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Invisible Malware Install 65MB Large

Posted by Zonk on from the it-came-from-marketing dept.

Paperghost writes "Words fail me with this one - don't have the .NET framework on your PC to utilise the adware maker's technology? No problem, they'll download it for you without you knowing. The problem is that it's a sixty-five megabyte install." From the article: "...the size of the .NET framework to download can vary drastically depending on what extras you have - don't forget the service packs, SP1 is an extra 10 or so MB in size. But I'm actually understating the amount of space used when installed, as .NET can total up to 100MB."

14 of 381 comments (clear)

  1. The bright side... by Avyakata · · Score: 5, Funny

    I wonder if it comes with 24-hour tech support?

  2. Aaagh! by NoMoreNicksLeft · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's bad enough installing spyware, but now they have to go and install Microsoft software!?!?!?!

    You slimy bastards!

    1. Re:Aaagh! by jd · · Score: 5, Funny

      Easy. It exploits buffer overruns in the brain.

      --
      It's a small world and it smells funny; I'd buy another if it wasn't for the money; Take back what I paid (SoM)
  3. 65 MB without the user knowing? by kkassing · · Score: 5, Funny

    I hope they're using bittorrent...

    1. Re:65 MB without the user knowing? by traskjd · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Keeping in mind that the article is trying to do two things:

      1. Point out that spyware is getting worse

      2. Show that the .net framework is huge

      The latter point is simply trying to get people (especially anti-Microsoft people) fired up over nothing. The .net framework is ~23MB, and the service pack is ~10MB. There aren't any "optional extras" to the .net framework as such however they could be talking about components that AREN'T part of the .net framework. You get the framework in several flavours and the standard install is the largest. I'm willing to bet that the total size is how much harddisk space is actually consumed after install - and not the volume downloaded. I'm sure you could say that the Java Runtime is 100MB - it doesn't mean you download 100MB however.

      Call me cynical (been on slashdot for many a year now) but parts of this article seem designed to enduce high emotion with a slashdot type crowd.

      - JD

      --
      My blog [.net, rants, general IT]
    2. Re:65 MB without the user knowing? by Omega1045 · · Score: 5, Informative

      I would not say that the .Net framework is huge in comparison to, say, Java. The Java 1.4.2 runtime (no SDK) core is 15 MB. The core .NET 1.1 runtime my company distribute with our software (the clients know they are getting it) is 19 MB.

      --

      Great ideas often receive violent opposition from mediocre minds. - Albert Einstein

  4. Mono by _ZorKa_ · · Score: 5, Funny

    They could have at least installed the open source version of .Net, aka Mono. What were they thinking!

    --
    "With enough memory and hard drive space, anything in life is possible!"
  5. awesome by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's like apt-get for Windows, except you don't even have to ask for the software. Further proof Linux isn't ready for the desktop, I guess.

  6. Darn virtual machines ..... by alanbs · · Score: 5, Funny

    I remember the good old days when we would statically compile in our 100 Mb of needed libraries when propagating some malware. Technology just bites you in the ass sometimes.

  7. Good! by mwa · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Now I know how to install it without clicking "I agree". So we'll be seeing some benchmark results on .NET real soon now, right?

  8. Oops... by David+Horn · · Score: 5, Funny

    You appear to be using Linux. Please wait while we download and install Windows XP.

    Progress 1% (2/690MB downloaded)

    --
    PocketGamer.org - For the gamer on the go!
  9. Unprecedented.... by Net+Spinner · · Score: 5, Funny

    Security is one of the core goals of .NET.

    That's why 9 out of 10 Malware authors now choose .NET as their preferred language of choice.

    A testamonial:
    "I finally switched after being pwned by other Malware authors. All my other hack buddies laughed at me!" said 1337HaxX0r, author of AllYURComp.exe, "But now that I'm using .NET, my malicious software is sure to be undeniably secure! Thanks Microsoft!"

    --
    Karma: The only way to win is not to play.
  10. Re:Are we sure... (even more outrageously off top) by Matt+The+Sheep · · Score: 5, Funny

    No kidding, one time I was doing some painting with some latex paint, right? And I was painting an oak table (oak is a wood with a hard core), so I wanted to make absolutely sure that the paint would bond to it. So I hopped on to google and type in "hard core latex bondage". I think it must be a bug with the parsing engine or something.

  11. Symbiotic viruses by goombah99 · · Score: 5, Insightful
    The course of virulent biological viruses tends to be the early ones are bad and tend to kill their hosts quickly. Over time they adapt to become less deadly to the host. A good example of the is the Bubonic Plague which is believes to have mellowed itself since the black plague. Stealthy viruses like AIDS are a good example of why longevity of the host helps in some modes of transmission.

    Infact some models have shown its even in a species interest to play host to a disease causing entity that is more lethal to a competitor or predator. E.g. mice that carry diseases fatal to predetors.

    In rare cases tolerance gives way ot full symbiosis where each helps the other. Perhaps a bacteria that helps deal with some more dread disease or an enteric digestive aid. Something that fixes nitrogen in your roots.

    So anyhow maybe the course of virsuses are indeed ones that tune up your system, protect you from other viruses and make sure your computer is working optimally. Perhaps they will get out of your way when you are actually using it and just steal cylces and bandwidth when you wont miss it.

    In that case 24 hour tech support is indeed on the way.

    --
    Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.