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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."

2 of 63 comments (clear)

  1. This Kind of Thing Keep Happening... by GTRacer · · Score: 3, Interesting
    ...Only because there are FAR too many people who just don't understand that there are people on the Internet with ulterior motives. I don't want to generalize, but I bet the kind of person easily swayed in this manner is also the telemarketer's best friend.

    The more this type of "attack" keeps happening, the more I wonder if there shouldn't be a license or minimum firewall requirement to get on the 'Net.

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

    GTRacer
    - speechless

    --
    Defending IP by destroying access to it? That makes sense, RIAA/MPAA. Go to the corner until you can play nice!
  2. Funny, I was messing with that last night... by Hollinger · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Here's a copy of what the messages look like:
    InfectedUser (12:30:45 AM): check this out... http://www.wgutv.com/osama_capture.php?hAsH
    I'm wondering what that little hash code on the end is...

    I haven't personally installed that crud, but I'm wondering if SpyBot (google for it) detects it. I clicked around the site, and, to be honest, it looks like they're setting themselves up for a huge "p2p" (I hate buzzwords) marketing push. I'm going to guess that this "jokes and pranks" business will come to an end when they have a sufficent install base, after which they'll start pushing the next new wave of spam for Viagra, Mortgages, Porn, or *checks his SpamNet folder* Internet gambling on you.

    Here's a snippet from the license agreement with my emphasis:
    Services; Modifications to Your Instant Messaging Client. The Software provides you the opportunity to access Content for no charge. In return for the right to access this Content, you acknowledge and agree that the Software contains additional software products provided to PSD Tools by its suppliers which will periodically deliver additional Content such as, but not limited to, advertisements and promotional messages to your Computer and programs that may alter your home page to offer you Content. In addition, the Software will interoperate with your current instant messaging client so as to permit the automatic sending of advertising messages originating from your Computer to your contact or "buddy" list regarding Content offered by PSD Tools or its suppliers. If you desire to stop this activity, you may elect to stop the messages by navigating to the "buddylinks.net" entry in your "Start Menu", selecting the "buddylinks.net Configuration" item, and unchecking the appropriate option. You may also refer to PSD Tools' website at http://www.psdtools.com for an uninstaller. (http://www.buddylinks.net/terms.html)

    --
    Michael C. Hollinger