Hey im just ranting about spywear...
Isn't it illegal for programs to be loaded on your computer without you knowlege?
Spywear/Adwear totally corrupted my computer until i downloaded Adawear, which is an awesome remover for it, as you all must know.
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Hey im just ranting about spywear...
Isn't it illegal for programs to be loaded on your computer without you knowlege?
Spywear/Adwear totally corrupted my computer until i downloaded Adawear, which is an awesome remover for it, as you all must know.
I'm sure it would be if you didn't sign a agreement.
Usually when you get spyware on your machine you get if from certain programs.(i.e. kazaa, morpheus etc) When you click on that tab that says "I agree to the terms of the agreement" you saying that you know and agree to having spyware on your machine.
most spyware does notify you when installing, people just tend not to read the eula's and tos's of programs they DO want carefully enough. If you aren't notified at any time, I would call that malware, or malicious software installed without the users concent.
Actually, interesting little bit is that some spyware companies have it so that when you look at their ad you agree to them installing, etc. IIRC, that was one of the ways that Gator got around them installing items or something like that. I went searching for the article but can't find it. :p
HI,
OK you asked:
Nah.........you don't see it .........so it is OK for THEM to get away with it?:D "without your permission" is the legalese that we must fight for IMHO.Quote:
Isn't it illegal for programs to be loaded on your computer without you knowlege?
It is better legalese because Microsoft/*nix load lots of stuff you don't know about.........but they do it with your implied permission when you hit enter?
Just a thought or two............but if the evidence is "tainted", there will never be a conviction no matter how guilty the party?
Cheers
Most spywares/adwares disguised themselves to appear useful harmless programs. I tried searching for laws which prohibits spywares/adwares but I cant find one..more knowledgable people here might know some laws regarding spywares/adwares...(they live on an advance country so theyre more familiar with it :p ) but in my country surely its not illegal..even hacking, and virus attacks are considered a petty crime here. Maximum punishment for such crime here will just imprison you for two months..(sucks!)
So TrueQuote:
If YoU tHiNk EdUcAtiOn iS eXpEnSiVe---TrY iGnOrAnCe[
Next time you download an application that seems a bit suss, just scan the EULA for phrases such as "using part of your bandwith", "gathering information" and "modifying system settings"; these are usually all tell tale signs of ad/spyware (and by clicking "I Agree", you give them the authorization needed).
Prime example: Microsoft Messanger. Not only does it open you com open to many vulnerabilities, not only does it spam your system, but Microsoft made the damn program a hell and a half hard to uninstall. Now, if they can do it, then little fish will have no problem.
Another way that they can get past it is by putting a required key or something in it which is used to get a program to run. For example, the DivX player 5.0 came included with Gator and if Gator was uninstalled, the DivX program would cease to work.
Argument: it is a required piece of the program, and the program just can't work without it.
Wow working around contracts is fun!
Quote:
Originally posted here by Lansing_Banda
Prime example: Microsoft Messanger. Not only does it open you com open to many vulnerabilities, not only does it spam your system, but Microsoft made the damn program a hell and a half hard to uninstall. Now, if they can do it, then little fish will have no problem.
Another way that they can get past it is by putting a required key or something in it which is used to get a program to run. For example, the DivX player 5.0 came included with Gator and if Gator was uninstalled, the DivX program would cease to work.
Argument: it is a required piece of the program, and the program just can't work without it.
Wow working around contracts is fun!
Wow.... where to start... just because i'm in a bad mood tonight and I'm sick of the inaccuracies being posted on this site. I'm being to think that this site is a breeding ground for those with low IQs. Let's start with your "Prime Example".... There's nothing called Microsoft Messanger... primarily because it's Messenger but that's beside the point. There's Windows Messenger, MSN Messenger and Messenger Service. Windows Messenger is the program that MS made it hard to install but it's still a matter of editing an ini file. It is actually quite useful in corporations if you run an Exchange server because then you're employees can use it for conferencing. MSN Messenger is the downloadable IM program (which is compatible with Windows Messenger, using the MS Servers) that most people use today. The Messenger Service has had vulnerabilities released for it, and leaves your system open to spam. However the concept of it was good, just the implementation was bad. Linux systems have a way of messaging all the users, so why can't a Windows domain have the same thing? On top of that, it's actually quite simple to stop this server (however.. uninstall.. wrong!). You simply go into services and stop it. (Wow you're right that was damn near impossible). Hell there are even programs you can download (Shoot The Messenger from grc.com for example) that disable it for you.
As for your second point. There is no DivX Player 5.0. DivX player is at like 2.0. The DivX codec on the other hand has exceeded 5.0 and that is what is shipped with spyware. However if you simple want to play DivX encoded files, there is no spyware involved. It's only if you want the encoder that you have to install spyware (or pay for a clean version) and they openly tell you about this up front.
I really wish you people would think through what you are about to say. I'm sick of reading all this drivel.
Peace
HT
Dramatization:
M$- Thank you for contacting M$, how may I help you
ME- HI, i need some help uninstalling Messenger and some other junk in my computer that I do not need, and which my computer doesnt need them neither.
M$- What do you mean u dont need them, who told u you dont need them.
ME- Nobody told me, I just have no use for those programs and I could use the extra resources for something more productive.
M$- SAY WHAT! WE are tellin you u need those programs, CUZ WE SAID SO. we dont care how much space they take!
ME- But...but ..b
M$- BUT NOTHING!
*Gator and coolwebsearch enter the room*
Gator- YO YO M$ how's it goin old buddy?
M$- Hey how's it going
Gator- SO.....you guys patched up those holes yet?
M$-What holes?
Gator (to himself)- Interesting Smithers, Interesting!
Coolweb- OH MAGOSH Gator, guess where this user's last website that he visited is? Oh wow check out all this private information. Thats a lotta free memory he has there, lets screw around with his computer :). I'm gonna bring some buddies along, lets throw a party inside his Computer. You callin that Trojan band? THey were really good last time. We'll brig some tequila and get trashed on his comp :).
Gator- Oh HELL YEAH. Peace out M$
M$(confused)- huh? What holes?
ME- uh oh!
Hummm... coolwebsearch, trojans, and windows.... Coolwebsearch installs using the ByteVerify exploit in MS Java VM. So.... oh wait, whats this... http://www.microsoft.com/technet/tre...n/MS03-011.asp its been patched since June. But what if you don't want to run MS Java VM at all? http://www.winnetmag.com/Article/Art...206/38206.html Hey look... 4 entire steps to removing MS Java VM. Now you can go install the Sun Java VM if you so choose.
Most of it IS harmless. If it is harmful, its not spyware/adware, its a trojan. Adware can be annoying by poping up advertisments but it doesn't cause damage. Spyware may send information to another company, but doesn't really cause harm, just takes away some of your privacy.Quote:
Most spywares/adwares disguised themselves to appear useful harmless programs.
There is no laws saying that it is illegal. Like was said before, read the EULA. When is the last time you actually read one? They are long and annoying, but you will see everything in there. There are restrictions on what spyware can send to the company though. They can not, for example, get your password or credit card number off your system. All they can really show is your browser history, most recent website, most visited website, and programs running on your machine.
have adaware free download and run it frequently it seems to find all kinds of little bugs after reading from this thread it seems i should read the do you agree text more until then should i keep this and keep running it the concensus here seems to be that most of this is not harmful but as a newbie I have to start with baby steps to keep such things at bay
I agree with the people ranting and HT. There is a great deal of wonderful and/or beautiful things in life that are dangerous. In some cases they start out wonderful but some jerk decides to twist things (science to military anyone?).
Unfortunately, as much as information technology has made great strides, we now face constant assaults that leave us paying the bill for the immoral, unethical and even evil practices of others. Who is going to reimburse me for fax ink & paper that spammers waste? Who is going to sue them so I can recover my $10? Not to mention making my fax line busy and even damaging my machine? On to pagers... before cell phones were quite as ubiquitous, someone discovered that they could page you from Virgin Islands, which has U.S.-style phone numbers, then end up charging you $25 for the phone call. They are outside the U.S.
Now we have pop-up mania, and Windows has too many nooks and crannies to hide the little buggers. Who is going to reimburse me for the twenty hours I have spent these last two weeks trying to stop the endless cascade of pop-ups on three PCs? One of the computers is practically useless because of this malicious st.
Saying that "it's in the agreement" is not a valid defense for the adware/spyware people - enough lawsuits have proven that. Besides, if there is a clause in an emplyoyment contract allowing strikes against management, does that mean the workers get to punch their bosses?
Telemarketers are defending their right to interrupt our dinners on the basis of "free speach". If there was a clause that says "we have the right to format your harddrive", would that be acceptable terms? If so, then they can put in a clause that says "we reserve the right to come over to your house, lounge around on the couch and eat all your food, then shoot you with a high power handgun." Not all terms and conditions are legitimate, and some will not be understood by the people accepting them. I'm starting to babble.