eburger68
Premium,MVM
join:2001-04-28
1 edit | FTC Shuts Down Adware/Spyware Vendor Hi All:
The FTC announced today that it has shut down a major adware/spyware vendor: Enternet Media, otherwise known as SearchMiracle/Elitebar, one of the more destructive and abusive adware/spyware programs on the Net.
You can read the FTC's press release here:
»www.ftc.gov/opa/2005/11/enternet.htm
Case documents here:
»www.ftc.gov/os/caselist/0523135/0523135.htm
Best,
Eric L. Howes
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Microsoft MVP
Sunbelt Software Consultant
Spyware Warrior | |
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catseyenu
Ack Pfft
Premium
join:2001-11-17
Fix East
| Re: FTC Shuts Down Adware/Spyware Vendor
quote:
The FTC has set up two ways for consumers who have had experience with these defendants to contact the FTC with any information that may be relevant to the FTC’s action. Consumers can send email to enternetmedia@ftc.gov or call 202-326-2992 to leave messages.
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Sometimes we look for straws to grab, sometimes we bend over and grab our ankles | |
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SnowyOne
Premium
join:2003-04-05
Kailua, HI | Don't get me wrong, news like that is always good news
but is "off shore" one or 2 words? I see an exodus in the near future. | |
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eburger68
Premium,MVM
join:2001-04-28
4 edits | Hi All:
Let me add a bit more information to my initial report.
This announcement by the FTC follows the report of a raid of Enternet Media's offices bythe authorities last week:
»spywarewarrior.com/viewtopic.php?t=17492
SearchMiracle/Elitebar is one of the nastiest adware/spyware programs on the Net. EnternetMedia was the outfit behind the adware installations performed on Google's Blogspot.com, which Ben Edelman reported earlier this year:
»www.benedelman.org/news/022205-1.html
More recently, EnternetMedia's SearchMiracle/Elitebar program has used rootkit technology to hide its files from users and anti-malware programs (see attached screenshot). Elitebar was also implicated in the theft of sensitive data, including credit card information, off users' hard drives:
»www.forbes.com/businesswire/feed···2r1.html
In Sept. and Oct. 2005, SearchMiracle/Elitebar was being distributed by Pacimedia (aka, Pacerd, KvM Media), an adware distributor known to use security exploits to drop dozens of adware programs on users' PCs in one go -- so much adware, in fact, that a typical Pacerd install process could last up to a half-hour.
Other researchers have documented similar Pacimedia installs:
Ben Edelman
»www.benedelman.org/news/100505-1.html
»www.benedelman.org/spyware/insta···/pacerd/
Patrick Jordan
»www.webhelper4u.com/nontranspond···005.html
or »www.webhelper4u.com/CWS/wallpape···005.html
Paperghost
»www.vitalsecurity.org/2005/04/30···ase.html
Roger Karlsson
»www.kephyr.com/spywarescanner/pu···05-10-05
So, this is very good news for consumers, as one of the nastier adware/spyware programs has been taken off the Net. I can confirm from my testing over the weekend that SearchMiracle/Elitebar is no longer being installed by Pacimedia, and EnternetMedia's other sites are no longer installing the software.
Best,
Eric L. Howes
--
Microsoft MVP
Sunbelt Software Consultant
Spyware Warrior | |
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CajunTek
Insane Cajun
Premium,MVM
join:2003-08-08
Arlington, TX | Re: FTC Shuts Down Adware/Spyware Vendor Great news Eric, glad to see them go.. and for a long time I hope.. 
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Lost in Texas | |
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TeMerc
join:2004-01-22
Phoenix, AZ | Thanks for the info Eric, score another point for the good guys. | |
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hpguru
Curb Your Dogma
Premium
join:2002-04-12 | Great news! Thanks Eric! | |
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Link Logger
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-29
Calgary, AB
 ·Shaw
| Another posting about this:
»www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9995214/
Microsoft, Google Inc. and Webroot Software Inc. helped with the investigation, the FTC said, so I'd say that these guys are toast as its likely been prepared to the point that its a really tight case and a snap for the DOJ to execute.
You are right that Off Shore is going to be an issue but I can see the likes of Microsoft opening an office wherever to chase these guys down. They are working with the US in terms of defining and changing laws to make it easier to define what is what and charge those on the dark side. They could just as easily do this with other countries.
Blake
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Vendor: Firewall Logging Software »www.SonicLogger.com - SonicWall and 3Com »www.LinkLogger.com - Linksys, Netgear and Zyxel | |
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CalamityJane
Premium,VIP,MVM
join:2002-08-27
Eustis, FL
| Re: FTC Shuts Down Adware/Spyware Vendor said by Link Logger  :They could just as easily do this with other countries. Blake As in....Russia? I'd love to see them take down CoolWebSearch!? ~gets on knees in prayer-mode~
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It takes a disaster to make a woman out of a female
Microsoft MVP/Windows Security 2003-2006
Proud Member of ASAP (Alliance of Security Analysis Professionals) | |
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catseyenu
Ack Pfft
Premium
join:2001-11-17
Fix East
| Re: FTC Shuts Down Adware/Spyware Vendor said by CalamityJane :said by Link Logger :They could just as easily do this with other countries. Blake As in....Russia? I'd love to see them take down CoolWebSearch!? ~gets on knees in prayer-mode~ ...and a moment of silence descended on all... a disturbance in the force... as if hell it's self was holding it's breath.
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Sometimes we look for straws to grab, sometimes we bend over and grab our ankles | |
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SnowyOne
Premium
join:2003-04-05
Kailua, HI
·RoadRunner Cable
 ·Clearwire Wireless
| said by CalamityJane :said by Link Logger :They could just as easily do this with other countries. Blake As in....Russia? I'd love to see them take down CoolWebSearch!? Or you could just go for the jugular by naming the large household name corporations that have provided the financial incentive to companies such as Enternet Media. The players should be made public in a very public way. The Govt. is undoubtedly in possession of this data & should use it to it's fullest potential. The companies will of course claim ignorance of their media, but they can't hide behind the same shield of ignorance forever. It might even force them to rethink the entire media, which would be as effective as taking down a major player in any jurisdiction in the fight against unfair & deceptiveware. | |
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Red Dragon
Imagine BBR in 20 years
join:2005-04-30
Scarsdale, NY
| Microsoft has a huge data base now from its antispyware program that it can use as evidence to put these people away. Its only really a matter of time before spyware is installed through hidden in EULA's with no rooting and total outright ID theft. I HATE rootkits, they give me nightmares over them and trying to get rid of them before the whole network get nailed. Dont ask I dont have a network get im dreaming so ill shut up for now. Ummmm by the way W00T to down with dirty spyware
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That light that you see at the end of the tunnel. You know that reealy bright one; well its not salvation. Its the 6 o'clock freight train | |
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