Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Buddylinks Stinks

Posted by timothy on from the hey-scummy dept.

Omie TheNull writes "After recieving several messages over AIM with the content: "check this out... http://www.wgutv.com/osama_capture.php?HlvU", I went to the page and discovered that it is sponsored by a site called "BuddyLinks." Their website is at http://www.buddylinks.net and they claim that they are NOT a virus. However, when you visit their links and install their "player" it seems that you are also installing software that takes control of your AIM buddy list and sends advertisments to those on your buddy list. The advertisements are obviously designed to look like innocent messages from your buddies asking you to check out certain links. Very scummy, indeed."

8 of 63 comments (clear)

  1. just take look at the page. by gl4ss · · Score: 4, Funny

    it says there very clearly that "soon your instant messaging software will start sending your friends funny news messages like this".

    tell your friend that he is an asshole if he uses this.

    "3. Open the prize - your friends will love the prize they receive in their funny news message. it might be a game or a funny flash cartoon"

    yeah i'd really love that.

    4. no need to send any new messages when everybodys ignoring you.

    --
    world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
    1. Re:just take look at the page. by jpsowin · · Score: 2, Funny

      Looks like you took care of that by giving them a good slashdotting. Good work!

  2. Vey Scummy Indeed by orthogonal · · Score: 5, Funny

    However, when you visit their links and install their "player" it seems that you are also installing software that takes control of your AIM buddy list and sends advertisments to those on your buddy list. The advertisements are obviously designed to look like innocent messages from your buddies asking you to check out certain links. Very scummy, indeed.

    What's worse, in an effort to drive traffic to their site, their software hijacks your Slashdot login, forges complaints about their software, and submits those complaints to Slashdot as articles and comments.

    You can distinguish their forged posts because invariably the last three words of any forged post are "Very scummy, indeed".

    Very scummy, indeed.

    --
    Opinions on the Twiddler2 hand-held keyboard?
    1. Re:Vey Scummy Indeed by torpor · · Score: 2, Funny


      godamn it, now that virus has infected my sid and is now getting me to post a follow up to your thread ...

      Very scummy, very scummy indeed.

      --
      ; -- the corruption of government starts with its secrets. a truly free people keep no secrets. --
  3. Privacy Policy? by the+Man+in+Black · · Score: 3, Funny

    My favorite part of this claptrap. To wit: No, our software doesn't PERSONALLY sell your information and the information of everyone on your buddy list. We're merely a conduit for third-parties to do so, and to give us bags of cash for facilitating it. Do you like my hat? It's made of MONEY.

    --
    El riesgo vive siempre!
  4. Re:This Kind of Thing Keep Happening... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    >>Maybe we have to start teaching "Safe Surfing" along with Safe Sex in the teen years.

    Just abstain from surfing

    Johnny "Come on, just touch it"
    Jill "I don't know Johnny, I told my parents I'd wait until I was married"
    Johnny "It won't hurt you, just give it a try"
    Jill "Are they all this hard and small?"
    Johnny "You mean you've never seen a mouse before!"

  5. I've heard by TheOnlyCoolTim · · Score: 4, Funny

    The phone number on the WHOIS for wgutv.com will connect you to the guy who wrote the virus... Use this for good, not for evil.

    Tim

    --
    Omnia vestra castrorum habetur nobis.
  6. Oh my god! by jarran · · Score: 4, Funny

    You mean, you downloaded a program being advertised by spam and it was crap?! My god, d'ya reckon it's a one off or should I cancel my penis enlarger and v1agra?