That's really not much of a surprise to me. This is another reason to avoid name-brand PC's. Most ISP software (like AOL) also has some kind of "trackware" in it as well, as does (as you mentioned) many media players INCLUDING the M$ media player.
Search the archives for my posts on this matter, search for tr0jan (exactly like that) and you'll see parts 1 & 2 of my posts. In case I didn't mention it in the posts, download AdAware (New version SE 1.05) and run it. It's the only other decent free one that scans and removes. Running any of these anti-malware programs may or may not find it since some of the programs will find what others don't recognize. The online scanners I mentioned will find a lot of what the programs miss (and again, vice-versa). Regarding your comments on malware: well, most PC users don't know what they are doing, will install ANYTHING, and LOVE to "collect icons in their system tray"--of which many are also malware of some sort. Take AOL for example (***SORRY***), most people that would use AOL in the first place aren't really that aware of what's going on and what CAN go on.....hence the reason of using AOL in the first place. That's not an opinion but a known fact I see verified daily. AOL and their proprietary software.....or should I say "malware" is loaded with questionable items. That just one example, I use AOL since they are the (unfortunately) largest. They, along with Dell as you've noticed & other PC manufacturers, get $ millions by placing/using 3rd party malware on their PC's and software that send personal PC usage info, demographics, and surfing info back to said 3rd party companies. Even legit software one installs can do the same thing if you register it. This is one reason why I NEVER register anything, and if it's REQUIRED I use some made up info. I don't need to be harassed even more by parasites in the te*lem*ark*eting fields, spammers, and ju*nk mai*lers. These "bottom of the barrel" places is unfortunately what is fueling these practices, and, the greed of money at any moral cost. -Clint God Bless Clint Hamilton, Owner http://OrpheusComputing.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Charles Harris" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hi all, Spyware has become a far greater problem than v*ruses (with a few notable exceptions). Check this out: I setup about 25 brand new Dell computers for a local SPCA recently. Straight out of the box and before going on the internet with one of the machines, I happened to install and run Spybot 1.3 (from a self-made CD) w/o updating it. It found 5 instances of VX2 in the (get this!)HKLM/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Vendor/Dell entry (I think that was the full path). Perhaps it was a false positive, but I doubt it. (Could someone verify this?) Whenever I have reason to install AOL 8 or 9, Real Player is part of the process by default and that puts spyware on your computer. I've noticed other programs (even that you pay for on CD) do the same thing. I mention this 1) in response to people who wonder how spyware gets on their computers and 2) because someone I run into occasionally seemed to think his computer wasn't at risk because he doesn't use the internet. At least the spyware has no way to communicate all of his personal information w/o the internet, but he's not assured to be free of it. What I don't get is how spyware can be profitable for online sites that sell you content and that foist spyware on you. For example, gambl*ng, p*orn, and some file sharing sites (typical spyware sources) sell you content and the spyware is added for no extra charge. Very often, the user's computer becomes unusable as a direct result of the spyware. At this point, it would make sense to stop buying the content from the site. The site would lose the customer and revenue. This is where diminishing returns comes in big time. And still I do more anti-spyware work than everything else combined. For your consumption, Chuck ============= PCWorks Mailing List ================= Don't see your post? Check our posting guidelines & make sure you've followed proper posting procedures, http://pcworkers.com/rules.htm Contact list owner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Unsubscribing and other changes: http://pcworkers.com =====================================================
