Kazaa massive "next generation" spyware - act now !!!

[flexy]

below something i posted elsewhere...i just want to spread the word, so that as much people as possible know what's going currently regarding kazaa and the spyware client which comes with it !

I am also thinking about what to do...and i am asking for input here !
(Btw. you can read all over the news, msnbs, cnet, technews etc. about that subject which (imho) really is important for everyone concerned about privacy ! )

This is a serious threat....and i am thinking whether there's a way that anti virus programs (like norton anti virus, mcaffee etc.) could be used for the purpose of stopping such actions. A program which secretly installs on my pc and uses my resources/bandwith at my expenses (i PAY for my computer and i PAY for my internet!) can very well be defined as a virus !!!!! Since anti virii programs are quite common and widely used i ask any developers in that sector to think about the possibility that the major and widely programs (Norton etc.) are aware of the problem and provide/support functionality so they handle those kind of harmful spyware programs the same as any other virus...with functionality to check and remove ANY harmful program..whether it destroys emails, data...installs secretly on my system...and/or interferes with my system in any unwanted way.
There must be some massive counter measures on a great scale (therefore: widely used programs like virus scanners! ) - since the attack (on our privacy !) also happens on a VERY BIG scale if you think about millions and millions of users who already use kazaa and have that (secretly installed) program running without even knowing it ! I just discovered i had on my PC *at work* too..just waiting to be activated for their spamming/advertizing purposes !

Act now !!! Write to all your friends...in the forums..everywhere !!! If they have kazaa...tell them how to uninstall the "b3dprojector"...tell them about software like "adaware" and similiar anti-spyware programs. Make them aware that they are *actively* supporting spam..that their PCs and bandwith is used..at THEIR (very real !) expenses....for the profits of another company !!!!!!!

This is serious stuff, guys !!!


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http://news.com.com/2100-1023-873181.html

i think everyone should read this...it went thru the news the recent days. No..its NO april joke....its real.

Its spyware "The next generation". A program (a point to point client) is *secretly* (without asking) installed on YOUR computer in addition with Kazaar, the popular file sharing program.

It's purpose is to create a "new" network using (speak: MIS-using) the millions of people and their PCs who use/downloaded the Kazaar program.

The newly created p2p network (means: PCs, YOUR PC, MY PC, the cpu power and the network bandwith....is used for advertizing purposes....spam...overlaying and forcing of content over websites...etc...spam of the WORST kind ever !)

I am so fed up with spam i get flooded with every day already....but THIS deservers a closer look...should i say boycot...maybe even considering legal actions or laws...since i think it cant be what some companies think is "ok".

I personally had this program ("b3dprojector") installed on my machine a few days already. Since i was NEVER asked whether i want to install it or not...NOR got any information what's the program's purpose i didnt de-install it. Until i read about it the recent days.

Do you want YOUR computer and network bandwith be USED by some shady company.....for THEIR purposes ????? Without being asked..and of course without being paid ? Not to mention the serious interference with people's privacy.

I think this practices have to come to an end...its already predictable that OTHER companies will follow trying to do the same.

The company ("Brilliant")...these people try to activate the "new" network in a few weeks...share "content" (means: ads..spam) on all Kazaar User's PCs and HDs.

You wont have control over spam and forced advertizing anymore since now every USER without knowing it is participating actively in delivering spam and ads over the net all over ! Your bandwith might drop..since now instead of getting emails, webpages, files...you are also additionally transferring spam advertizing over YOUR internet connection. You are also hosting the spam on your HD. Nice, isn't it ?

DE-INSTALL their crap !!! Don't let them succeed with their shady practices - imagine the million of users who might have that program running without even knowing (millions already use kazaar).....spread the word what's going on so that shady practices like these wont succeed ! Write about that on every forum you know so people know whats going on !!!!!!

(Yes..that's really NO belated april joke....)


greetings

 

[vash]

I don't know why people are making a big deal about this piece of software.

Seriously, if you are going to download a free application, that allows Peer to Peer networking for the transfer of files (of any sort), you deserve what you get. Kazaa (and related pieces of commercial software), are out to make a buck. What's an easier way to make a dollar than to sell ad revenue? If you don't like what they are doing, then DON'T USE THEIR SOFTWARE.

Its probably more difficult to get people to understand that the internet costs money and many company have gone out of business because they didn't have enough money to sustain a business model. The internet isn't free and we have all learned that, Kazaa is trying to make a dollar and stick around. If you don't like the spyware, don't use it and move on -- its pretty simple.

vash

 

[PowerYoga]

its not the fact that we don't support internet companies like them making money, its the WAY that they're making it that is ticking a lot of people off. Granted, forced ads are the only way that the companies make money, but going into your computer and extracting bandwidth for their own extra advertising is going a bit too far, espcially with the concern over privacy. Its fine that pop ups are there, i don't mind the one or 2 windows that pop up every now and then, but making our computer NODES for DELIVERING spam to other users is crossing the line. The fact that they also don't tell you that they do this is wrong. I'm sure a lot of people would stop using kazaa if they knew their computers would turn into nodes for spam-delivery after installing kazaa.

 

[vash]

<< its not the fact that we don't support internet companies like them making money, its the WAY that they're making it that is ticking a lot of people off. Granted, forced ads are the only way that the companies make money, but going into your computer and extracting bandwidth for their own extra advertising is going a bit too far, espcially with the concern over privacy. Its fine that pop ups are there, i don't mind the one or 2 windows that pop up every now and then, but making our computer NODES for DELIVERING spam to other users is crossing the line. The fact that they also don't tell you that they do this is wrong. I'm sure a lot of people would stop using kazaa if they knew their computers would turn into nodes for spam-delivery after installing kazaa. >>

I agree with you in that the way they are making money isn't well supported, but they have to make cash somehow, right? Sure, lawyers are considered a seedy bunch (used car salespeople, etc), but they have their use and you have to pay for what you get, right?

I also agree that if more users understood what this Kazaa thing was doing with their systems, they would stop using it. But who is out there, showing them what is going on? When you read a forum, like this one, you have somewhat computer literate people, that understand and acknowledge what is going on with software and the internet.

What it simply boils down to is: if you like their service, you accept the conditions of it. If you don't like the service, or a portion of the service, just stop using it.

vash

 

[flexy]

these people are not stupid.....honestly...who reads all the "terms of use" and small print you always get before you install a program ????? It's quite common that many programs nowadays come with certain kinds of spyware...and i am kinda used to it. I know how to de-install it..and many/most programs even provide an option (with selectable checkmarks) to install those programs or not.

I make a big deal out of kazaa...since it is a step further....(a huuuge step actually!)...and i dont like the way they sneak into your system...hidden and secretly. Exactly HOW these people planned to do it ! As i understood only in the last days, in a hearing, they ADMITTED that they were actually trying (hell: they ARE TRYING..not "were") to install a P2p client instead of the "average" spyware which collects cookies and similiar.

It's a difference whether i get some pop ups on the screen...or whether i HOST the spam on my HD for myself and transfer it actively to another Kazaa user..therefore being an active part in distributing THEIR spam or whatever...for their purposes !!! It doesn even end at Spam/Marketing/Ads...they even talk about distributed computing...ie. using the combined cpu power of these "linked PCs" for UNKNOWN purposes. Again: On my, on everyone kazaa user's PC, using my resources !

"The internet costs money"

right ! The internet costs money. Most people pay for their internet.....also..i understand if someone expects a free service like filesharing etc. that "THERE MUST BE A CATCH"..but in this case as said they just went too far ! There already have been people FIRED from their jobs because they installed distributed computing apps like Folding, RC5 etc. at work. How does it come a company like "Brilliant" is ABLE to distribute/install a p2p/distributed client ALL OVER THE FREAKIN' world...including PCs at work....for ONE SINGLE companies' profits ?????? This is totally unacceptable !

 

[PowerYoga]

<<

<< its not the fact that we don't support internet companies like them making money, its the WAY that they're making it that is ticking a lot of people off. Granted, forced ads are the only way that the companies make money, but going into your computer and extracting bandwidth for their own extra advertising is going a bit too far, espcially with the concern over privacy. Its fine that pop ups are there, i don't mind the one or 2 windows that pop up every now and then, but making our computer NODES for DELIVERING spam to other users is crossing the line. The fact that they also don't tell you that they do this is wrong. I'm sure a lot of people would stop using kazaa if they knew their computers would turn into nodes for spam-delivery after installing kazaa. >>

I agree with you in that the way they are making money isn't well supported, but they have to make cash somehow, right? Sure, lawyers are considered a seedy bunch (used car salespeople, etc), but they have their use and you have to pay for what you get, right?

I also agree that if more users understood what this Kazaa thing was doing with their systems, they would stop using it. But who is out there, showing them what is going on? When you read a forum, like this one, you have somewhat computer literate people, that understand and acknowledge what is going on with software and the internet.

What it simply boils down to is: if you like their service, you accept the conditions of it. If you don't like the service, or a portion of the service, just stop using it. >>




like i said before, i don't mind ads in a program because they help pay for the services that we use. You can't seriously expect a company to give you free service, and a pretty good one (kazaa) is giving at that. Granted, they already have a good amount of ad popup when you're downloading something, but the fact that they TAP into your computer in order to get more advertising is unacceptable. I'm sure nobody would want their computer turned into a node for spam distribution, especially if you have a fast connection. Its a lot worse than just having pop-ups; its invading your privacy, taking away your bandwidth SO their company could make more money. Would you like to pay your cable-modem-fee so someone else could make money off your bandwidth? I personally wouldn't appreciate it if they take my bandwidth to distrubute spam..

Granted, most of the people there don't know jack about computers. (besides instant messenging services) This is why we must educate them, not push them away because they don't know anything about spyware. I was thinking of posting up notices around my school campus, and leaving leaflets around the buildings to tell them about this invasion of privacy. Granted, this will turn a lot of people off from using the service, but they have a right to determine whether they want to continue using the software and having the computers turned into spam machines, OR discontinue using it. (telling them about adaware will be hard because they don't know what those things would do 😀)

I wouldn't mind if they increase the frequency of the ad-pop ups by a bit, but an invasion of my privacy and bandwidth to turn my computer into a spam node? No thanks.