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39 Comments
- astrotrain, on 10/12/2007, -0/+27Its about time!... Not to mention the standards in Spyware... such as Gator Corporation. They are always looking for a way into your computer via the ActiveX Scripting method. They were prime for Spyware back a few years ago, offering such lame items as 'Web Wallet', etc, they even came in via the Popular download manager "Go!Zilla".
As for other junk... Verizon and Comcast BOTH install so much junk when you install their products to get broadband its pathetic. AOL is just as bad when you install AIM, for one piece of software, you get at least
five pieces of junk (aol toolbar, aol coach, etc) thats right go and check your 'Add/Remove' AIM users...
A new nagger thats come on scene is McAfee who comes with their 90 day trail offer. It will only
allow you to click [Cancel] so many times before it removes the option from its pop-up window. So far
I've only seen this on new Dells and Emachines. Simply restart your system, and uninstall everything
that has McKrappys name on it (Virus Checker, Firewall, Security Suite, etc).
My .02 there are so many Spyware/Adware detectors out on the market. I've tried most of them including
Norton and McAfee... and they don't work. The true ones that work are Spybot Search & Destroy 1.4 and
AdAware 1.06 PE. They are both free and detected so much more then the paid versions.
I'll get off my soap box now. - dclowd9901, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12Well, thanks to them. I'm glad we have these watchdog groups in place to help us out. Media's too afraid to anymore.
- darkstar949, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7The best way to let these companies know what we think about adware is to tell them with our money - by not giving them any. But then again, some of these companies are not ones that I would want to do business with in the first place, so I guess they may not learn.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7you sir, are in idiot.
- wilf_brim, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4First, direct link to the article (pdf)
http://www.cdt.org/privacy/20060320adware.pdf
Second, this is the best and only way to get at the problem of adware, trojans, and worms. Most of the latter now are designed to get the writer (who is an "affiliate") money via ads displayed on infected computers. It is only by pressing the firms that supply the money at the top that the problem will stop. - cmw72, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5The term "adware" is somewhat misrepresented in this article.
Advertisement-supported software is perfectly valid. The programs they are describing are more akin to spyware/malware. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Name a single 'valid' adware program, that you'd want on your PC and that won't take up CPU cycles and decrease your PCs performance and stability a bit.
There simply aren't any. - KlipschFan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4This has been a huge problem with my clients. Many of the calls for repair are related to the generic complaint that "things have started running too slow." I don't mind taking their money for the repair call, but I look like a fool when the problem comes right back after a couple of months. So I try my best to educate the users with the equally generic "beware of free stuff on the Internet," and "don't install anything from a website." If they are not sure, I make myself available to answer their questions.
To put this in perspective, my last service call to install a printer also included removing 860 spyware objects as detected by Ad-aware.
I believe it is in the best interest of companies like Dell, Gateway and HP and all the ISP's to get out in front of this problem to avoid a heckuva lot of service calls. People aren't tech savy enough to blame the right people for their computer problems. They may buy from your competitor on their next purchase. - CreepingDeath, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4jdwyckoff,
Umm nope, no spyware for linux, and the few viruses that exist are mostly "academic", meaning there are no real-world infections/spreading because of the way *nix and by extension, macOS work.
Sadly, this spyware crap just makes my life harder as a tech support guy. I had one guy practically in tears because I removed his purple gorilla. Of course he changed his mind as soon as I showed him just what that crap was doing to his machine (IE once it was gone and the popups stopped happening, he was elated)
the scumbags that write this software make me wish there really was a hell, and that they would end up there. As for now all I can hope for is serious injury or death. Humm come to think of it, I'm not sure who is worse, lawyers or spyware writers. /ponders - cprincipe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I can't speak to Verizon, but you don't have to install one piece of software on your machine for Comcast. All they need is your MAC address. Of course, they make the registration of that MAC address brutally hard. The Comcast software screws with a bunch of PC settings as well. I do tech support for a company that has a lot of Comcast customers and we have to fix what Comcast breaks all the time.
- dognose, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4it's funny, Google is there advertising more adware on that exact page, and yet they aren't on the list!
- Kazrog, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3At least I'm taking a different angle on things. People who run Windows have come to expect that their computer will utterly fail them and need to be nuked and paved once or twice a year even if they're extremely careful. This has influenced people to switch platforms just as much or more than the perceived benefits of these other platforms.
However you want to look at it, Adware increases platform awareness. Microsoft has been, at best slow, and at worst indifferent in its approach to dealing with these and other threats. I don't seriously think that Adware is good, that was sarcasm, but it is interesting to note the phenomenon that happens as a result of it. - dclowd9901, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3That's the biggest problem. They take advantage of the ignorant. If people have a central place to look for warnings, maybe they can be educated like we are.
- Sonek, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Magic Workstation is ad-supported (banner at the top of the application) but doesn't install any malware to my knowledge.
- diggeddugg, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Seconded - if buying a new computer or router, just call them and tell them the new MAC address.
- eylander, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2These are the people that have ruined many of my vacations! IF not for them, I might have been able to have relaxing holidays at least once in the last 6 years.
- shawnanigans, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4Maybe Firefox should come with the SiteAdvisor extension installed by default maybe help some people out. But of course the smart people are the ones using Firefox (anything but IE really).
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1God, I can't believe that people are trying to bury my comment.
I can't put passwords on stuff because I'd get phone calls at all hours asking me for it so they can install their newest game etc, even a complete idiot should be able to see that.
The simple fact is that, unfortunatley, windows is not very useful at all unless you run in admin mode (vista fixes this thank god).
The best thing I've found to do is to inform the buyer about the problem and how to avoid it; and the How Stuff Works article is perfect for this!
I don't want unhappy customers comming back to me week after week because they got spyware on their system and can't get rid of it. It gives me a bad name for starters and they'd be much less inclined to reccomend me to other ppl (I rely on a lot of word of mouth, most of it positive so far).
If they still get caught by malware/viruses/spyware, I feel satisfied that I gave them every opportunity to protect themselves but they didn't listen and I can charge them accordingly. But since I started leaving the article on their desktops I've gotten significantly fewer clients with problems. Thats better for me, and certainly better for them. - ahhell, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3Oh noes!!11 and those are such reputable companies!!! /sarcasm
- dotwhynot, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1>Name a single 'valid' adware program, that you'd want on your PC
Depends on your definition, but Opera browser was ad supported like this. MSN Messenger is. Google toolbar ultimately is (though not showing ads until you use it), etc. The poster you responded to said "Advertisement-supported software is perfectly valid." I agree we should differ between this, and malware. - SkrewyRebirth, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Thank Lord someone got the truth out there. Maybe now people will be a bit more wary...
- Boondoggle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The thing about annoying adverts is they are only annoying if you have no interest in the product. If you have an interest, they are not that big a deal. That is one reason why google adds are not that annoying, because they always try to be contextual. Also they tend to be low-key.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Stupid adware, go away!
http://www.dpodgor.net - atomicwedgie, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The money for the adware and scams have to funnel somewhere eventually. It's time to stop pussyfooting around and make the people paying for this crap and spam suffer.
Trace the money and burn the SOBs at the end of the line. - Web_Weasel, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I dumped Windows when the spyware started showing up. I could see that it was going to get much worse. I was a happy Linux user now I'm a happy Mac and Linux user.
- Sonek, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I've got comcast and I've only ever had to call and give them the MAC of my cable modem. I've had my router change MACs half a dozen times (clone from a different PC) and never had to call them.
I wouldn't even know where the cd they sent me was. I don't want any of their crap software. Got it with my install kit and chucked it. - absinthemind, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1a little off topic, but this reminds me of a link I end up sending to friends and family all the time: http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm
this page is constantly updated and lists all the bogus anti-spyware/malware/adware programs out there. you'd be surprised how many novice users search google for anti-whatever and buy what looks good. i keep telling people sometimes your anti- software is just as bad, if not worse when you factor in the false sense of security.
great read from the CDT report; since we'll never be free of all the ***** out there, it's nice to know people are at least publishing good lists of what to stay away from. nice post OP - Boondoggle, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Apple seems to have a good handle on it..
- geodanny, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Ben Edelman has additional commentary, as well as screenshots of the ads in action. http://www.benedelman.org/news/032006-1.html
- justsomeguy987, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Comcast must have different policies in different cities. I have never had to register my MAC address. I just plug in my LinkSys router it gets connected just fine.
- VanceMc, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I think it will really hit home when they start doling out fines to these companies in addition to the spyware companies. Nothing talks like money. Still, this is a great start.
- Tweekster, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Or you tell them they have a couple of options:
you will fix it this time for a price. but the problem will reoccur because of their actions. This can be solved by enabling the policy of "you cant install ***** without a password"
I did that for my bosses home machine, the kids dont even use it anymore (because they cant install the most insane garbage)
I am tempted to do it for a couple of my coworkers, (again children
Once you have your system set up there is no reason to install software (yeah maybe ONCE or twice a year, but thats about it) - Gurubanks, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I don't see why the BBB hasn't become a more important part of the internet community than it is now. Consumer Reports too. Internet-based and tech-related companies are confusing to most people, which is where both of these organizations would help the most. They have made a serious impact on the auto industry (another industry that requires a lot of subject knowledge) and I don't see them helping consumers buy their computers and internet services.
- jdwyckoff, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3Funny post but I'm pretty sure that Mac and Linux can both get not only spyware but also viruses now.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2I have saved these web pages to a 4 page document that I stick on the desktop of EVERY PC that comes through my hands (perhaps 20 each week).
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/spyware.htm
Seems to have helped educate customers. I also install Spywareguard, Spyware Blaster and Adaware and they rarely come back with spyware related problems unless their stupid teenagers start dicking with any P2P apps. - oni1111, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0"Two of the firms identified responded to CDT's requests by establishing ad placement policies, and five more said they already had policies in place. Eleven others - Altrec, Club Med Americas, GreetingCards.com, LetsTalk.com, NetZero, PeoplePC, PerfectMatch, ProFlowers, True.com, uBid and Waterfront Media - failed to respond to CDT's request for information about their ad placement policies. CDT said firms that support nuisance or harmful adware with their advertising dollars deserve increased scrutiny."
Maybe I didn't read this right..but not respondig to an inquiry is an admission of guilt? - johnder, on 10/12/2007, -3/+0I think the testing method they used in their investigation was inheriently flawed. How can they blame companies after not receiving a reply to an email sent to the CEO? I am sure these CEO's get many, many messages every day and missing one from some person asking questions about adware could be easily missed.
- Kazrog, on 10/12/2007, -11/+5Adware is actually a good thing. It influences more people to switch to Mac OS X and Linux. :)
- kneeare, on 10/12/2007, -12/+1***** them then
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