Stealth P2P network hides inside Kazaa

[Bing Fung]

This is actually unbelievable, and seems the stuff Sci-Fi's are made of 8O

A California company has quietly attached its software to millions of downloads of the popular Kazaa file-trading program and plans to remotely "turn on" people's PCs, welding them into a new network of its own.

Whole Story Here




Bing

[SiliGoose]

...and I thought it was smart to stay away from Kazaa just because they limit MP3 bitrate to 128kbps.




-Sili

[Kevin P]

What I wonder is how many people install Kazaa blissfully unaware that it has these trojans included with it? It's one thing if it notifies you (CLEARLY) that this stuff is being installed on your PC, with the option to decline or uninstall it, but it's another thing if it's happening without your knowledge. That and how many people actually read the license agreements and stuff that they "agree" to before they install this stuff? I bet many folks would balk at their systems being "used" in a peer network without their knowledge, yet they go ahead and install Kazaa and its siblings without giving it a second thought.

Firewalls, anti-virus, spam filters, ad blockers, spyware blockers... dang, most of the software I've installed on my system is to protect against all this crap that's littering the internet...

KJP




Official Computer Geek and Techno-Wiz Guru of HTGuide - Visit Tower of Power
My HT Site

[Bing Fung]

Anybody know what this "Double Click" spyware is that keeps showing up on a person's system every so often?

Seems I have to remove it most times a spyware scan is done.




Bing

[Andrew Pratt]

I get the same thing Bing...

[Lex]

I think as bad as I hate to say it, that it's time for regulation of what can be installed on a person's PC by any company. especially without their knowledge,and an option NOT to install it.

Lex

[Kevin P]

Anybody know what this "Double Click" spyware is that keeps showing up on a person's system every so often?

Seems I have to remove it most times a spyware scan is done.

Doubleclick is a site that provides banner ads for other websites and is known for tracking users' surfing habits via cookies. AdAware will detect and remove Doubleclick's cookies.

If you have a firewall with a banner ad blocker you can block Doubleclick and then you shouldn't get its cookies anymore...

KJP




Official Computer Geek and Techno-Wiz Guru of HTGuide - Visit Tower of Power
My HT Site

[Bing Fung]

Humm, thanks Kevin!

So my router is my firewall, but how do it tell it to filter banners if that's possible?




Bing

[Lex]

Might have to have a software firewall in addition to the router "hardware" firewall. I doubt a router gives you that flexibility...

Lex

[Kevin P]

Might have to have a software firewall in addition to the router "hardware" firewall. I doubt a router gives you that flexibility...

Lex

Exactly. To block banners you'll want software, such as Norton Internet Security or a dedicated ad blocker.

You might be able to create a firewall "rule" on the router to block communications with the Doubleclick network, but (a) it won't block other ad sites, and (b) you may get a timeout or other error on sites with Doubleclick banners.

KJP




Official Computer Geek and Techno-Wiz Guru of HTGuide - Visit Tower of Power
My HT Site