Joe Moore wrote:

> Backweb, it seems, makes many register modifications, connects to the
> net without asking, acts as a server without asking, monitors
> applications, keystrokes, and mouse activity, and according to it's
> own website, displays "offers" politely when it thinks (based on its
> monitoring of keyboard, mouse, and application activity) the user is
> not busy. I don't know about you, but when I'm not typing or moving my
> mouse, I'm usually reading or thinking. I don't think it's "polite" to
> try to sell me something at that time.
>
> Further reading informs me that otherwise respectable companies have
> been convinced that Backweb is not adware or spyware. Logitech, HP,
> Kodak, Kaspersky(!!) are all supporting a company which believes that
> all the above behavior is not only justified, but not even worth
> mentioning in the EULA.
>
> With "good companies" behaving like this, who needs malware?

Backweb is a /downloader/, which in and of itself does not make it malware.

http://www.tenebril.com/src/info.php?id=114525193

http://www.backweb.com/nospyware/

Kaspersky does detect it as riskware, as that is what it is.

http://www.viruslist.com/en/viruses/...?virusid=65577

The default for AVS/KAV is to not use the riskware database, and it must
be enabled by the user. I don't use the riskware database myself.

ISTM that downloaders are similar to Flashcrap. For every legitimate
use, there are a 100 idiots mis-using them. WTF would I want anything
like this installed on my computer keeping track of my keyboard,
pointing device, printer, etc?

I never, ever install any software with any peripheral device. And I
refuse to purchase any such device that insists on it. Screw Logitech. YMMV.

Ron