Is CutePDF Spyware?

[mto]

"Dick Hazeleger" <Dick@post_it_in_the_newsgroup.com> wrote in message
news:vheg1uesu94m7a@corp.supernews.com...
> mto wrote:
>
> >
> > "Dick Hazeleger" <Dick@post_it_in_the_newsgroup.com> wrote in message
> > news:vhdrgofv355ode@corp.supernews.com...
> > > mto wrote:
> > >
> > > >
> > > > "MD_DOC" <NOJUNKMAIl@comcast.com> wrote in message
> > > > news:3f15e35e.24571001@news.pa.comcast.giganews.co m...
> > > > > CUTEPDF is a wonderful new PDF printer, I note the program
> > > > > tries to logs onto 127.0.0.1 before it can save the file on my
> > > > > PC successfuly, what information is it sending, Could it be
> > > > > spyware?
> > > >
> > > > I read somewhere in the last couple of days that CuteFTP is
> > > > spyware, so if this is by the same people you might want to check
> > > > that out -
> > >
> > > <Crossposting fixed>
> > >
> > > Hi MTO,
> > >
> > > And where did you read that please? Here? I noticed a QUESTION
> > > about it being POSSIBLY spyware. Well, I use CutePDF too and so far
> > > I haven't seen any suspicious connections trying to go outside my
> > > system.
> > >
> > > It's rumors like this that can ruin good software, so please specify
> > > your sources (which IMO always a good idea).
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > > Dick
> > >
> > > --
> > > The Hare's Lair, dediccated to Security and Privacy
> > > http://www.hazeleger.net
> >
> > Hi Dick -
> >
> > Unfortunately I do not - been doing a ton of reading lately
> > attempting to hunt up solutions to the daughter's magically appearing
> > porn problem. And I am one of those people that has almost total
> > recall of what I've read - but can't remember the name of an author
> > to save my life ROFL. Try google - spyware +"CuteFTP"
> >
> > MTO
>
> Hi MTO,
>
> OK, OK... CuteFTP is one thing, but now I am puzzled... I hope you
> don't mind me asking directly (no offence meant btw): Is CutePDF
> according to your source "spyware" or not??
>
> Regards
> Dick

No clue at all re CutePDF - hadn't heard of it one way or another as I
haven't needed a PDF writer anytime recently. Spybot does list CuteFTP and
CuteHTML. That's why I said check to see if this is the same company - and
be careful.

[mto]

"Dick Hazeleger" <Dick@post_it_in_the_newsgroup.com> wrote in message
news:vheg1uesu94m7a@corp.supernews.com...
> mto wrote:
>
> >
> > "Dick Hazeleger" <Dick@post_it_in_the_newsgroup.com> wrote in message
> > news:vhdrgofv355ode@corp.supernews.com...
> > > mto wrote:
> > >
> > > >
> > > > "MD_DOC" <NOJUNKMAIl@comcast.com> wrote in message
> > > > news:3f15e35e.24571001@news.pa.comcast.giganews.co m...
> > > > > CUTEPDF is a wonderful new PDF printer, I note the program
> > > > > tries to logs onto 127.0.0.1 before it can save the file on my
> > > > > PC successfuly, what information is it sending, Could it be
> > > > > spyware?
> > > >
> > > > I read somewhere in the last couple of days that CuteFTP is
> > > > spyware, so if this is by the same people you might want to check
> > > > that out -
> > >
> > > <Crossposting fixed>
> > >
> > > Hi MTO,
> > >
> > > And where did you read that please? Here? I noticed a QUESTION
> > > about it being POSSIBLY spyware. Well, I use CutePDF too and so far
> > > I haven't seen any suspicious connections trying to go outside my
> > > system.
> > >
> > > It's rumors like this that can ruin good software, so please specify
> > > your sources (which IMO always a good idea).
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > > Dick
> > >
> > > --
> > > The Hare's Lair, dediccated to Security and Privacy
> > > http://www.hazeleger.net
> >
> > Hi Dick -
> >
> > Unfortunately I do not - been doing a ton of reading lately
> > attempting to hunt up solutions to the daughter's magically appearing
> > porn problem. And I am one of those people that has almost total
> > recall of what I've read - but can't remember the name of an author
> > to save my life ROFL. Try google - spyware +"CuteFTP"
> >
> > MTO
>
> Hi MTO,
>
> OK, OK... CuteFTP is one thing, but now I am puzzled... I hope you
> don't mind me asking directly (no offence meant btw): Is CutePDF
> according to your source "spyware" or not??
>
> Regards
> Dick

Very interesting VERY long list of known spyware here -
http://www.suttondesigns.com/EnigmaB...fospyware.html

Lists these Cute products as containing Radiate
CuteFTP 3.0/3.5
CuteFTP 3.0 beta
CuteFTP/Tripod
CutePage 2.0
CuteMX
CutePage

I don't know how up to date the list is or how new a program CutePDF is.

[Randall Bart]

'Twas Thu, 17 Jul 2003 12:10:59 GMT when all alt.privacy.spyware stood in
awe as Homer Simpson <Homer.Simpson@fox.com> uttered:

>Me three !

Me ++n
--
RB |\ © Randall Bart
aa |/ admin@RandallBart.spam.com Barticus@att.spam.net
nr |\ Please reply without spam I LOVE YOU 1-917-715-0831
dt ||\ http://RandallBart.com/ DOT-HS-808-065 MS^7=6/28/107
a |/ Play http://sky.4r.st Ånåheim Ångels 2002 World Chåmps!
l |\ This is why we spend billions of dollars for drug research:
l |/ http://www.cbc.ca/webone/alison/

[Dick Hazeleger]

mto wrote:

>
> "Dick Hazeleger" <Dick@post_it_in_the_newsgroup.com> wrote in message
> news:vheg1uesu94m7a@corp.supernews.com...
> > mto wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > "Dick Hazeleger" <Dick@post_it_in_the_newsgroup.com> wrote in
> > > message news:vhdrgofv355ode@corp.supernews.com...
> > > > mto wrote:
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > "MD_DOC" <NOJUNKMAIl@comcast.com> wrote in message
> > > > > news:3f15e35e.24571001@news.pa.comcast.giganews.co m...
> > > > > > CUTEPDF is a wonderful new PDF printer, I note the program
> > > > > > tries to logs onto 127.0.0.1 before it can save the file on
> > > > > > my PC successfuly, what information is it sending, Could it
> > > > > > be spyware?
> > > > >
> > > > > I read somewhere in the last couple of days that CuteFTP is
> > > > > spyware, so if this is by the same people you might want to
> > > > > check that out -
> > > >
> > > > <Crossposting fixed>
> > > >
> > > > Hi MTO,
> > > >
> > > > And where did you read that please? Here? I noticed a QUESTION
> > > > about it being POSSIBLY spyware. Well, I use CutePDF too and so
> > > > far I haven't seen any suspicious connections trying to go
> > > > outside my system.
> > > >
> > > > It's rumors like this that can ruin good software, so please
> > > > specify your sources (which IMO always a good idea).
> > > >
> > > > Regards,
> > > > Dick
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > The Hare's Lair, dediccated to Security and Privacy
> > > > http://www.hazeleger.net
> > >
> > > Hi Dick -
> > >
> > > Unfortunately I do not - been doing a ton of reading lately
> > > attempting to hunt up solutions to the daughter's magically
> > > appearing porn problem. And I am one of those people that has
> > > almost total recall of what I've read - but can't remember the
> > > name of an author to save my life ROFL. Try google - spyware
> > > +"CuteFTP"
> > >
> > > MTO
> >
> > Hi MTO,
> >
> > OK, OK... CuteFTP is one thing, but now I am puzzled... I hope you
> > don't mind me asking directly (no offence meant btw): Is CutePDF
> > according to your source "spyware" or not??
> >
> > Regards
> > Dick
>
> Very interesting VERY long list of known spyware here -
> http://www.suttondesigns.com/EnigmaB...fospyware.html
>
> Lists these Cute products as containing Radiate
> CuteFTP 3.0/3.5
> CuteFTP 3.0 beta
> CuteFTP/Tripod
> CutePage 2.0
> CuteMX
> CutePage
>
> I don't know how up to date the list is or how new a program CutePDF
> is.

Well, this is a *known* list; but they refer only to the company that
makes this kind of stuff, as one poster mentioned more earlier...
CutePDF is made by a different company, so it may be a case of "mixed
identities" :-)

As commented before, I run several security programs here (including
SBS&D) and use CutePDF here too... and no rports of spyware installment
or activity have been seen here!

Regards
Dick

[MD_DOC]

The developer emailed me back to confirm CutePDF is NOT spyware.

"It uses Internet technology to exchange files with Browser.
127.0.0.1 is your local host. Nothing will go out of your system with
Filler."

Thanks

[mto]

"MD_DOC" <NOJUNKMAIl@comcast.com> wrote in message
news:3f1814f3.1121379@news.pa.comcast.giganews.com ...
> The developer emailed me back to confirm CutePDF is NOT spyware.
>
> "It uses Internet technology to exchange files with Browser.
> 127.0.0.1 is your local host. Nothing will go out of your system with
> Filler."
>
> Thanks

ROFLMAO! I wonder JUST how many developers would actually admit to the fact
that their programs are spyware? Not many, I'm sure. In fact, if you visit
the GetRight site you will find a letter from the programmer posted after it
was discovered that GetRight is spyware, stating that he had removed the
spyware. Apparently that has affected his business as now the same company
is now releasing a download manager called Lightening Download - and you
will find a very nice letter from exactly the same programmer posted on the
Lightening site. Not unless you hunt around and happen to recognize the
company/developer name will you note that the same company makes GetRight
and that it is programmed by the same author. In fact, the "no spyware
here" letter on the Lightening site exactly quotes more than a bit of the
"no spyware anymore" letter on the GetRight site.

The data that spyware gathers is VERY valuable to marketers - so much so
that several years ago Gator was paying website owners as much as $5 per
each and every new download. (Other programs have paid at a similar rates.)
And website owners don't even get the lion's share.

Let me put that in perspective for you. Let's say that site A collects 100
new email addresses a day and sells them for $20 each (often more.) That is
$2000 a DAY, every single day to the website - or $730,000 a year. Site
owners that do this in the first place aren't going to give up that kind of
money - and neither is a programmer. You got to sell an awful lot of $20
programs to make that kind of money.

Which is not to say that CutePDF is in fact spyware - but if it is part of
the Cute line I wouldn't bet that it isn't and if it isn't part of the Cute
line the developer should have chosen a different name.

[Dick Hazeleger]

MD_DOC wrote:

> The developer emailed me back to confirm CutePDF is NOT spyware.
>
> "It uses Internet technology to exchange files with Browser.
> 127.0.0.1 is your local host. Nothing will go out of your system with
> Filler."
>
> Thanks

Thanks for the update on this, MD_DOC; much appreciated. I would have
hated it to see this proggie being added to the "Big List".

Regards
Dick

[James E. Morrow]

"Dick Hazeleger" <Dick@post_it_in_the_newsgroup.com> wrote in
news:vhefthdikrgr20@corp.supernews.com:

> James E. Morrow wrote:
>
>> "Dick Hazeleger" <Dick@post_it_in_the_newsgroup.com> wrote in
>> news:vhdrgofv355ode@corp.supernews.com:
>>
>> > mto wrote:
>> >
>> >>
>> >> "MD_DOC" <NOJUNKMAIl@comcast.com> wrote in message
>> >> news:3f15e35e.24571001@news.pa.comcast.giganews.co m...
>> >> > CUTEPDF is a wonderful new PDF printer, I note the program
>> >> > tries to logs onto 127.0.0.1 before it can save the file on
>> >> > my PC successfuly, what information is it sending, Could it
>> >> > be spyware?
>> >>
>> >> I read somewhere in the last couple of days that CuteFTP is
>> >> spyware, so if this is by the same people you might want to
>> >> check that out -
>> >
>> > <Crossposting fixed>
>> >
>> > Hi MTO,
>> >
>> > And where did you read that please? Here? I noticed a QUESTION
>> > about it being POSSIBLY spyware. Well, I use CutePDF too and so
>> > far I haven't seen any suspicious connections trying to go
>> > outside my system.
>> >
>> > It's rumors like this that can ruin good software, so please
>> > specify your sources (which IMO always a good idea).
>> >
>> > Regards,
>> > Dick
>>
>> Spybot Search & Destroy lists CuteFTP 5.0 as spyware. It is a
>> tracker. They also list something called CuteHTML.
>
> Hi James,
>
> In case you missed it (could happen in a thread with so many side
> tracks), I was asking information about MTO's reply to the OP, and
> that was regarding CutePDF! not CuteFTP, CuteHTM, or any other
> "Cute" program ;D
>
> Regards
> Dick
>
>

Sorry. That is my error.

--
James E. Morrow
Email to: jamesemorrow@email.com

[Jay T. Blocksom]

On Thu, 17 Jul 2003 18:42:32 -0000, in <alt.privacy.spyware>, "Dick
Hazeleger" <Dick@post_it_in_the_newsgroup.com> wrote:
>
> mto wrote:
>
[snip]
> >
> > I read somewhere in the last couple of days that CuteFTP is spyware,
> > so if this is by the same people you might want to check that out -
>
> <Crossposting fixed>
>
> Hi MTO,
>
> And where did you read that please? Here? I noticed a QUESTION about it
> being POSSIBLY spyware. Well, I use CutePDF too and so far I haven't
> seen any suspicious connections trying to go outside my system.
>
> It's rumors like this that can ruin good software, so please specify
> your sources (which IMO always a good idea).
>
[snip]

Read what he actually *wrote*, not what you imagined him to say. Yes,
CuteFTP is spyware, and has been for ages -- this is such common knowledge,
I didn't think there was anyone left who *didn't* know it.

However, neither this nor "mto"'s comment has ANYTHING to do with CutePDF
(which apparently is mostly the victim of an unfortunately similar name).

--

Jay T. Blocksom
--------------------------------
Appropriate Technology, Inc.
usenet01[at]appropriate-tech.net


"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-- Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759.

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[Jay T. Blocksom]

[f'ups to <alt.privacy.spyware> exclusively]

On Wed, 16 Jul 2003 23:03:14 -0400, in <alt.privacy.spyware>, "mto"
<nobody@nowhere.com> wrote:
>
[snip]
>
> I read somewhere in the last couple of days that CuteFTP is spyware,
[snip]

Gee... No moss grows on *your* back, eh?

CuteFTP is one of the original "Bad Boys" that started the whole backlash
against "spyware". Heck, even Steve Gibson's lame "OptOut" would catch it
3+ years ago.

--

Jay T. Blocksom
--------------------------------
Appropriate Technology, Inc.
usenet01[at]appropriate-tech.net


"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-- Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
NOTE: E-Mail address in "From:" line is INVALID! Remove +SPAMBLOCK to mail.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Unsolicited advertising sent to this E-Mail address is expressly prohibited
under USC Title 47, Section 227. Violators are subject to charge of up to
$1,500 per incident or treble actual costs, whichever is greater.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -