Spyware Analysis of P2P Software

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."

Comments

What programs were included

[bedelman]

Robogun,

Preparing these detailed analyses is surprisingly time-consuming -- lots of license text to read, lots of screenshots to make, lots of measurements and other tests (registry, filesystem, etc.). So at least for this initial run, I had to limit myself to a manageable number of P2P programs. In general I tried to focus on the programs believed to have largest market share -- the programs that would infect the most PCs with unwanted software if such programs in fact contain unwanted software.

WinMX would be a good candidate for inclusion in a follow-up piece. And there are plenty more too.

Or perhaps someone else will be so kind as to take over where I've left off!

Ben

FYI: (was:Little-Known Spyware EULA Provisions)

[Lead Butthead]

Bubonic plague is a bacterial infection, not a viral infection.