02$
DrkBr
IMHO all spyware should be treated as a virus. It has all of the same symptoms, if not more than a regular run of the mill virus. It tries to infect people by tricking them, sneaks onto a box unknowingly and sends unauthorized data. When people start thinking of spyware as a virus, it will be treated as such.
Stay tuned for new sig...
Is that so difficult for people? Man, if that is, why are they even using computers?
George Bush already has a patent on "Laws that do completely the opposite of what they claim to do," so you may run into copyright infringement issues. (Ok, flamebait, but it's true, you know it's bloody true.)
From their website:
"About SpyBan
SpyBan is a cutting edge software, which is able to detect and remove all popular forms of spyware programs including Trojans, system monitors, keyloggers and adware. You don't need to be a computer expert, or spend a lot of time learning how to use it. SpyBan is one of the most user friendly spyware protecting programs available on the market today and it is 100% FREE!"
Technology
SpyBan has very advanced algorithms, which not only can detect primitive and old spyware, but can detect new generation applications as well. SpyBan loads every time you start your Windows and appears on your taskbar next to clock. If you point your courser to the SpyBan icon and click on it, SpyBan will appear. If you click on "Scan Now" icon, SpyBan will immediately start scanning your computer's hard drive for existing spyware all available local disks.
The descriptions themselves reek of spyware.
[alk]
Spybot S&D is clean according to Ad-Aware, which is clean according to Spybot S&D, which is clean according to Ad-Aware... The more paranoid out there will probably have more more packages in the loop, but this is definately one instance where is doesn't do any harm to use multiple packages in parallel.
UNIX? They're not even circumcised! Savages!
I particularly like this bit of their page:
Need SpyBan?: Your computer and your privacy are at risk if you: - surf the internet more than 1 hour a week - share your computer with another person - make purchases online - use file-sha
hmm, that's me! sign me up! classic scamster stuff, sad that it got 44,000+ people.
This is my Sig, this is my Gun. One is for Slashdot and one is for Fun.
Most spyware is a result of the lax security of IE. Instead of installing anti-spyware programs (many of which are trojan horses for nasty malware), why not try a browser that doesn't allow the spyware on your system in the first place.
How do you know they aren't selling that info to these same companies?
'Same speed C but faster'
And I've never once posted anonymously. If you're so confident in your opinion, you might try revealing who you are. I think maybe if the people here weren't outright hostile or condescending to any woman who posts here, maybe you'd all get laid more often.
I wonder if I can get a patent on "Invention that does completely the opposite of what it claims to do"
But these programs don't do the complete opposite of what they promise.
I'm sure they do remove spyware.
I mean, I'm sure they are very careful to remove competitors' spyware.
That makes your system more private and more stable, while ensuring that they get a tighter lock on the market for the data they've purloined from spying on you.
Think of it like government: government offers to protect you those who would rob you and beat you, so long as you agree to give the government 40% of your money in the form of taxes and take th eoccasional beating from a cop. Sure, if you fail to come up with the taxes, the government will take the money and beat you, but at least you're only getting robbed and beaten by one entity.
Which entity, by virtue of having a monopoly, can specialize in giving you only the best robbings and beatings.
As, God knows, with Reichsminister Ashcroft and Admiral Poindexter, the current government is I'm sure is getting very good at doing only the best spying on you, Citizen.
Opinions on the Twiddler2 hand-held keyboard?
I *really* hope the less experienced users out there that read this, don't now become afraid of the good spyware removers. Readers here know that spybot and adaware are great, but since all the names of the other malware/trojan apps are so similar, how is joe homeowner supposed to keep them straight?
Please don't confuse "geek" with "nerd".
Your rant highlights the typical behaviors of a nerd.
A geek is very social. While a geek may have several traits of a nerd, they are not condescending or selfish. I know many geeks who have social lives. I know many nerds who do not.
I am a geek. I am not a nerd. There is a difference.
[Calling Attorney General John Ashcroft "Reichsminister Ashcroft" is t]totally uncalled for... Why is this considered acceptable behavior from grown adults? We don't throw around insults 1/10th as harsh to our co-workers and friends with any degree of sincerity, but make it a politician and an online forum and someone can get a +5 insighful for calling someone a Nazi.
Why the hate? Where is all this anger coming from?
Ashcroft has trashed a 600 years of jurisprudence by effectively abolishing habeas corpus. Right now, American citizens are sitting in prisons, not only denied their 6th Amendment right to a speedy trial, but wholly denied access to any trial, any court or any legal counsel.
Ashcroft doesn't think that is enough, and has further demanded the power without the right to revoke Americans' citizenship by his fiat, without recourse to judicial review.
Ashcroft has abrogated the rights of California, under the 10th Amendment, to make its own laws, and has insisted on prosecuting persons whose "crime "is to give marijuana to the terminally ill to ease their few remaining days of life.
Ashcroft has abrogated the rights of Oregon, by threatened Oregon doctors with the loss of licenses or even prison for following Oregon laws allowing people to die with dignity.
Ashcroft has ignored the intent of the US Congress by applying the wide-ranging powers granted under the "Patriot Act" to crimes that legislators voting for the "Patriot Act" never envisaged it would cover.
Ashcroft has perverted the considered opinions of the majority of US federal judges, by insisting on mandatory minimum sentences that even conservative Chief Justice William Rehnquist finds too Draconian, and has abused the consciences of Federal prosecutors by insisting on death-penalty sentences even when local Federal prosecutors thought that ultimate penalty unwarranted.
Ashcroft has championed secret arrests, closed trials, secret military tribunals, and even authorized the deportation of a Canadian resident, Maher Arar, to Syria, where Arar was tortured for 10 and a half months.
But you're right, at lest he's not a Nazi! Thank God Ashcroft tramples the Constitution in a three-piece suit and not a Party uniform.
Opinions on the Twiddler2 hand-held keyboard?