1 edit | Pushing Anti-Spyware: A New Low... Hi All:
This is one of those "you've got to see it to believe it" deals. Suzi at Spyware Warrior passed this on to me: Consumer Identity -- a "new" anti-spyware app.
ConsumerIdentity is yet another of Bilal Ahmed's cloneware products. See here for the others:
»www.spywarewarrior.com/family_re···es.htm#7
But this particular incarnation has something special. Check out the home page (and the attached screenshot) to see what I mean:
Consumer Identity
»www.consumeridentity.com/
What's of interest on that page is the Flash animation video on the left of the page. I've yet to see another anti-spyware site that used a robotic-sounding cyberbabe to push anti-spyware software.
As if that weren't bad enough, the software is using outdated defs (10/4/03) and won't update (though it reports it does). After kicking out the usual false positives, it pops up a window asking for registration.
Which is only $49.97.
For one year.
A web page then opens up:
»www.consumeridentity.com/register.htm
...and RoboCyberBabe makes return appearance to scare the dickens out of fence-sitters.
One interesting observation, though. After RoboCyberBabe stops talking, you can move your mouse around her head, and she tilts her head and follows your mouse cursor with her eyes. (whooooo.....!)
I'm trying to figure out a way of reporting this on the Rogue/Suspect Anti-Spyware page. I must admit, I'm at a loss for words.
Eric L. Howes |
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 SparrowCrystal SkyPremium
join:2002-12-03
Sachakhand | I prefer Maukie following me around. 
»home.wanadoo.nl/annekebroenink/maukie2.swf |
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suziPremium
join:2004-05-01
1 edit | reply to eburger68
There is some very interesting info about the programmer, Bilal Ahmed, here:
»www.rentacoder.com/RentACoder/So···d=736080
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aka Suzi, Spyware Warrior |
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 John2gQui Tacet ConsentitPremium
join:2001-08-10
England | reply to eburger68
Eric, I'm just surprised that you are surprised any longer. |
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 dpPremium,MVM
join:2000-12-08
Greensburg, PA
kudos:7 | reply to eburger68
said by eburger68:
... the software is using outdated defs (10/4/03) and won't update (though it reports it does). After kicking out the usual false positives, it pops up a window asking for registration.
Which is only $49.97.
For one year.
All this for only $49.97? Again, thanks for keeping this kind of activity in the 'headlines' Eric.
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Write your questions down on the back of a $20 dollar bill and send them to me |
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 KayracPremium
join:2001-09-29
Madison, WI | i see the testimonials and i'm saddened they had to pay 50$ just to fix a few popups, need to scream at them to come here instead of use the program that the spyware popups were showing  |
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| reply to John2g
John2g:
You wrote:
said by John2g:
Eric, I'm just surprised that you are surprised any longer.
You're right, of course. I shouldn't be surprised. Yet I must confess that I was left agog at this latest ploy.
ELH |
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 markwp2001SpreadheadPremium
join:2002-05-25
Long Beach, MS | reply to eburger68
said by eburger68:
Which is only $49.97.
For one year.
So you're saying this is a pretty good deal?
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Widespread Panic - when only the best will do ... |
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Mele20Premium
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI
kudos:4 | reply to eburger68
I have Flash disabled in Spyware Blaster for IE so I can't "enjoy" this ad. (I don't even have the flash plugin for FF/Moz). I also don't buy Prada boots....a bit hot for those in Hawaii.  It is such a silly web page. Surely no one would be taken in by it!
What I take issue with though is this bald faced lie:
"... Our program is not free. Any program that you find that claims to be 100% free is a Scam and probably Spyware (there is no such thing as something for nothing)."
I hope the authors of Spybot, Spyware Blaster and AdAware go after these guys.
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The first and foremost function of our jurors is to protect private citizens from a tyrannical and intrusive government...Jurors are the last line of defense for liberty. Thomas Jefferson 1789 |
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| I caught these:
System32\amcompat.tlb
Program Files\MSN\MSNCoreFiles\dw.exe
And deleted them in Administrator. I'm not paying $50.00 for that.
Peace.
b11ng00 |
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SparrowCrystal SkyPremium
join:2002-12-03
Sachakhand | reply to suzi
said by suzi:
There is some very interesting info about the programmer, Bilal Ahmed, here:
»www.rentacoder.com/RentACoder/So···d=736080
This made my stomach tie up in a knot.  quote:
Buyer (harryspoon)chose to call off work with this coder (bilal)when he discovered that the coder was simultaneously creating a site to market and sell a product competitive to the same product he was creating for the buyer. The coder claims that the buyer hired him because of his expertise and knew about the site but the buyer states once he found out about the site he wanted to cancel. RAC cannot confirm or deny these statements. [snip]
I wonder how many others are doing the same thing? The "skill" goes to the highest bidder. 
What I find disturbing is that the rip-offs outnumber the valid applications. The average person who sees a product "catching" 1,000 instances of "spyware" as opposed to 15, 20 or less on a legitimate product can easily be swayed to the crapware.
We look at this every day. We are aware of the garbage out there, and the best still feel defeated at times.
Imagine those who never heard of "spyware" or "malware," and they come across a site like the one Eric posted or read an occasional article on spyware, and one day decide that it's serious enough to start "battening down the hatches."
Where do they go to look? They type the word "spyware" into their favorite search engine, and if they are lucky, they'll discover the "right" product(s) to use. It's a 50-50 shot they will choose "correctly."
Thank goodness for the "Erics" and "Daphnes" of the world.
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Security Forum FAQs ..♥.. AV Complaints? ..♥.. Raj karega Khalsa! ..♥.. XP SP2 |
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| It caught two on my pc. OR Was I Hoaxed !  I deleted them in xp admin too !
Peace.
b11ng00 |
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SparrowCrystal SkyPremium
join:2002-12-03
Sachakhand | dw - dw.exe - Process Information
»www.liutilities.com/products/win···rary/dw/
Filename Startup entry
amcompat.tlb
»www.kephyr.com/filedb/index.php?···mpat.tlb
Like I said b11ngO0  - it's a 50-50 crapshoot.
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Security Forum FAQs ..♥.. AV Complaints? ..♥.. Raj karega Khalsa! ..♥.. XP SP2 |
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 pcdebbRIP dadkinsPremium
join:2000-12-03
Brandon, FL
kudos:4 | reply to suzi
said by suzi:
There is some very interesting info about the programmer, Bilal Ahmed, here:
»www.rentacoder.com/RentACoder/So···d=736080
quite interesting indeed. Looks like perhaps his own product may be parts of the programs he was paid to write and just put them in his own work, i'm almost willing to bet.,,, |
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 RdaxPremium
join:2001-05-18
El Dorado, AR
1 edit | reply to eburger68
Nuts. I was going to post about the "Pravda Boots" but the poster edited and took the reference out.
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"Hang 'em first, try 'em later" Judge Roy Bean. |
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