SpySubtract - is it spyware?

[Stoink]

Intermute now offers SpySubtract to protect us from Spyware. As a longtime
and satisfied AdSubtract user, I downloaded and installed it. The first
thing it does is try to connect to the internet! Ack!

'c:\program files\spysubtract\spysub.exe' 'SpySubtract Program EXE' from
your computer wants to connect to im4.intermute.com [209.113.159.117], port
80

It's pretty pathetic when a spyware protection program is phoning home
behind the scenes without my persmissin and without my knowledge! I sent
Intermute a love letter on this subject, and I eagerly await their responce
:-)

[siljaline]

"Stoink" <StoinkUseNet@emberts.nospammy.comy> wrote in message
news:2rycnWCWTc1Xj8uiXTWJhw@giganews.com...
> Intermute now offers SpySubtract to protect us from Spyware. As a longtime
> and satisfied AdSubtract user, I downloaded and installed it. The first
> thing it does is try to connect to the internet! Ack!
>
> 'c:\program files\spysubtract\spysub.exe' 'SpySubtract Program EXE' from
> your computer wants to connect to im4.intermute.com [209.113.159.117], port
> 80
>
> It's pretty pathetic when a spyware protection program is phoning home
> behind the scenes without my persmissin and without my knowledge! I sent
> Intermute a love letter on this subject, and I eagerly await their responce
> :-)
>
SpySubtract is a legitimate application offered by Intermute, the makers of AdSubtract, as
you
well know - if *any* application executable is attempting to "phone home" - block it.

HTH

--

siljaline

"Arguing with anonymous strangers on the Internet is a sucker's game
because they almost always turn out to be -- or to be indistinguishable from
-- self-righteous sixteen-year-olds possessing infinite amounts of free time."
- Neil Stephenson, _Cryptonomicon_

[Stoink]

I believe that this constitutes spyware, as it is doing this without my
knowledge or permission.

"The software does need to connect in order to push certain information to
our servers "im4.intermute.com". This is used for statistical information as
well as for your registration process. This is also used so we may message
you when upgrades to the software as well as database upgrades are
available. We do not exploit any personal information in this process.
Thanks for writing interMute."




"Stoink" <StoinkUseNet@emberts.nospammy.comy> wrote in message
news:2rycnWCWTc1Xj8uiXTWJhw@giganews.com...
> Intermute now offers SpySubtract to protect us from Spyware. As a longtime
> and satisfied AdSubtract user, I downloaded and installed it. The first
> thing it does is try to connect to the internet! Ack!
>
> 'c:\program files\spysubtract\spysub.exe' 'SpySubtract Program EXE' from
> your computer wants to connect to im4.intermute.com [209.113.159.117],
port
> 80
>
> It's pretty pathetic when a spyware protection program is phoning home
> behind the scenes without my persmissin and without my knowledge! I sent
> Intermute a love letter on this subject, and I eagerly await their
responce
> :-)
>
>

[Unknown Hacker]

On Wed, 3 Sep 2003 14:42:58 -0700, Stoink wrote:
I"LL TOP POST TOO!!

BULL****!!!

> I believe that this constitutes spyware, as it is doing this without my
> knowledge or permission.

> "The software does need to connect in order to push certain information to
> our servers "im4.intermute.com". This is used for statistical information as
> well as for your registration process. This is also used so we may message
> you when upgrades to the software as well as database upgrades are
> available. We do not exploit any personal information in this process.
> Thanks for writing interMute."

>

>
> "Stoink" <StoinkUseNet@emberts.nospammy.comy> wrote in message
> news:2rycnWCWTc1Xj8uiXTWJhw@giganews.com...
>> Intermute now offers SpySubtract to protect us from Spyware. As a longtime
>> and satisfied AdSubtract user, I downloaded and installed it. The first
>> thing it does is try to connect to the internet! Ack!
>>
>> 'c:\program files\spysubtract\spysub.exe' 'SpySubtract Program EXE' from
>> your computer wants to connect to im4.intermute.com [209.113.159.117],
> port
>> 80
>>
>> It's pretty pathetic when a spyware protection program is phoning home
>> behind the scenes without my persmissin and without my knowledge! I sent
>> Intermute a love letter on this subject, and I eagerly await their
> responce
>> :-)
>>
>>


--
The information contained in this message or attachments may be
confidential and is intended for the exclusive use of the addressee(s).
Any disclosure,reproduction, distribution of this communication without
the express permission of the sender is prohibited.

The views expressed in this email are those of the sender only.

[Jay T. Blocksom]

On Thu, 04 Sep 2003 13:29:47 GMT, in <alt.privacy.spyware>, Unknown Hacker
<unknownhacker@phreaker.net> wrote:
>
> On Wed, 3 Sep 2003 14:42:58 -0700, Stoink wrote:
> I"LL TOP POST TOO!!
>
[snip]

Why? Perhaps you subscribe to the theory that two wrongs make a right?

> BULL****!!!
>
[snip]

How, exactly, does the information reported by "Stoink" qualify for that
appellation? Perhaps you not believe that he got the message from InterMute
that he quoted? On what basis would you disbelieve him?

Or do you think that the program's behavior, as described by its
author/publisher, does not satisfy his characterization of it as "spyware?
If so, you'd better think twice about *exactly* what InterMute said -- and
more importantly, what they did NOT say.

So what, exactly, is your objection?

--

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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