Net2Phone CommCenter & IGetNet?

[Graham Millington]

Recently installed the latest version of Net2Phone Commcenter (v2.0, I think
it was). A few hours later, I notice that IE6 shows 'Enter Keyword or Web
Address' in the address line.

Running Ad-aware indicated that IGetNet had found its way onto my machine.
File timestamps indicated that the installation had taken place
simultaneously with the download of the Net2Phone software (on a machine
that operates with an XP firewall, regular runs of Ad-aware, assiduous
traking of known system changes and other standard precautions).

Contacted Net2Phone support and asked whether this was possible; received
the following reply:

"With reference to your mail, please note that Net2Phone commcenter does not
contain any additional software as the one's [sic] you have mentioned below
[iGetNet adware or similar software]."

Having deleted Net2Phone and the spyware (fingers crossed) I am not in a
position to doubt the veracity of this statement.

Any thoughts would be appreciated - I am aware (with the benefit of
hindsight) that IGetNet was included in earlier versions of Net2Phone;
however, Google drew a blank with regard to the latest software.

[siljaline]

On Tue, 28 Oct 2003 01:49:10 GMT, "Graham Millington" <glmillington@hotmail.com> wrote:

>Recently installed the latest version of Net2Phone Commcenter (v2.0, I think
>it was). A few hours later, I notice that IE6 shows 'Enter Keyword or Web
>Address' in the address line.
>
>Running Ad-aware indicated that IGetNet had found its way onto my machine.
>File timestamps indicated that the installation had taken place
>simultaneously with the download of the Net2Phone software (on a machine
>that operates with an XP firewall, regular runs of Ad-aware, assiduous
>traking of known system changes and other standard precautions).
>
>Contacted Net2Phone support and asked whether this was possible; received
>the following reply:
>
>"With reference to your mail, please note that Net2Phone commcenter doesnot
>contain any additional software as the one's [sic] you have mentioned below
>[iGetNet adware or similar software]."
>
>Having deleted Net2Phone and the spyware (fingers crossed) I am not in a
>position to doubt the veracity of this statement.
>
>Any thoughts would be appreciated - I am aware (with the benefit of
>hindsight) that IGetNet was included in earlier versions of Net2Phone;
>however, Google drew a blank with regard to the latest software.
>


Hi Graham,

I first announced Net2Phone as being as being Spyware.
Sponge did some investigative work and found that it installs, or is bundled with
"bargain buddy" - this *may* no longer be the case.

Sponge's block IP text file, current to Sept. 30 still reports same.
Filter through and have a look: http://www.geocities.com/yosponge/blockips.txt

Hopefully Sponge will drop by and comment.

Regards,


--
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_

[sponge]

On Tue, 28 Oct 2003 04:04:43 -0500, siljaline <siljaline@null.com>
wrote:

>On Tue, 28 Oct 2003 01:49:10 GMT, "Graham Millington" =
><glmillington@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>>Recently installed the latest version of Net2Phone Commcenter (v2.0,
I =
>think
>>it was). A few hours later, I notice that IE6 shows 'Enter Keyword
or =
>Web
>>Address' in the address line.
>>
>>Running Ad-aware indicated that IGetNet had found its way onto my =
>machine.
>>File timestamps indicated that the installation had taken place
>>simultaneously with the download of the Net2Phone software (on a
machine
>>that operates with an XP firewall, regular runs of Ad-aware,
assiduous
>>traking of known system changes and other standard precautions).
>>
>>Contacted Net2Phone support and asked whether this was possible; =
>received
>>the following reply:
>>
>>"With reference to your mail, please note that Net2Phone commcenter
does=
> not
>>contain any additional software as the one's [sic] you have
mentioned =
>below
>>[iGetNet adware or similar software]."
>>
>>Having deleted Net2Phone and the spyware (fingers crossed) I am not
in a
>>position to doubt the veracity of this statement.
>>
>>Any thoughts would be appreciated - I am aware (with the benefit of
>>hindsight) that IGetNet was included in earlier versions of
Net2Phone;
>>however, Google drew a blank with regard to the latest software.
>>
>
>
>Hi Graham,
>
>I first announced Net2Phone as being as being Spyware.=20
>Sponge did some investigative work and found that it installs, or is
=
>bundled with
> "bargain buddy" - this *may* no longer be the case.=20
>
>Sponge's block IP text file, current to Sept. 30 still reports
same.=20
>=46ilter through and have a look: =
>http://www.geocities.com/yosponge/blockips.txt
>
>Hopefully Sponge will drop by and comment.=20

Yes, Net2phone installs this parasite;- it says so on the download
page, where it refers to IGN Keywords.

http://web.net2phone.com/products/co...r/download.asp

The tech was either clueless or lying. However, given that this is
posted on the webpage, I'm betting clueless -- he simply didn't know
that IGN Keywords IS IGetNet. The download page had a box which you
could check to avoid downloading it.

Sponge
Sponge's Secure Solutions
www.geocities.com/yosponge
My new email: yosponge2 att yahoo dott com

[siljaline]

On 29 Oct 2003 00:28:37 -0800, yosponge@yahoo.com (sponge) wrote:

>Yes, Net2phone installs this parasite;- it says so on the download
>page, where it refers to IGN Keywords.
>
>http://web.net2phone.com/products/co...r/download.asp
>
>The tech was either clueless or lying. However, given that this is
>posted on the webpage, I'm betting clueless -- he simply didn't know
>that IGN Keywords IS IGetNet. The download page had a box which you
>could check to avoid downloading it.
>
>Sponge

Yo Sponge!
But do you trust the opt-out or would you?

Regards,


--
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_

[Graham Millington]

> Yes, Net2phone installs this parasite;- it says so on the download
> page, where it refers to IGN Keywords.
>
> http://web.net2phone.com/products/co...r/download.asp
>

Ok; I am a moron. Apologies to all.

Thank you, Sponge, for identifying and articulating the extent of my
stupidity!




Graham

[sponge]

On Wed, 29 Oct 2003 20:19:05 -0500, siljaline <siljaline@null.com>
wrote:

>On 29 Oct 2003 00:28:37 -0800, yosponge@yahoo.com (sponge) wrote:
>
>>Yes, Net2phone installs this parasite;- it says so on the download
>>page, where it refers to IGN Keywords.
>>
>>http://web.net2phone.com/products/co...r/download.asp
>>
>>The tech was either clueless or lying. However, given that this is
>>posted on the webpage, I'm betting clueless -- he simply didn't know
>>that IGN Keywords IS IGetNet. The download page had a box which you
>>could check to avoid downloading it.
>>
>>Sponge
>
>Yo Sponge!=20
>But do you trust the opt-out or would you?=20

Well, I believe that they would remove IGetNet - but whether they run
proprietary spyware of their own is another story, spywre embedded
within Net2phone itself. They do need to authenticate users and to
keep track of who you are for billing purposes, so it's a short
stretch for them to use such mechanisms for other purposes. It doesn't
take much -- look what Verizon and Qwest are doing with their
customers.

Sponge
Sponge's Secure Solutions
www.geocities.com/yosponge
My new email: yosponge2 att yahoo dott com