Spyware Nuker

[Andrew Clover]

Cricket <wschmidt@nospam.hvc.rr.com> wrote:

> I just bought Spyware Nuker.

Bad luck.

> I thought I heard some rumblings somewhere that it was spyware itself.

It's not - or at least, no-one has caught it attempting spyware-like
behaviour - but it *is* made by a company that makes, controls
and distributes spyware. (See InContext/AdGoblin, BlueHavenMedia,
historical links to Lions' Pride/Rankyou, etc.)

Additionally, Patrick Kolla has claimed to have found telltales from his
original spyware target database in Spyware Nuker's. I haven't
verified this personally, but if it's the word of the author of one
of the most widely-trusted free security applications against that
of a company whose business model is installing spyware, I know
who I'm going to give most credence to.

--
Andrew Clover
mailto:and@doxdesk.com
http://www.doxdesk.com/

[jayjwa]

Andrew Clover wrote:

> It's not - or at least, no-one has caught it attempting spyware-like
> behaviour -

Wrong. You don't belive that long post I posted yesterday? I don't make
this up for fun, that really happened. And this other person saying the
same only gives credit to what I say. Spyware, 100%.


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[Andrew Clover]

jayjwa <jayjwa@hotspam.microsoftsux.suk> wrote:

> Wrong. You don't belive that long post I posted yesterday?

Wasn't available at my feed at the time of posting, but FWIW your post does
not actually describe the software as spyware - for values X of "spyware"
where X is equal to spying on you.

The software has a highly objectionable licensing agreement, a silent auto-
update feature which could reasonably be considered an unacceptable
security risk, and an onerous activation scheme. Additionally its marketing
is questionable and its target database is alleged to be ripped off. *But*:
it has not itself been shown to leak user data.

SN is sufficiently awful that I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole, but
let's be accurate with language here: software isn't automatically 'spyware'
just because we don't like it.

--
Andrew Clover
mailto:and@doxdesk.com
http://www.doxdesk.com/