Why I hate SPYWARE

Spyware is ANY SOFTWARE which employs a user's Internet connection in the background (the so-called "backchannel" or backdoor) without their knowledge or explicit permission. Put simply - programs are installed to your computer without your knowledge and report on your web browsing habits, what music you play, what software is on your machine and lots of other nasty things. You may receive more and more spam (Unsolicited emails) based on reports sent secretly to a marketing database. Some of these programs actually route other peoples downloads through your Internet connection without your knowledge

 and your idle processor time may be used and / or SOLD to another party. Now that sucks!  

Here is an example of what occurs when you install one of these programs. The example here is RADLIGHT 3.03 DIVX Player.

1. Install DIVX Player

2. As in the End User License Agreement (EULA) Radlight attempts to delete Adaware from your system, if it is installed. Adaware is an anti-spyware program.

3. Installs new.net spyware

4. Alters your system registry so that special DLL's load every time your PC starts up. This means that Radlight does not need to be running for the spyware to work.

5. Registers the NETDOTNET DLL as a Layered Service Protocol (LSP) on your machine. Requests for online access get filtered through it. If you delete this URL, you have no Internet access.

6. Transmits a unique ID from your PC to new.net's update server and a sponsored pop-up search engine called FIRSTLOOK.

7. Creates browser windows displaying advertisements relating to new.net's domain name service and firstlook search engine whilst your surf the Internet.

8. Installs SAVENOW. Registers it to run at start-up independently of Radlight.

9. Collects form details that you may fill out whilst online, including personal details and your surfing habits.

10. Displays pop-up advertisements whilst you browse, based on sites you visit

Both new.net and SaveNow spyware lead to an instable system because they are not compatible with legitimate applications. So not only do they spy on you, retrieve data but they make your system unstable. Nice.  

Other common examples include: KAZAA, Date manager, Real Player, Netscape, Gator,  plus hundreds of other FREE programs spread across the Internet.

Silent background use of an Internet "backchannel" connection MUST BE PRECEDED by a complete and truthful disclosure of proposed backchannel usage, followed by the receipt of explicit, informed, consent for such use.

ANY SOFTWARE communicating across the Internet absent these elements is guilty of information theft and is properly and rightfully termed: Spyware.

The news media has carried many stories about Real Networks (Real Player, Real Download etc) who were reportedly caught 'red handed' secretly profiling their users' listening habits, Aureate/Radiate and Conducent Technologies whose advertising, monitoring, and profiling software sneaks into our machines without our knowledge or permission, Comet Cursor which secretly tracks our web browsing, GoHip who hijacks our web browser and alters our email signatures.

 

When confronted with their actions, such companies invariably say "read the fine print, what we're doing is spelled out there and the user agreed." That's odd, if the users understood and agreed, I wonder why those users are so surprised and upset when someone tells them — in plain language — exactly what's going on?

Removing the originally installed program will not always remove the Spyware! Web Dreams have removed up to 480 Spyware programs from a single machine!

In our opinion this form of program installation should be outlawed. Hiding the agreement to install it in the fine print of the installation process is typical. Just because the it is in that document doesn't make it right, it is underhanded and sneaky, it increased costs to users (Internet traffic) it slows your computer down and the information is SOLD to other parties who onsell it to others, resulting in more and more spam. To me, they are as bad as viruses and something should be done about their rapid spread.

Gary Bradshaw