What's Happening at MG with the software?

Discussion in 'Software' started by HelloThere, May 29, 2006.

  1. HelloThere

    HelloThere Private E-2

    I was going to check out "Shrinkto5" which was listed on your front page for today and as usual, since I did not know this company or their software I did a search and found this, according to stie advisor, the software is contains, adware, spyware or unwanted programs. Now I am not an expert on these things and do not want flamed, but how can we know who and what to trust these days?

    Here is what I found:

    http://www.siteadvisor.com/sites/shrinkto5.com/downloads/

    Some advice and help would be appreciated.

    Thanks & have a good day,
    HelloThere
     
    HelloThere, May 29, 2006
    #1
  2. HelloThere

    HelloThere Private E-2


    Wanted to edit the thread, but could not. Site advisor says that the software contains "whenu", whatever that is, I do not know, but am concerned about finding safe programs. A friend told me I could "always trust MG" that they test the software. Is site advisor giving us the "bull" or is there a thing that slipped through somewhere?

    Thanks & have a good day,
    HelloThere
     
    HelloThere, May 29, 2006
    #2
  3. Mada_Milty

    Mada_Milty MajorGeek

    The geeks take malware very seriously and test everything they post. (heh, posted while you were editing) I would feel confident with downloading from here.

    I think this is the operative word here. What definition of adware/spyware are these people using? Could be a nag screen that's pissed them off. Your best bet would be to prepare for an infestation (update AV, AS, and other security apps) and try it yourself.


    Okay, I investigated whenu, as well as siteadvisors technical info on the malware. Seems you may be right. However, the last link contains all the modifications that the app makes, so you can easily correct it. Also, a nice bidirectional firewall such as Sygate Personal Firewall will allow you to control any network traffic this shizz may try to create!
     
    Last edited: May 29, 2006
    Mada_Milty, May 29, 2006
    #3
  4. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    The site advisor listing for that app is near 4mths old, from what I read at the home page to Shrinkto5 is that yes they did have WhenU bundled with the free version in a previous version, now this version it is not including WhenU and is malware free.


    http://www.shrinkto5.com/default.asp



    I have no use for this app but installed it anyway to check, I ran Windows Defender, Ad-Aware, my latest malware app i'm testing in SUPERAntiSpyware and came up clean in all of them.

    I can only summise that SiteAdvisor is out of date!
     
    DavidGP, May 29, 2006
    #4
  5. Mada_Milty

    Mada_Milty MajorGeek

    :cool: Ahhh, nice... good catch, Halo!
     
    Mada_Milty, May 29, 2006
    #5
  6. Major Attitude

    Major Attitude Co-Owner MajorGeeks.Com Staff Member

    It had malware at one time and we did not add it. Once cleaned up, we added it. It is malware free.

    Not directly at you, HelloThere, but I wonder alound why is it evertime someone has one problem here after 3 years, it is automatically "whats happening at MG" or some comment like that? We can't make a mistake? Of course, we didnt, but if we had, you would'nt allow us an occasional mistake? That really sucks. Simply ask without assuming and we will be glad to look into it immediately, as we always do :) Malware is tricky, different variations and many anti-malware programs, its possible to miss something not detected, or in this case, have something detected thats not updated.

    I like people to see that we are answering the questions and verifying, I often spend hours every week proving something is clean because someone has a single program that says its not. Problem now is people skim and might only see the topic, like this one:
    http://forum.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?p=790014#post790014
     
    Last edited: May 29, 2006
    Major Attitude, May 29, 2006
    #6
  7. COMPUABLE

    COMPUABLE First Sergeant

    >> The site advisor listing for that app is near 4mths old, from what I read at the home page to Shrinkto5 is that yes they did have WhenU bundled with the free version in a previous version, now this version it is not including WhenU and is malware free. Halo <<

    If you dig a little you can find this Important Info Statement (tucked away on the right side of their knowledge base home page) within the Shrinkto5 website...

    "Shrinkto5 Version 2.0 contains AdWare. To cover some of our costs we have now bundled ShrinkTo5 with WhenU. It is not a spyware and we do not want to conceal anything, so please take a look at WhenU before you download the new version."​

    McAfee Site Advisor reported that when they tested ShrinkTo5 (on a Windows XP computer) they discovered that the ShrinkTo5 program contains spyware and makes a laundry list of modifications to the hard drive and system registry.

    The Spyware Entries were: app.whenu.com | a1401.x.akamai.net | web.whenu.com Note: McAfee SiteAdvisor last tested this software download on 02-16-2006. The McAfee Site Advisor page just lists these by name and does not explain what these entries are, so I’ll add...

    web.whenu.com - app.whenu.com:
    WhenU offers contextual advertising through their software. The software selects which advertisements and offers to show you based on several factors, including which web pages you visit, search terms you use while searching online, the content of the web pages you view, and your local zip code (if you have supplied it.).

    a1401.x.akamai.net: Akamai is a tracking cookie that monitors your Internet activity and gathers your personal information as you surf the web. This information may be retrieved by the parent company, without your consent.
    The companies that are behind "We'd Sure Like to Secretly Know Where You Surf!" software such as WhenU and Akamai provide services to spyware vendors with the apparent motto: "Why spend money on customer research and targeted advertising, when our spyware dictionaries can do it for you?"

    Note: I do not agree with those who jump all over MajorGeeks as soon as they find something amiss. This site provides 1000's of very useful shareware and freeware links - as well as a safe and competently overseen forum at no cost to it's members. But, like mama always said: "Downloadable Software is like a box of chocolate; you never know what'cher gonna git!" <g>

    Good Luck!
     
    COMPUABLE, May 29, 2006
    #7
  8. Major Attitude

    Major Attitude Co-Owner MajorGeeks.Com Staff Member

    Dont know about them and I trust myself, as you said, never any single party program. Virus free, Ad-Aware and Windows Defender finds nothing. IMHO, to the best of my ability, it is clean. This is from downloading it and trying it, see screenshot.

    And tracking cookies that track personal info? Show me one. They can track your general area, operating system and the basic things. To me personal info means dangerous stuff like bank info, my weight vs. height, last time I had sex ;) Cookies do none of that. Their job is really to track non identifiable information, yes in advertising cases to deliver quality ads as targeted as possible, or to track website preferences or to save your login and last known info for forums, like these :)


     

    Attached Files:

    Major Attitude, May 29, 2006
    #8
  9. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    I did see that notice and as most of the time some websites forget update and change all notices ( which one do you believe? I would'nt have a clue as it could be either of them ),So I took the step of actually installing the app from one of the MG links and did some malware scans, no reports of WhenU or any other malware infections.

    Did not also see the WhenU running process .exe files in either wsn.exe or wvsn.exe when running a process monitor.


    If you dig deeper its only the Pro version in an earlier version 2.0 from Feb06 ( the time of the SiteAdvisor listing ) that was bundled with Adware,

    http://www.shrinkto5.com/news.asp

    again as that blog is not kept upto date to current versions, which is what led me not to believe the conflicting notices.
     
    DavidGP, May 29, 2006
    #9
  10. HelloThere

    HelloThere Private E-2


    Major Attitude,

    I am sorry if my phrasing was bad, English is not my native language and sometimes I say things a little akward.

    You said "you would'nt allow us an occasional mistake? That really sucks. Simply ask without assuming and we will be glad to look into it immediately, as we always do :) "

    Do you give me that same right? you assumed I was being hard on you and in fact it is a problem of language.

    At any rate, I am sorry for the way I ask the question. I will make sure not to do it again.

    Have a good day,
    HelloThere
     
    HelloThere, May 29, 2006
    #10
  11. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    Was your question or fear/doubt over this application answered HelloThere?
     
    DavidGP, May 29, 2006
    #11
  12. HelloThere

    HelloThere Private E-2

    Halo,

    To be honest I am not sure. I have tried to read and read again the posts and some say there is malware and some say no, so I am not sure. I guess, since I am not sure how to ask the question right, I will just let it go.

    Again I am sorry, I guess I should not go on forums where I can't espress myself well because of my language limits.

    Major Attitude, again I am sorry, if you want to delete this thread it is alright.

    Have a good day,
    HelloThere
     
    HelloThere, May 29, 2006
    #12
  13. COMPUABLE

    COMPUABLE First Sergeant

    >> I am sorry if my phrasing was bad, English is not my native language and sometimes I say things a little akward. You assumed I was being hard on you and in fact it is a problem of language. At any rate, I am sorry for the way I ask the question. I will make sure not to do it again HelloThere <<

    Hi HelloThere! ;)

    I'm glad you cleared the language barrier thing up. However neither your original post (nor the follow ups) gave any indication that there was any language problem. No offence, really...

    But I have to admit I giggled a little when I read your original "What's Happening at MG with the software?" post this morning. I mean you had a problem with ONE single program and you only joined the MG forum on 05-19-06 and your second post claims "The Sky is Falling!" claiming "how can we know who and what to trust these days?" <lol>

    Seriously though, this is a terrific site to get geek answers to, and the forum is well monitored. After the original post you may have noticed that you received several useful and lengthy replies about your original inquiry regarding the Shrinkto5 program; including a vigorous debate about whether or not it might be potentially containing adware/spyware.

    As long as I’ve been here at MG, I’ve noticed that any sincerely asked question will be generously replied to no matter the experience of the user or how minute the question. So you need not feel that you can’t ask questions; but skipping the "The Sky is Falling and it’s all Major Geeks fault!" rhetoric/blaming-game postings will get you far more useful replies, in my opinion.

    Good Luck!
     
    COMPUABLE, May 29, 2006
    #13
  14. HelloThere

    HelloThere Private E-2


    I am so glad I was able to make you laugh! My day is now complete.

    Major Attitude, will you please delete this post and my inscription to MG. You make 1 mistake and you beome a target. I don't really need that.

    Have a good day & goodbye,
    HelloThere
     
    HelloThere, May 29, 2006
    #14
  15. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    Nooooooo your not a target at all, misinterpretations happen as you will well know the phrase c'est la vie in this multicultural world?

    You question was valid and I know MA takes these seriously and like myself will have tested this app, with all the antivirus/malware/spyware applications we have at our disposal, my opinion from "actually" physically installed in on my PC is that it has in the FREE version which we offer on Majorgeeks, is that its malware free, I noticed none of the signs of WhenU or another component of malware.

    Please do not let this one question stop you from posting as we will all move onto the next "target" tomorrow ;) ( JOKING ) we do try to be as fair as possible, no matter what the language used, sometimes as you know it may take a short while to get the gist of what a non-native english speaker is asking, but thats a dual edged sword.

    Have a great evening and hope to see you on MGs in the future :)
     
    DavidGP, May 29, 2006
    #15
  16. BCGray

    BCGray Guest

    Hey MA have a brew on me Bro, I realize that site safety is a sensitive subject here at MG, and trust me I appreciate the extra effort ALL of you go too to give us users safe products to try. That I still check ALL programs I download from this site or others does not mean that I distrust them, or question the integrity of the site. If I find a problem with software, I will post a message on that site to One; To draw others attention to what I have found, Two; To let the site operators know what I have found. If I am wrong and it is my set-up or it is the sites fault, it is just best to air it out.

    I am a “Newbie” here at MG, and have had posts ignored, critiqued, and “Flamed” so what…………….in ALL cases I have learned something. So to HelloThere and MA both read the messages in the threads and do your own self editing, quitting or jumping on some poor choice of words does none of us any good. It’s the collective input on this site that makes it great, and the way it so freely flows.

    FINALLY:- MA you and the people at MG have the best site, for the most part the residents are both friendly and helpful and have a great sense of humour, here’s hoping we all work to keep it that way.:)
     
    BCGray, May 29, 2006
    #16
  17. Major Attitude

    Major Attitude Co-Owner MajorGeeks.Com Staff Member

    Id like a real Canadian beer, gotta make the trek uphill soon :)
     
    Major Attitude, May 29, 2006
    #17
  18. Major Attitude

    Major Attitude Co-Owner MajorGeeks.Com Staff Member

    Bottom line is it did have malware at one time, at this time we can not find any and its a good app. I don't mind leaving the post up, we all make mistakes, including the geeks. I didnt realize the language barrier, because your post read fine, so you get the apology from me for jumping the gun, hopefully you will accept. It's not the first time I acted like an ass, and it wont be the last. I may have a Major Attitude, but I am not Major Perfect and glad to admit my mistakes. Thanks brother, keep on visiting, love having you here.

     
    Major Attitude, May 29, 2006
    #18
  19. BCGray

    BCGray Guest

    Hey as I said before the brew is on me, and the crumb crunchers are welcome to. Great job MA your one class act, proud to know you and be a part of MG
     
    BCGray, May 29, 2006
    #19

MajorGeeks.Com Menu

Downloads All In One Tweaks \ Android \ Anti-Malware \ Anti-Virus \ Appearance \ Backup \ Browsers \ CD\DVD\Blu-Ray \ Covert Ops \ Drive Utilities \ Drivers \ Graphics \ Internet Tools \ Multimedia \ Networking \ Office Tools \ PC Games \ System Tools \ Mac/Apple/Ipad Downloads

Other News: Top Downloads \ News (Tech) \ Off Base (Other Websites News) \ Way Off Base (Offbeat Stories and Pics)

Social: Facebook \ YouTube \ Twitter \ Tumblr \ Pintrest \ RSS Feeds