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Spyware Analysis of P2P Software

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the dark-side-to-the-dark-side dept.

rhizome writes "Benjamin Edelman, a PhD candidate in Economics and a Law student at Harvard, has analyzed the hidden (or not) additions to a user's machine when they install some of the major Windows P2P clients. He analyzes the length and readabilty of their licenses, what is revealed or hidden in the software's installer and includes screenshots for illustration. Clear, concise and eye-opening."

14 of 200 comments (clear)

  1. How satisfying to see... by Faust7 · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...that the only P2P client I use didn't even need to be reviewed. :)

    (It rhymes with "BitTorrent.")

    --
    The coolest voice ever.
    1. Re:How satisfying to see... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      TitTorrent?

      I am unable to crack your code.

    2. Re:How satisfying to see... by Anita+Coney · · Score: 5, Funny

      God, I'd pay for that!

      --
      If someone says he and his monkey have nothing to hide, they almost certainly do.
  2. Serves them right by nurb432 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Serves them right for installing that evil bad software that only pirates use..

    For the slower moderators out there today, this is referred to as sarcasm.

    --
    ---- Booth was a patriot ----
  3. Whoda thunk it? by J+Barnes · · Score: 5, Funny

    And here all this time I was thinking my computer is a piece of shit because it's a pentium II 333MHz PC with 64megs of ram running Windows 98...

    but NO...it's the P2P programs!

    --
    :::: the insomniac's digest
    1. Re:Whoda thunk it? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      They've ported Windows to pieces of shit now? I thought NetBSD was going to get there first... :/

  4. What's his recommendation? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    So, which client does he recommend people use?

    JK. Serves those people right. Keep things legal cheapos!

  5. What? No way! by tmleafsar · · Score: 3, Funny

    pssh. Spyware? P2P? NEVER!

  6. Little-Known Spyware EULA Provisions by Cr0w+T.+Trollbot · · Score: 5, Funny
    • User will be required to supply their own vaseline, and will receive neither a kiss nor a call the next morning.
    • User agrees to transmit any virus as required by the Program, including, but not limited to, SoBig, MyDoom, Gator, Realplayer, MS Windows, AIDS, and bubonic plague.
    • User agrees toi call the writer of this program "Big Daddy."
    • All your base are belong to us.
    • Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball.
    - Crow T. Trollbot
  7. Re:List is far from complete. by tmleafsar · · Score: 4, Funny

    WinMX magically installed the complete Rush discography on my hard drive. ....that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

  8. Re:Law AND Economics? by Threni · · Score: 5, Funny

    > When someone who's both a lawyer and an economist says a license is difficult to
    > interpret, I tend to believe them

    Personally I'm not convinced until I'm told it by someone who maintains other people's Perl for a living!

  9. Re:What programs were included by laird · · Score: 2, Funny

    I've got a four digit ID. Neener, neener.

    On a more serious note, I think that this is a fantastic piece of analysis. I did a simple version of this last year (nothing formal enough to publish, but interesting) and it took days, because KMD, etc., so thoroughly destabilize a PC on installation that you have to spend hours cleaning/reinstalling/etc., each time.

    --
    Enable 3D printed prosthetics!
  10. Re:Paid for by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 3, Funny

    Crap, I never got paid for research papers when I was in school. This guy is a good economist.

    --
    My God, it's Full of Source!
    OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
  11. Re:What programs were included by Electron · · Score: 2, Funny

    I've got a four digit ID. Neener, neener.

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