Netropa and a multimedia keyboard--any spyware here!?

Gektumi · Mar 5, 2006

I just bought an Elements Navagator Smart Office Keyboard. The model number is KBO-EL8000SBP2. It's a multimedia keyboard and the software I put on included the Netropa Internet Receiver (no options given for what to put on, so this was a surprise.) There is a ticker stream that can be accessed with this. I would like to know--is there is any adware or phone-home function with it? Is this adware, malware, spyware? Thanks.

chaslang · Mar 5, 2006

Based on their own statement it sounds like it is supported via advertisements. Hence this could be be some form of adware but it may not be either. It could be just a matter of personal opinion on whether you consider it just plan old acceptable advertisements or adware. My opinion would be that I would not want this. Here is what they say:

Netropa Internet Receiver
Our latest product offering takes on a dramatically different approach from our other products. Netropa is a both a software product and a service which is targeted at the general public, not just to the manufacturers or hardware vendors. Rather than following the traditional pay-per-copy revenue model, Internet Receiver is distributed free of charge, and is supported entirely from advertising proceeds. Netropa is an Internet-push (Latest contents or information from internet or network automatically transfer to end users)based application, which is designed to be both fun and useful. Think of it as an Internet browser that automatically retrieves the most up-to-date information from a prescribed list of web sites or other information sources or from a particular category of web sites such movies, gaming, science, news, and even shopping. Additionally users can view the channel-listings and their descriptions through a channel guide and subscribe according to their preferences. Special promotions and events are announced via alert channels and animated ads.

The retrieved information -- such as news headlines, upcoming events and sales, special announcements, and updates -- from each channel is then displayed through a scrolling ticker. Internet-push has been touted as being a revolutionary technology, since it turns the users into a passive audience, much as with broadcast media such as TV and radio, unlike the current user paradigm, which requires users to actively seek out Internet content. Up till now, Internet-push far from lived up to its promise, but Netropa will change that. Unlike competing resource-intensive "push" technologies, Netropa works fast and efficiently with the limited bandwidth of dialup users. The software updates its content rapidly, unlike its competitors, which gobble up precious network bandwidth and force the user to wait through extended update cycles. Netropa Internet Receiver is available now.

Click to expand...

Gektumi · Mar 5, 2006

Thanks. I couldn't find it as spyware when I Googled it, but some references to some keyboards from HP and Dell with Netropa being memory hogs. Nothing showed up in my system tray at least. I'll uninstall the software and run my free versions of Ad-Aware, a-Squared and Spybot (I donate). Any other suggestions would be appreciated very much.

I do use Spy Sweeper and it let me know that the "multimedia keyboard" software wanted to install, but I said yes to it. It also notified me that an ie...dll (didn't write down the name) wanted to install. That I said no to because it sounded unnecessary and like a possible browser helper.

I think I'm going to spring ($) for Total Uninstall, so I can keep track of what's going on the computer. If you have a better recommendation, please advise me.

Thank you again.

chaslang · Mar 5, 2006

Gektumi said:

I think I'm going to spring ($) for Total Uninstall, so I can keep track of what's going on the computer. If you have a better recommendation, please advise me.
Click to expand...

I personally have no need for such programs and thus have no real opinions on them. You could check what people in the Software Forum like. There are many uninstall tools out there. Each maybe adding their own special twists.

Some people also like: Your Uninstaller! 2006

But it is probably not exactly the same as what Total Uninstall is doing.

Gektumi · Mar 5, 2006

Thank you very much!

chaslang · Mar 5, 2006

You're welcome.

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Netropa and a multimedia keyboard--any spyware here!?

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chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

Gektumi Private First Class

chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

Gektumi Private First Class

chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member