Curiosity
join:2001-10-01
Dawson Creek, BC | reply to eburger68
Re: Informal Adware Risk Survey
I am not familiar with all of those things, but CoolWebSearch would be the worst, with the toolbars probably next, and the tracking cookies the least problematic. |
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Mike_Healan
@bellsouth.ne
 from:
CalamityJane 
| reply to eburger68
ABetterInternet (Aurora)
SearchMiracle/Elitebar
IBIS Websearch/Wintools
CoolWebSearch (HomeSearchAssistant)
180search Assistant
Hotbar
GAIN OfferCompanion
WhenU Save!
Download Accelerator Plus
Weatherbug
Tracking cookie (Doubleclick)
New.net
I put them in that order based on how annoying they are, how difficult it is to remove and how often they pop up ads or simply crash the machine. If you had included Virtual Bouncer, I would have put that at the top just for being so annoying. |
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ilago
Premium
join:2005-06-28
Australia
 ·Internode
| reply to Curiosity
1. ABetterInternet (Aurora)
2. CoolWebSearch (HomeSearchAssistant)
3. 180search Assistant
4. SearchMiracle/Elitebar
5. IBIS Websearch/Wintools
6. GAIN OfferCompanion
7. New.net
8. WhenU Save!
9. Download Accelerator Plus
10. Hotbar
11. Weatherbug
12. Tracking cookie (Doubleclick)
I'm a Malware remover on a couple of other forums so I have based my list on that experience, rather than personal experience. I have chosen to install several of these products to work with removal methods.
They are all gross abuse of personal property - your computer. Coowebsearch and Aurora are, to me, in the same class as housebreakers. They have no redeeming features.
However, if you have installed sponsored software then you have a resonsibility to remove the software that was only available through the sponsorship - Messenger Plus! 3, for example, has a sponsor infection, lop.com, that is not in the list above. That is the price of the free software. |
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wng_z3r0
join:2005-06-27
Grand Forks, ND
| reply to eburger68
ABetterInternet (Aurora)
IBIS Websearch/Wintools
CoolWebSearch (HomeSearchAssistant)
SearchMiracle/Elitebar
Hotbar
180search Assistant
WhenU Save!
GAIN OfferCompanion
New.net
Weatherbug
Download Accelerator Plus
Tracking cookie (Doubleclick)
reasons:
1. Nail is a pain in the but to remove, and it causes havoc on computer.
2. wintools. This is kinda tied with CWS, but wintools is so freaking unstable, and the OS suffers greatly from the program
3. Note above comments
4. Elitebar is also a pain to remove. It acts like a rootkit in the sense that it loads itself in the memory so it can't be deleted, and then reincarnates itself.
5. This is kinda a tie with elitebar, but it is slightly easier to remove.
6-8 These are middle of the road crapware. They are pretty much a tie IMO
9 new.net hijacks the LSP chain, making it sometimes dangerous to remove by the uninformed.
10. WB displays popups, and I dont trust the creators
11. DAP is completely harmless, except for a few popups
12. A cookie is... a big yawn IMHO. easy to take care of, and not dangerous
wng |
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suzi
Premium
join:2004-05-01
| reply to eburger68
I'd rate these three at the top of the list, just about tied based on personal experience, having downloaded them for testing, and due to difficulty in removal & pervasiveness with what I've seen in HijackThis logs on SWW. I've never before seen such anger, as CalamityJane noted, toward any spyware/adware as people have expressed about Aurora. There are over 100 angry comments on my blog about Aurora including people posting death wishes and thoughts of violence against DirectRevenue. I've seen some anger toward CWS, but nothing like I've seen toward DirectRevenue (Abetterinternet). SearchMiracle/Elitebar has a nasty habit of hiding and being invisible to detection with usual methods. I've had the second group, too, and though they are extremely annoying, they are not that difficult to get rid of.
ABetterInternet (Aurora)
CoolWebSearch (HomeSearchAssistant)
SearchMiracle/Elitebar
Then, in this order:
IBIS Websearch/Wintools
180search Assistant
New.net
GAIN OfferCompanion
Hotbar
WhenU Save!
Very low risk, about even:
Download Accelerator Plus
Weatherbug
Tracking cookie (Doubleclick)
--
aka Suzi, Spyware Warrior
Microsoft MVP Windows Security 2005 |
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bcastner
Premium,VIP,MVM
join:2002-09-25
Chevy Chase, MD
clubs:  | reply to eburger68
ABetterInternet (Aurora)
CoolWebSearch (HomeSearchAssistant)
SearchMiracle/Elitebar
IBIS Websearch/Wintools
New.net
180search Assistant
GAIN OfferCompanion
WhenU Save
Hotbar
Download Accelerator Plus
Weatherbug |
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miekiemoes
Premium
join:2005-07-19
| reply to eburger68
My list:
CoolWebSearch (HomeSearchAssistant)
ABetterInternet (Aurora)
SearchMiracle/Elitebar
IBIS Websearch/Wintools
Hotbar
180search Assistant
New.net
WhenU Save!
GAIN OfferCompanion
Download Accelerator Plus
Weatherbug
Tracking cookie (Doubleclick) |
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CalamityJane
Premium,VIP,MVM
join:2002-08-27
Eustis, FL | Welcome miekiemoes!
[OT] miekiemoes, Welcome to Broadband Reports (aka DSLReports...DSLR)
Nice to see you here  Thanks for your input. |
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quietman7
@va.us
from:
CalamityJane
| reply to eburger68
Re: Informal Adware Risk Survey
OK. Here is my two cents starting with the worst to least offender!
CoolWebSearch (HomeSearchAssistant)
ABetterInternet (Aurora)
SearchMiracle/Elitebar
IBIS Websearch/Wintools
180search Assistant
New.net
WhenU Save!
GAIN OfferCompanion
Hotbar
Download Accelerator Plus
Weatherbug
Tracking cookie (Doubleclick) |
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AMD1-1
@65.170.x.x
| reply to wng_z3r0
all of these items are direct intrusions on a personal computer.
aren't you the one screwing around on the ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES support website that tried to remove something from a compromised computer and you replied that you did not need supervision?
i think you are.
you sure get around. |
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LoPhatPhuud
Premium,VIP,MVM
join:2002-01-06
Albuquerque, NM
 ·Comcast
·Qwest.net
1 edit | reply to eburger68
Aurora, CWS,and Elitebar, to me, are real close. I would say the persistance award for being the biggest PITA for the longest time goes to CWS.
Anyway, here is my ranking...
ABetterInternet (Aurora)
CoolWebSearch (HomeSearchAssistant)
SearchMiracle/Elitebar
IBIS Websearch/Wintools
New.net
180search Assistant
WhenU Save!
Hotbar
GAIN OfferCompanion
Weatherbug
Download Accelerator Plus
Tracking cookie (Doubleclick)
--
When angry count four; when very angry, swear.
Microsoft MVP Windows-Security 2005
Gladiator Security Forum
|
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miekiemoes
Premium
join:2005-07-19 | reply to CalamityJane
Re: Welcome miekiemoes!
My pleasure. Still trying to find out how this board works.  |
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CalamityJane
Premium,VIP,MVM
join:2002-08-27
Eustis, FL
| said by miekiemoes :Still trying to find out how this board works. So are we! {just kidding but the custom board features can be a challenge} If you ever need help or have a question feel free to click on my name and send me an IM
For those here who don't know her, miekiemoes is an extremely talented spyware removal specialist and researcher (and a very nice lady)! We're honored to see you here
--
It takes a disaster to make a woman out of a female
Gladiator Security Forum
Proud Member of ASAP (Alliance of Security Analysis Professionals) |
|
mViOkPe
@ev1.net
| reply to eburger68
Re: Informal Adware Risk Survey
To me, a snake is a snake no matter what size and shape. Even a tracking cookie has no place in my world as I refuse to let anyone profile my unique individual habits for any reason. Nor do I allow any process to take control of any aspect of my sys without my personal cfg.
So I ask; What difference does it make which order of severity you find them? They are all snakes. |
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keith2468
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-03
Winnipeg, MB
| reply to eburger68
1. CoolWebSearch (HomeSearchAssistant)
2. WhenU Save!
3. ABetterInternet (Aurora)
180search Assistant
SearchMiracle/Elitebar
Tracking cookie (Doubleclick)
New.net
IBIS Websearch/Wintools
GAIN OfferCompanion
Hotbar
4. Download Accelerator Plus
I don't regard Weatherbug as malware -- by my definition.
I tested Weatherbug myself several months ago, and regardless of the fact that my KAV labelled it as adware, and regardless of the fact that an Ad-aware SE scan removed a registry entry required for its uninstall to work, because:
(a) it came with a working un-install utility (that worked when I didn't let Ad-aware and KAV muck with it), and
(b) because it didn't appear to do any more tracking than a browser with a tracking cookie, and
(c) even after being on my machine for 12 hours I didn't see anything else install (so no unauthorized installs of other software).
Weatherbug may have changed since then. Since it doesn't cover weather in Canada, I uninstalled Weatherbug after my tests.
--
(Virus&Hijacking FAQ + Submit suspected malware + Backups FAQ + Security FAQ TOC) |
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Trpm
join:2003-10-11
Louisville, KY
| reply to eburger68
It's a tough call between ABetterInternet and CoolWebSearch for 1st place, but here it goes.
CoolWebSearch (HomeSearchAssistant)
ABetterInternet (Aurora)
IBIS Websearch/Wintools
SearchMiracle/Elitebar
180search Assistant
New.net
GAIN OfferCompanion
Hotbar
WhenU Save
Download Accelerator Plus
Weatherbug
Tracking cookie (Doubleclick)
Rex |
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CalamityJane
Premium,VIP,MVM
join:2002-08-27
Eustis, FL | Wow! Hi Rex, welcome to BBR/DSLR Another great talent shows up in this thread! Glad to see you here!! |
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Trpm
join:2003-10-11
Louisville, KY | Hey there Calamity,
Nice to see you as always!
I have been reading this board off and on for awhile, just never posted much. (Member since 2003-10-11.)
Rex |
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CalamityJane
Premium,VIP,MVM
join:2002-08-27
Eustis, FL
| Heh! I have your names now and know you're registered....sometimes I have to put a call in to the Calvary on a difficult infection and ~gets out pencil~ to jot you in
mu-ahahahahahahahaha
So, back to topic before I'm busted, many thanks for your input on Eric's survey here
--
It takes a disaster to make a woman out of a female
Gladiator Security Forum
Proud Member of ASAP (Alliance of Security Analysis Professionals) |
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dalek9
join:2005-07-02
Canada
| reply to eburger68
Rank
Weatherbug 1
Download Accelerator Plus 2
ABetterInternet (Aurora) 3
WhenU Save! 4
GAIN OfferCompanion 5
SearchMiracle/Elitebar 6
New.net 7
Tracking cookie (Doubleclick) 8
Hotbar 9
CoolWebSearch (HomeSearchAssistant) 10
IBIS Websearch/Wintools 11
180search Assistant 12 |
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