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An Uninvited Guest
AOL IM client now installs 'spyware'?

Our security forum regulars are irritated that the latest version of the AOL Instant Messenger Software installs software they don't need and didn't ask for, which AdAware and Spybot identify as data mining spyware. As part of a new effort to support on-line gaming, the software now installs Wild Tangent, a game content delivery service.

Developers who write Wild Tangent content stop by this thread in our security forum, claiming the software is being unnecessarily labeled as an "evil application". While there's some debate over classifying Wild Tangent as spyware, users are increasingly irritated with companies who insist on installing additional software (particularly if it mines data or consumes resources) without their permission. The debate over AOL's inclusion of Wild Tangent has been ongoing in our forums for quite some time.
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indysz
Premium Member
join:2003-07-26
Valparaiso, IN

indysz

Premium Member

Jesus

Well it's not like it's "un-like" AOL to give you a bunch of crap you don't need.... Use the Java clients & lets not forget Unix Boys!

flarn
No Logic Left
join:2001-02-10
North Richland Hills, TX

flarn

Member

Re: Jesus

linux?

pleekmo
Triptoe Through The Tulips
Premium Member
join:2001-09-14
Manchester, CT

1 recommendation

pleekmo

Premium Member

Brings Me To My Knees

Not only that, but Wild Tangent also brings your computer to its knees. Two of the computers that I updated AIM on turned into nearly useless teergrubes (tarpits) until I got rid of Wild Tangent with Ad-Aware and Spybot.

If you want to update your AIM to version 5.5 you'd better install Ad-Aware and Spybot first so you can rip out the Wild Tangent component so your computer will be restored to usefulness.

I shudder to think of the day that AIM will insist that Wild Tangent be installed and it breaks after neutering of Wild Tangent. When that day arrives, AIM will no longer be a component of my computer.
spinner55
join:2003-03-15
Freeport, IL

spinner55

Member

Re: Brings Me To My Knees

Adaware is a great program, but I also use spybotsd and pest patrol with it. Each has different 'rules' on what it will find. I found 34 items of wild tangent and pest patrol found 158 after installing AOL IM. You can download a crippled version of pest patrol. See what it finds.

Take care, keep a watch out for those pesty spywares.

spin

DeGenerate90
join:2004-01-02
Toms River, NJ

DeGenerate90

Member

Msn

All the more reason to use MSN Messenger......

Karride
Slower Traffic Keep Right
Premium Member
join:2000-04-17
Germantown, TN

1 recommendation

Karride

Premium Member

Re: Msn

Or Trillian

Sarick
It's Only Logical
Premium Member
join:2003-06-03
USA

Sarick

Premium Member

Re: Msn


Yes Trillian POPUPS, Nags!
Trillian..

You ever get this?

cuppb
@voyager.net

cuppb

Anon

Re: Msn

I've never gotten a Trillian Pop-Up and I've used it for quite some time.

redxii
Mod
join:2001-02-26
Michigan
Asus RT-AC3100
Buffalo WZR-HP-G300NH2

redxii to Sarick

Mod

to Sarick
said by Sarick:
Trillian..

You ever get this?

Trillian is great, honestly, but who wants to update it every 2 days because AOL doesn't want it to access AIM's network? Maybe that's changed, but for now I use 5.2 with DeadAIM 3.2.1.

Mike
Mod
join:2000-09-17
Pittsburgh, PA

Mike to DeGenerate90

Mod

to DeGenerate90
gaim > *.

reub2000
Premium Member
join:2001-12-28
Evanston, IL

reub2000

Premium Member

Re: Msn

Yep, I use gaim too. Ever since aim started those streaming ads, I switched to gaim.Couldn't be happier.

Tomek
Premium Member
join:2002-01-30
Valley Stream, NY

Tomek to Mike

Premium Member

to Mike
On Windows and Linux

DrewCapu
Giant Diehard
join:2001-12-19
California

DrewCapu to DeGenerate90

Member

to DeGenerate90
or Jabber

MuDvAyNe
Premium Member
join:2002-03-02
Brooklyn, NY

1 recommendation

MuDvAyNe

Premium Member

deadaim.

deadaim with 5.2

dfc888
Premium Member
join:2003-07-22
San Bruno, CA

dfc888

Premium Member

Re: deadaim.

said by MuDvAyNe:
deadaim with 5.2

I Agree!

Runikepistem
join:2004-01-22
Cornwall, PE

1 recommendation

Runikepistem

Member

Who plays those games anyway ?

Who needs Wild Tangent Games anyway :S i seen the games on AIM and they all are boring

Rexter
Libertas, Aequitas, Veritas
join:2002-11-17
cloud 9

1 recommendation

Rexter

Member

Malware, no aruments about it.

You can argue about what spyware is forever, but any software that loads, without me specifically telling it to is malware. Any company that is involved with such code writers should be avoided. It shouldn't be any surprise that AOL would do this. AOL has a long history privacy violations. They have always acted as though they own your computer. AOL is simply fallowing the same path that has developed the "AOL sucks" reputation.

cow116
Cisco Kid
Premium Member
join:2003-03-10
Indianapolis, IN

cow116

Premium Member

help please

well could some one tell me how to get it out of my windows reg? i already "removed" it with adaware and spybot search and destroy but it still has the undeletable icon in control panel.
cow116

cow116

Premium Member

Re: help please

this was supposed to be inreply to the aol im wild tangent crap

pleekmo
Triptoe Through The Tulips
Premium Member
join:2001-09-14
Manchester, CT

pleekmo to cow116

Premium Member

to cow116
Hmmm...

First I deleted WT from the control panel through the Add/Remove Programs applet (Windows XP, BTW), and then I ran Ad-Aware and got rid of most of the WT detritus with it, then I ran Spybot and got rid of a remaining WT folder.

I must admit that I haven't checked my registry for Wild Tangent stuff left over...

Imdissapointed
@dsl.mdsnwi.ameritech

Imdissapointed to cow116

Anon

to cow116
How to remove the control panel applet? Delete WT???.cpl

Did it last night when I saw the durn thing was still there. Worked fine. All the rest had been removed the night before manually.
KB2PSM
join:2002-08-06
Long Beach, NY

KB2PSM to cow116

Member

to cow116
I also found the Wild Tangent on my home machines and laptop, using Ad-aware to remove the program and files.
I did the same on one of the computers at work, but still found the Wild Tangent icon in the Control Panel page. You can click on it but cannot drag it to the trash can or find it in the Add/Remove list to remove it.

It remains there untouched, however for all intents and purposes, Wild Tangent no longer runs on that machine.

I guess that it all depends on how you removed the program...through Ad-aware or from the Add/Remove option of Windows.

Rob
KB2PSM

KB2PSM

Member

Re: help please

This is what Wild Tangent recommends to delete their Web Driver (and games)

»wildtangent.custhelp.com ··· 0x&p_li=

Question
How do I uninstall the Web Driver and games?

Answer
To remove the Web Driver, and associated software, please do the following:

Open the Windows Control Panel, and select the "Add/remove programs" icon.
Select the WildTangent Web Driver
Click Remove (or Change/Remove)
Select the WildTangent GameChannel
Click Remove (or Change/Remove)
Select the WildTangent Updater
Click Remove (or Change/Remove)
Restart
Please Note: If the Wildtangent Control Panel icon still appears in the Windows Control Panel, you may need to search your computer's hard drive for any occurance of the files "wtcpl.dll" and "wtcpl.cpl" and remove it. This occassionally occurs when an older version of the Web driver was partially removed.

To remove a game, please follow the instructions below

Open the Windows Control Panel, and select the "Add/remove programs" icon. (Start -> Settings -> Control Panel)
Locate the game you wish to remove in the list, and select it.
Click Remove (or Change/Remove)
jsouth
Jsouth
join:2000-12-12
Wichita, KS

1 recommendation

jsouth to cow116

Member

to cow116
Just use a regedit search or a registry cleaning program. I for one do not care what that phony baloney said in the security forum. Wild Tangent IS crap and spyware just like Gator.

elias
Premium Member
join:2000-07-24
Miami, FL

elias

Premium Member

Trillian Pro All The way

That's why I've used Trillian Pro for a long time.

I don't need all the extra crap features like IM wallpapers and whatever else they add these days.

-- Elias

visio
join:2001-08-29
Austin, TX

1 recommendation

visio

Member

Re: Trillian Pro All The way

Agreed. The purpose of an instant messaging client is for *gasp* instant messaging, not for wallpapers, not for lame gaming. Ive used trillian on my windows machines since it first came out, and gaim on my bsd/linux boxes for about 2 years.
I didnt even know about the wild tangent until i went to install it on my laptop (checking it out, always nice to see whats new) and NIS wanted to know if was gonna let it access the net, i was like 'wtf'?
But all in all, if I dont use the spyware, i should be able to opt out of it, not have it forced in.

chrisf8657
join:2002-01-27
Glendale, AZ

chrisf8657

Member

Use an alternate IM client

Like every one else has said, Trillian is a better choice. There is no spyware and it unifies connections to AIM, Yahoo, ICQ, IRC, etc. all in one good app.

Or, use one of the thin client apps. Otherwise, complaining will do no good since AOL doesn't listen to us at all anyway...

Imdissapointed
@dsl.mdsnwi.ameritech

1 recommendation

Imdissapointed

Anon

Re: Use an alternate IM client

I'll echo agreement with the phrase "brings your computer to it's knees. I use AIM to keep in touch with my son and recently wiped/reloaded both laptops. AIM was installed and performance went to garbage, not enough processor time left over for ME to use!

The intent of WildTangent may be innocent enough... but the EFFECT of WildTangent on any but a "power gaming system" is tantanmount to malicious. My son's machine had tons of processor time spare for WildTangent and he didn't even notice it. 800MHz it becomes a problem though.

As WildTangent is indeed collecting information, and causes havoc, for myself it entirely qualifies as spyware.

n0nhr
Premium Member
join:2003-02-03
Grinnell, IA

n0nhr

Premium Member

Re: Use an alternate IM client

Think what it's like on a 450Mhz Machine

cow116
Cisco Kid
Premium Member
join:2003-03-10
Indianapolis, IN

cow116 to Imdissapointed

Premium Member

to Imdissapointed
The intent of WildTangent may be innocent enough... but the EFFECT of WildTangent on any but a "power gaming system" is tantanmount to malicious.

i run a p4 3.06ghz 1gig of ddr400 ram, 30gig and an 80 gig hdds and i got bogged down as well. plenty of cooling etc and btw. i went to the WT folder in my systerm 32 folder and deleted that. there wasnt an option to uninstall in the add/remove programs applet. also i have up to date from 12 am this morning versions of ad aware 6 pro. spybot search and destroy(hasn't been updated since early jan), NAV and NSW and i ran all of them and still didnt get rid of it. its not using as much system resources as before but its still noticable when i play my games or surf the net even
twracing
Premium Member
join:2003-01-28
Newark, NY

twracing to chrisf8657

Premium Member

to chrisf8657
My kids "upgraded" thier pc's to the latest version. Weekly I run Ad-Aware and Pest Patrol for them. It crippled aol had uninstall and go to oldversion.com and get the previous aol back to normal. They both had dead aim and that stopped working as well. One of the pc's haven't been the same since, Windows Me. I also use trillian on my pc and love it.

CosmicDebri
Still looking for intelligent life
join:2001-09-01
Lake City, FL

CosmicDebri to chrisf8657

Member

to chrisf8657
said by chrisf8657:
Like every one else has said, Trillian is a better choice. There is no spyware and it unifies connections to AIM, Yahoo, ICQ, IRC, etc. all in one good app.

Or, use one of the thin client apps. Otherwise, complaining will do no good since AOL doesn't listen to us at all anyway...

Well, I use ICQ for my little IM'ing I still do. Yes, I know who owns it. When I was heavy into IM, I tried them all, and Trillian was cool, but it suffered from the same thing all the alternatives did, and as far as I know, still do. They can't do file transfers between different services, they can only file transfer between Trillian users. If that's changed, cool. But it was a major stumbling block for me and my gaming buddies who transfered mods and maps, and skins, and the like.

technick
Premium Member
join:2000-12-16
Wheat Ridge, CO

technick

Premium Member

Re: Use an alternate IM client

I can do transfers with trillian

JMan0948
Where's The Background Music?
Premium Member
join:2003-03-25
Gilberts, IL

JMan0948 to chrisf8657

Premium Member

to chrisf8657
Gah, I can't stand Trillian..waste of space. I'd rather have the REAL clients that are meant to be used. Even if they are packed with garbage that we don't want or need. Someone also said earlier to use the Java AIM client. They have done away with the Java AIM client now, it's stricly html based. While it is an improvement over the Java AIM web-client, it's still crap. I would only recommend using the web-client (any version -- java or html) if you are away from home or don't have access to the real deal.
TercelChick
join:2002-08-13

TercelChick

Member

Did I get this all off?

I deleted the viewpoint (another type of aim spywre) registry key and value, deleted viewpoint.exe, ran adaware, rebooted, ran aim, and now i cannot find any viewpoint.exe anymore. Ad-Aware also comes up clean. It is updated. Did I successfully remove it, or did I just waste my time. Aim is version 5.2.3290.

JMan0948
Where's The Background Music?
Premium Member
join:2003-03-25
Gilberts, IL

JMan0948

Premium Member

You want to rid the "spyware" and/or "malware" ?

It's very easy. Just install the latest AIM, and then get rid of any traces to WT or Viewpoint, by any means necessary (this means uninstalling from Control Panel, deleting associated files/folders, using Spybot, Ad-aware, etc). Restart your PC. Then, run RegSeeker (hoverdesk.net) to clean your registry (this will also be nice to clean the registry anyway for a lot of folks). But actually, in order to get rid of the AIM sound advertisements on the main Buddy List, even getting rid of Viewpoint doesn't do the trick. Still, though, getting rid of the above files/stuff is still good to do before this next step. You must add these additional values to your hosts file. They will work for AOL/AIM adverts, except for AOL CLIENT INTERNAL adverts.
127.0.0.1 ar.atwola.com
127.0.0.1 ads.web.aol.com
127.0.0.1 VTOT.proxy.aol.com
127.0.0.1 ads.aol.com

If you don't know how to edit your hosts file, google it or ask for help here or figure it out ....

Also, if you don't have time for all that jibba jabba and you don't know what to do, and are running a firewall like Zone Alarm, just dont let the WT stuff gain access to the Internet! Hopefully I covered all bases....
Romeo4
join:2002-02-09
Vancouver, BC

Romeo4

Member

Re: You want to rid the "spyware" and/or "malware" ?

Go to www.betanews.com & get spybot 1.3 beta 6 uninstall aim & runs it then block all the spywear on the list hehe then install Aim it wont insatall the spywear Oh look in the reg and go to run and delete AOLWinstall ....then go to the aim dir & delete the file *hit crlt alt del & stop it first.*

-Romeo
sorry I just got up so if some of this doesnt make sense :P someone please re-write my post

JMan0948
Where's The Background Music?
Premium Member
join:2003-03-25
Gilberts, IL

JMan0948

Premium Member

Re: You want to rid the "spyware" and/or "malware" ?

Don't have to rewrite that, that's basically what I said... so in essence, you tried to rewrite what I said.... lol

richk_1957
If ..Then..Else
Premium Member
join:2001-04-11
Minas Tirith

richk_1957

Premium Member

Just another reason not to use IM

I only use them sometimes - every time I start one up porno IM spam starts flooding in and I can't waste my time on that. Enough porno SPAM (and other types) comes in through e-mail

Sr Tech
Premium Member
join:2003-01-19
Meriden, CT

Sr Tech

Premium Member

An Uninvited Guest

GATOR!! oops did I say that,lol

Miranda IM
@purdue.edu

Miranda IM

Anon

Miranda IM

Too bad AIM 5.2.3139 (I think that's the version number) coupled with DeadAIM doesn't work since yesterday's upgrades. I've switched to Miranda IM, check it out ( »www.miranda-im.org ).
redleaf
join:2000-09-12

redleaf

Member

Re: Miranda IM

It doesn't? I'm still using AIM 5.1.3036 with DeadAIM and no problems. I just haven't had a need to upgrade and long ago told AIM to stop telling me about upgrades.

Are you talking about server upgrades or client?

gwion
wild colonial boy

join:2000-12-28
Pittsburgh, PA

gwion

Alternatives...

Here's one...

»tik.sourceforge.net/

I like it...

Requires TCL, though... of course, that makes it a superb client for the 'nixes, as well as for those of us ol' cusses who regard a win machine without TCL to be a partially complete machine.

And there are a few Java projects, too.

Spyware, or whatever, there's absolutely no reason whatsoever simple apps, like IM'ing and e-mail and so forth, have to be ridiculously system intensive, monolithic apps. It seems to me as if some developers believe it's their official job to keep the hardware business IN business; I really don't get it, why everything, however trivial, has to be designed to use every ounce of available power it can find, and beg for more. Hmm. The words, "sloppy code" come immediately to mind...
Goldengamego
Premium Member
join:2004-02-22
Okemos, MI

1 recommendation

Goldengamego

Premium Member

removing WT permanently

I wrote some instructions for permanently striping WT out of AIM (it re installs itself at a later time if you use Spybot or Ad-aware) and posted them at the Spywareinfo forums

http://www.Spywareinfo.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=31524

1. Close AIM
2. Open my computer and navigate to the folder \Program Files\AIM
3. Delete the file AIMWDInstall
4. Navigate to the folder \Program Files\AIM\Sysfiles
5. Delete the file AIMWDInstall (do not delete AIMWDUninstall)
6. Open add/remove programs in the control panel
7. Uninstall WildTangent multiplayer library
8. Uninstall WildTangent Web Driver
9. Uninstall WildTangent Updater
10. Restart the computer
11. Navigate to the folder C:\Program Files
12. Delete the WildTangent folder
13. Navigate to the folder C:\WINDOWS
14. Delete the wt folder
15. Open start/run and type regedit
16. Delete the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WildTangent
17. Add the domain wildtangent.com to the IE restricted sites zone (even if you don’t use IE)
18. If this is the only user account on this PC you’re done, if not keep reading
19. Open regedit again
20. Navigate to the key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains
21. Right click on it and hit export
22. Type a name for the file and save it to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents or any other place that all accounts can access
23. Log into each account, double click on the file, and hit yes in the box that appears
24. You’re done

It must be done in that exact order or it won’t work.

It worked if clicking on games in AIM brings up a blank box

This is for Windows XP (but might work on other versions of Windows)

keith2468
Premium Member
join:2001-02-03
Winnipeg, MB

keith2468

Premium Member

Wild Tangent Isn't Spyware

Wild Tangent isn't Spyware, rather Ad-Aware has fallen into the trap of assuming products it doesn't understand are spyware.

This was discussed in the Security Forum, the allegations were made, someone researched it, and those who are experienced moved on.

Sadly some people are still hung up.

dadkins
Can you do Blu?
MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA

dadkins

MVM

Re: Wild Tangent Isn't Spyware

"This was discussed in the Security Forum, the allegations were made, someone researched it, and those who are experienced moved on.

SOMEONE with the same opinions as you researched it, agreed with people like you, and moved on. The REAL "experienced" persons do not appreciate malware on their systems and promptly remove it.

No matter how you want to try and justify it, WT is spyware...period. Go cash your check from WT and leave it be.

Have a good evening all, even you keith2468.

cork1958
Cork
Premium Member
join:2000-02-26

cork1958

Premium Member

which is spyware?

Of those 2 products, which is the spyware? The actual AOHELL IM Client or Wild Tangent? I dread the thought of even thinking of having either on my mcahine!!

mr mike
@4.13.x.x

mr mike

Anon

Re: which is spyware?

Anybody with anything having to do with AOL on their machine is a glutton for punishment
remusrm
join:2003-04-07
Frazier Park, CA

remusrm

Member

only this?

did you guys also see a new program called buddylist, or som ething liek that? well, that is worst, does bring pop ups, even if you do not surf the web

pleekmo
Triptoe Through The Tulips
Premium Member
join:2001-09-14
Manchester, CT

pleekmo

Premium Member

Re: only this?

said by remusrm:
did you guys also see a new program called buddylist...?
"Buddylist" has already been the topic of a separate news item.
jsmithxxx
join:2002-10-04

jsmithxxx

Member

do it like winamp?

aol should take a lesson from winamp and offer a "lite" version of the aim installer that includes only IM support and no add-ons
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