Download Accelerator Plus kicks some real booty!!

[JayPatel]

just downloaded the Sacrifice Demo off zdnet @ 497 kb/sec!!!!!!! woot woot!!!! Time to grab Team Arena!!!

 

[Poolman]

Agreeded, it usually doubles my D/L speed on cable

 

[JellyBaby]

Doesn't it install "spyware" on your PC (ie. adware programs that report back to home regarding your download/net habits)?

 

[Poolman]

dont know but doubling my D/L speed is worth it to me ....

 

[Pretender]

yes, the last I heard about it, it's one of the spyware programs that install ad utilities on your computer and track your internet activity. I don't know if they changed it since then (this was a few months back)

 

[Superwombat]

umm... shouldn't they mention that somewhere in the installation?? I might be a little upset if they were doing that without my knowledge...

 

[Pretender]

No, the fact that it doesn't tell you is part of the controversy that was brewing months ago.

 

[SilentBoB]

There isn't really any spyware. The way they make money is by selling ad space on the download accelerator interface. You know, that little ad banner. Spyware is stuff that secretly takes your info and then the guys who made it sell that info. The download accelerator plus guys make money by selling that ad space.

 

[JayPatel]

well i just installed and ran ad-aware and it reported no spyware entries whatsoever in my system so it must have been taken care of

 

[JellyBaby]

SilentBoB,

Spyware encompasses more than just that; it also includes more reasonable backchannel reporting. According to Gibson's site, DA is still on the Suspect List whatever that actually means.

JayPatel,

I believe that program only removes one type of spyware which DA may or may not use.

Somebody who installed DA must have read the license agreement. What did it say about use of your internet bandwidth?

 

[JellyBaby]

Looks like it *does* report home on your usage. Some info (damn the 'net is handy! ):

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read the Warnings & Cautions before using or tweaking any version of this product.

Aug 06-00: From "Ruckus": Here's what's in the license agreement - you decide:

From Speedbit DAP (Download Accelerator Plus) license agreement

----begin quote----

3. You acknowledge and agree that SpeedBit may gather information and usage pattern, and as well registration parameters provided by you, your software and configuration, provided that if published, it will be done only in aggregate form without user names.

4. You agree that SpeedBit may use this information provided by you and the Software, or information related to, for the purpose of target advertising, marketing, co-registration to other services by SpeedBit or other parties, provided that if names are part of this information you had been given the advanced opportunity for omission of your name;

5. Comply with any legal obligations, including but not limited to, obligations imposed by copyright, trademarks, patent, secrecy, defamation, decency, privacy and export laws;

6. SpeedBit may use your name in any customer reference list or any other release issued by SpeedBit or any of its affiliates.

----end quote----

From a post in a GRC newsgroup: (sorry, don't remember from who) "DAP (Download Accelerator Plus) DOES CALL HOME at approximately 15 minute intervals! - AND whenever you INITIATE A DOWNLOAD! I installed the little pecker-head earlier today, and just happen to notice accesses in the log of my Firewall program at 15 minute intervals from the 'DAP.EXE' application to address 209.207.233.113 (also during EVERY download I made in addition to the 15 minute intervals). I blocked that address, only to have the little pecker try to use 209.207.233.112 when it couldn't establish a connect at the 1st address. (These seem to be the only two address it attempts communications with)."

General Info: Numerous posts about blocking Download Accelerator's ad-serving function have been made to newsgroups and listserves but do you really want to take chances by having this on your computer?

Methods found online include: Emptying the ADS folder where DA is installed; Adding servers to the hosts file (ads.downloadaccelerator.com & www.downloadaccelerator.com); Using firewalls to block IPs 209.207.233.112 & 209.207.233.113; and modifying the URL that DL Accelerator "phones home" to in the registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/SpeedBit/Download Accelerator/ADS/DefaultServer
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Source: http://www.accs-net.com/smallfish/dloaders.htm.

 

[JayPatel]

Thanks for the headsup Jelly,

im not worried about being spied on, all my stuff on my comp and all my downloads are legal

 

[BigToque]

<< im not worried about being spied on, all my stuff on my comp and all my downloads are legal >>



You dont remember that copy of Win98SE you sent me? j/k

I never use DA. Its installed, but I havent used it once since I installed it.

 

[anton]

First I tried Downloaded Accelator and was pretty amazed, but then I tried FlashGet , and it beat up download accelerator very badly ... FlashGet got much more functions, and it's faster !

 

[dennilfloss]

DAP kicks major butt. I have had it for over a year. According to my ZoneAlarm logs, it has never tried to connect at the numbers mentioned by jellybaby. Maybe because I'm on dialup. One advantage it that it intercepts those nasty little self-downloading .exes that sometimes accompany a popup cascade. Saved my jpeg-hungry neighbour's butt a couple of times.

Urgent (Foreigner)