Scams

Scams

by Mike Masnick




Evilest Of Evil Spyware Winning The War

from the not-good dept

Someone I know recently got hit with CoolWebSearch the evilest of the evil new spyware products out there that seems to have one purpose, and one purpose only: to destroy your computer. While it may drive some pay-per-click ad money, CWS is so bothersome, that it can't really be that useful in generating money. In trying to fight it, one of the most useful tools out there has been a product called CWShredder. However, CWS has gotten ever more advanced, and the creator of CWShredder has given up, saying it's simply too much work to compete against CWS: "I simply do not have the tools to remove the latest variants. They are too aggressive or too complicated to allow for automated removal." Certainly not a good sign.

8 Comments | Leave a Comment..

 
 

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  1. Jun 29th, 2004 @ 11:06am

    Bad News

    by Beck

    If you have ever been hit be CWS then you know that losing CWShredder is VERY bad news.

    I just tried to go to the spyware info web site to get the latest version and the site won't load, it's probably under perpetual DOS attacks.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  2. Jun 29th, 2004 @ 11:28am

    Not stating the obvious

    by data64

    You are vulnerable to Cool Web only if you use IE.
    Follow the CERT recommendation and get a better browser and this problem goes away.

    Also, the latest versions of Ad-Aware detect some variants of CW, although not as comprehensive as CWS.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  3. Jun 29th, 2004 @ 5:24pm

    No Subject Given

    by thecaptain

    at this point why does ANYONE still use IE? I mean the good can't still be outweighing the minor (or even major) trauma of finding alternatives...

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  4. Jun 30th, 2004 @ 6:16am

    No Subject Given

    Might I also mention Look2Me is a horrid, nearly unremovable, piece of spyware.

    DON'T USE KAZAA!

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  5. Jun 30th, 2004 @ 7:33am

    Re: No Subject Given

    Oh GET OVER THE DAMN " Don't use IE " bullshit.
    Face facts: 90% of the world uses IE. It's NOT going away. Opera, Modzilla, etc are NOT THAT good, OTHERWISE, people would migrate to these other browsers. The REASON no one attacks those browsers is because only nerds with a hard on for Bill Gates use anything else except IE. The browser wars are over. Netcrape' & the others lost.

    ASSIMILATE ALREADY !

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  6. Jun 30th, 2004 @ 10:03am

    Re: No Subject Given

    by DopeBoy

    You're either a shithead, or a shill.
    Mozilla spanks IE: try it yourself (preferably before you post nonsense).
    Why does Joe Sixpack use IE? Simple. It comes with the box, and he's too dumb/lazy/tired/care-less to get something better.
    ---
    Microsoft, as everyone knows, owns your computer. So, ever in search of more money, they've moved from your virtual desktop to your physical desktop. M$ decided to sell desks, pens, chairs.
    Reviews were mixed regarding the new Microsoft Chair (TM). It was not quite as comfortable or adjustable as other office chairs, and tended to creak and bump somewhat. But no one would actually pay money for a better chair, as M$ provided this good-enough one for free.
    Then M$ decided to offer a smaller chair for users of portable computers. They'd bundle it with new laptops.
    One reviewer took shipment one day, and commented, "Well, it's not the first time we've received a shrink-wrapped stool sample from Microsoft."

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  7. Jun 30th, 2004 @ 10:17am

    Re: No Subject Given

    by The_Man

    YHBT. YHL. HAND.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  8. Jun 30th, 2004 @ 11:57am

    Re: No Subject Given

    by Spankin' the monkey with Dopeboy

    Dopeboy,
    WHAT WAS I THINKING ? You're so right ! I am so wrong. Mozilla " spanks " IE almost as much as you spank yourself dude ! DOPE !

    Microsoft owns my computer ? Jeeze and here I thought I chose to buy a Microsoft product. Thank GOD you were here to straighten me out !

    How long did it take you to think up that funny at the end dude ? I almost laughed as hard as when I realized that schmucks like you are PRECICELY why
    Microsoft prevails.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

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