Spyware Program list.....

Hey Geeks!
I'm trying to come up with a list of "no-no" programs that people commonly download that should not be downloaded, because of the spyware. Can you add to the list below? I'm trying to educate the masses here on our in-house network! Thanks in advance!

1. Gator
2. Webshots
3. Comet Cursor
4. Weather Bug

 

Why not download and install SpywareBlaster that prevents this sort of thing being downloaded: http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=2859 - comes with a long list of "malware".

Also, I've noticed this: http://majorgeeks.com/vb/showthread.php?t=25834 might be a useful addition to your user information bulletin.

 

Thanks Maxwell. I'm not the Network Administrator, just a lowly guy trying to educate the masses. These are personal computers on a network, behind a firewall, through a proxy. There are a few hundred of them. What I am doing is trying to inform everyone about how to maintain their computers with tools such as AVG, RegCleaner, BigFix, Ad-Aware, SpywareBlaster, etc. The majority of these people are very ignorant. What I'm hoping to do is help them learn a few basics, so they will run their machines at tip top. Mostly I just try to get everyone to come here!

Anyway, I just thought of another one to add to the list:

1. Gator
2. Webshots
3. Comet Cursor
4. Weather Bug
5. Bonzai Buddy

Any others you folks can think of?

 

hi e-clayton
some people may disagree with me but i personally regard smiley central as a pest because if you read the EULA it also installs its own search bar etc to your browser
smiley central EULA

 

I have also heard that smiley central is a pest.

 

i use Webshots and haven't noticed any spyware affiliated with it (disabled the camera feature), but perhaps my Ad-Aware scans have gotten it... also, GAIN software is closely related to GATOR so you might want to add that to the list....

 

Thanks everyone!!

And, thanks robo! I appreciate it! I know the list may get out of had, but I was thinking letting everyone know some of the programs that are absolutely out. I repeatedly run into folks who just love Weather Bug and Webshots.....They just don't have any idea!

Midget, yeah, Webshots is full of it.....I'm not sure that it can work with the spyware gone, most those programs don't, and the one I cleaned the other night on someones box didn't work after we ran Ad-Aware...
xflat, Inredimail, huh? I was just looking at that the other day.....guess I won't be looking at it anymore! Thanks man!!

 

I know what you mean about Weather Bug. I've taken to simply telling people that WeatherBug slows your system, and that they should use Weather Watcher instead.

WW like to make your wallpaper into a weather map and it doesn't like to stop doing it sometimes, but it's not malware.

Edit: Apparantly, WeatherBug is no longer spyware. It's still adware, but it apparantly no longer explicitly collects information on you. I haven't tried installing it and running a scanner to find out. I'll report back.

 

Quick update: Neither AdAware nor Spybot S&D identify WeatherBug as suspect. The only bad thing about it was the installation registration. Ir required an email address and forced you to select which targeted advertising you wanted. They also asked to install some toolbar, but I choose not to.

As far as memory usage, WB actually uses more memory minimized than WW does when open (4 vs 1-2).

WW is also snappier and more responsive, but WB has more random features.

Uninstallation of WB was fairly painless. I actually filled out their survery and said I like WW better.

 

Just off the top of my head I know you can add Hotbar to the list (more of a hijacker iirc).

HERE is a site that has a searchable spyware database (enter a program name, they'll tell you if it is or not), they also have a LIST of known spyware. I have no idea how complete the list is.

 

I bookmarked it as well, found it following links from spywareinfo.com

oops, both those links I posted are the same!

http://www.spywareguide.com is what I intended for the 1st one.

 

I searched that site for Webshots and was not in their database. I've used their program in this past and haven't run into any problems that has been written here. Hmmmm...

 

I'll go back and take a look at the log on the box that had webshots, and let ya'll know what it says. Maybe I'm confused, but it sure seemed to me that webshots seriously slowed down the machine, and would not run after we ran Ad-Aware.

 

Ok, MS isn't spyware.

They cut corners, they break laws, they crappily code and steal (borrow) the rest, they open more security issues than swiss cheese has holes, and they overcharge for their half-assed products.

But they do not phone home, like spyware.

Fair enough?

I think so

 

Why aren't you guys adding Kazaa to the list?

 

hmmm i've run ad-aware on my comp numerous times and webshots still runs... does anyone know what specific spyware might be packaged with webshots so i can search for it?

 

http://www.webshots.com/html/spyware_policy.html

 

There's some stupid program I've found on computers before that hides in the taskbar and displays the date, right next to the Windows clock that also displays the date. I don't remember what it was called.

 

Spyware info

Thanks, Alanc for a very useful site. Added to my favourites and told a mate who recently suffered from Incredimail and MyDoom attacks.

For those who haven't heard of it yet, check out http://www.pestpatrol.com/ and install PestPatrol. It gets right down into the register to check out nasties. They also offer an on-line scanner also.

Baz
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Gator has changed it's name to something like "Claira" ( I think that is the wrong spelling, but maybe you get the idea). I'll try to find source of where I saw the name change news, if I can.

 

I didnt think that kazaa itself was spyware, in the same way IE isnt spyware. I thought it just had a load of spyware built into it. Or maybe thats what youre listing. oh i dont know

 

The carrier of the disease is just as bad.

You can install IE, and not have spyware.

Kazaa, you install it, you are likely gonna have spyware install with it.

 

nice find adrynalyne... glad that got cleared up =]

 

Because we were waiting for you to add it!!

 

Thanks much Halo, this is exactly what I was hoping for....a list of programs that people would download, thinking they were getting "free" cursors, or some "helpful" tool that in reality slows down their system and adds spyware, malware, or whatever anyone wants to call it.

This will be most helpful! Thanks again everyone!

Good to know Gator changed their name.....sneaky buggers!

 

Well, Error Reporting is one way of "phoning home" as is windows update statistics, but can you really put it to yourself that this is invading your privacy? finding out how your programs crash? Letting MS know when they need to raise awareness of windows update?

 

Yeah, I agree. And the kind of "spyware" I'm talking about in this thread is "adware, spyware, malware, scumware, browser hijackers, etc etc etc" that slow down the system, cause it to act weird, ruin things, popups, etc. I personally am not so worried about the whole "privacy" issue, my concern is system performance and ease of use.

 

Windows Error Reporting only reports home, if you initiate it.

And I agree, how else are they to know about their screw ups?

believe me, you calling into support doesn't spread the word

 

Gotcha, ok, no more hijacking

 

I came across this site recently comparing AdAware and Spybot but it also gives a hit list used in comparison of these two products: http://www.flexbeta.net/main/articles.php?action=show&id=39

As well as the links Alanc posted I also came across this:

http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/expanded_threats/adware/

 

Do not use these programs-Download Accelerator Plus

Maxwell, Thanks for a great link. Looking for a download accelerator I had previously downloaded and installed Download Accelerator Plus (version 5 something). I had not read eclaytons list saying that DAP was loaded with Spyware at that time. I also did a Google search and downloaded DAP version 7 (but did not install it). After checking out Maxwells link I decided I had better run PestPatrol to see if DAP was "loaded with spyware". PestPatrol instantly found 130 (yes 130) pests all related to DAP. Needless to say DAP was soon wiped from my laptop. I'd post the results from PestPatrol as proof but haven't figured out how to do it on MG as yet. Baz

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any sums it up!

 

Spyware Program list

EC and others.

Don't bother to compile your own list of "no-no"programs.

Download/install/keep up to date SpyChaser3,0 available from

http://www.simtel.net/product.download.mirrors.php?id=55621

Over 1000 programs listed. Keep it as a favourite and update it regularly.
Wished I had it before installing DownloadAccelerator Plus (see earlier post in this thread).

I found this program yesterday when re-reading an old computer mag. I had logged your thread previously as a thread I had contributed to and a subject I was interested in.

Old mag was June 2002, Australia's Internet Directory, p17. The only PC Mag I pay an annual subscription to. I guess it is not available overseas but to all OZ MG members and guests I would recommend it. Hope this helps, don't re-invent the wheel? Let someone else compile them, it is a lot easier. Baz

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Crap I have Weather Bug and even paid for the Pro version. It's slowing down my PC?
How may I ask and do you know if the pro version is any less intrusive ? I also have Panic Ware software I bought at wally-world it dose stop pop-ups how is it bad? I just want to know for sure how bad these are before I dump them. I have Spy Sweeper and Ad Aware 6.0 pro and they haven't detected any thing from either of these programs.