"Joe Moore" <munged@bad.example.com> wrote in message
news:kfqvv290ktonaessc9fffs2lp5ge4bh54c@4ax.com...
>I bought a new Logitech mouse yesterday. I plugged it in and it worked
> fine, but looking at the box I saw a couple of neat features that
> could probably only be activated by installing the software which came
> with the mouse.
>
> Before installing anything, I always check the net to see whether
> spyware or adware is included. I soon found out that the software that
> comes with the model of mouse that I had purchased (MX310)installs
> without asking a product called Backweb.
>
> 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, Kapersky(!!) 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?
>
> I read the EULA, but I didn't install the software, and I'm hoping
> someone here can tell me that Backweb has gone out of business or
> changed its practices. Surely ethical companies have more respect for
> their customers than this.

I'm sure that ethical companies do. Trouble is, you didn't name any.

If you want a real eye opener, run HijackThis and save a log, then install
the Logitech Software and have HijackThis save another log.

cmsix

>
>
>
> joemooreaterolsdotcom