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These are examples of spyware:

I had to watch some video at work about threats to the network. In one part they were talking about adware and spyware. They listed off all the usual stuff and then added Google Toolbar. I wanted to slam my face into the monitor and ask them what the hell they were talking about!!!

Or am I wrong and Google Toolbar is spyware?
 
Doesn't it log usage statistics (as is the case with most of Google's products and services)? Never read the TOS so I'm not 100% sure, I just stay away from toolbars in general. I honestly have no idea why people install them.

edit: A bit exaggerated, but I've seen people who have like 3-4 toolbars installed. Never understood that.

Text
 
Originally posted by: NSFW
I had to watch some video at work about threats to the network. In one part they were talking about adware and spyware. They listed off all the usual stuff and then added Google Toolbar. I wanted to slam my face into the monitor and ask them what the hell they were talking about!!!

Or am I wrong and Google Toolbar is spyware?
Click to expand...

We consider it junkware. Not as damaging as some, but its a pain in the ass eating up memory for no real benefit
 
Originally posted by: frostedflakes
Doesn't it log usage statistics (as is the case with most of Google's products and services)? Never read the TOS so I'm not 100% sure,
Click to expand...

It can if you let it. I don't think it does if you tell it not to. I think Google's desktop search program is a bigger concern to companies because you can enable a feature that would put company data on Google's servers.

I just stay away from toolbars in general. I honestly have no idea why people install them.
Click to expand...

Same reason people install any browser add-on - it has useful features. It's less useful now that IE and Firefox both have built-in search boxes.
 
Originally posted by: NSFW
Originally posted by: barfo
I never install any software with the word "toolbar" in it.
Click to expand...

It comes loaded in FF. Or is that not considered a toolbar?
Click to expand...

:laugh:

That's just the Firefox search bar. You can load ANY search engine into it.
 
Originally posted by: NSFW
Originally posted by: barfo
I never install any software with the word "toolbar" in it.
Click to expand...

It comes loaded in FF. Or is that not considered a toolbar?
Click to expand...

If you mean the search box to the right of the address bar then no, that's not the google toolbar.
 
Originally posted by: Crusty
Originally posted by: NSFW
Originally posted by: barfo
I never install any software with the word "toolbar" in it.
Click to expand...

It comes loaded in FF. Or is that not considered a toolbar?
Click to expand...

:laugh:

That's just the Firefox search bar. You can load ANY search engine into it.
Click to expand...

fuck I'm stupid. I knew that...

rudeguys are not made to wake up at 5am.
 
Originally posted by: NSFW
Originally posted by: Crusty
Originally posted by: NSFW
Originally posted by: barfo
I never install any software with the word "toolbar" in it.
Click to expand...

It comes loaded in FF. Or is that not considered a toolbar?
Click to expand...

:laugh:

That's just the Firefox search bar. You can load ANY search engine into it.
Click to expand...

fuck I'm stupid. I knew that...

rudeguys are not made to wake up at 5am.
Click to expand...

:laugh:
 
Originally posted by: NSFW
I wanted to slam my face into the monitor and ask them what the hell they were talking about!!!

Or am I wrong and Google Toolbar is spyware?
Click to expand...

Actually, they're correct. Spyware is not always malware. Anything that sends back user behavior information back to the "vendor", without being directly related to the function of the software, is considered "spyware".

In fact, in its simplest form, many anti-spyware products detect "cookies" as spyware. Whether or not its malicious depends on whether the user agreed to it or not.
 
I remember hearing a nightmare cleanup act where someone went to a friend's place to clean up the multi-thousand spyware instance install of windows they had. After doing the cleanup, the guy had to go back a few days later because it was acting up again. After getting to the bottom of the issue he found the root of the problem:

"But I LIKE Bonzai Buddy!"
 
Let's see...Google tracks and logs the site's you visit thru it's searches and collects your toolbar feedback etc., and creates a user profile on you with this information (and other information gathered from its cookies throughout the net) for targeted advertising...

What part of 'spyware' is ambiguous, the obvious 'spy' part of it, or the 'ware' part?

Next thing you know people will start defending their Gmail account, pretending it's not a 'spyware' service as well.
 
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