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General discussion

Spyware cures may cause more harm than good--so who are we suppose to trust?

Feb 4, 2004 6:52AM PST

I thought this was an interesting article worth discussing... I mean really, who are we to trust nowadays????

From CNET News.com By John Borland
Staff Writer, CNET News.com

Spyware cures may cause more harm than good

Web surfers battling "spyware" face a new problem: so-called spyware-killing programs that install the same kind of unwanted advertising software they promise to erase.

more...
http://news.com.com/2100-1032-5153485.html

Discussion is locked

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Spyware cures may cause more harm than good--so who are we suppose to trust?
Feb 4, 2004 7:11AM PST

very interesting Mr. Koo and informative as well.
perhaps one method of ensuring that the program is bona fide is to invite the author to do a small write up of what the spyware removal program does as well to list the various advertisers who will place a tracking device once that particular software is activated.
david williams

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That's why the Anti-Parasite Suite Thread
Feb 4, 2004 8:17AM PST
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Who keeps those companies (like spybot, Adaware, etc) in check ...
Feb 4, 2004 8:46AM PST

to make sure they aren't planting spyware under our noses? Granted that they are big companies, who oversees them...? What if they turn on us?

I mean what if ZoneAlarm, the firewall software that so many people trust today, suddenly did a change of heart and found it more profitable by data mining people surfing habits and decided to plant in their next release of ZA with spyware without letting us know?

I personally think it will kill the trust that we have in all well known companies like that... it's a scary thought, but you gotta almost wonder about this because it could just happen.

Just playing the devils advocate Wink

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Re:Who keeps those companies (like spybot, Adaware, etc) in check ...
Feb 4, 2004 8:58AM PST

The USERS - both, Ad aware and SpybotS&D, have forums and IF something is NOT right - the users JUMP on them Happy

These 2 programs are a good combination to get rid of spyware. And as there are so many variations of Cool Web Search - Merijn has developped:

HijackThis and CWShredder:
http://www.merijn.org/downloads.html

also to help to eliminate parasites etc.

On top, Spywareinfo does also a great job informing people about spyware. They are the Spyware and hijackware specialists Happy

http://www.spywareinfo.com/

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Yep, WE Monitor The Programs
Feb 4, 2004 12:43PM PST

Much like Marianna said, it's the users, ALL OF US, that monitor the programs. Your mention of ZoneAlarm broght up a problem, a short while ago, where the possibility of it being spyware was discussed. The final outcome was that it was simply looking for updates, but the fact is....the internet is HUGE, and there are all sorts of people and companies watching and judging these types of programs.

Unfortunately, it took four months for the SpyBan to be discovered, but still it was "found out".

Hope this helps.

Grif

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Spyware Article at CNET
Feb 4, 2004 11:32PM PST

Spyware Article at CNET
The article focuses on spyware that claims to remove spyware, but instead actually install spyware. The article focuses on SpyBan, which installs Look2Me, and when CNET contacted SpyBan about it, their web site went dark.

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,9289771~mode=flat