McAfee lists Adware in Top 10 Viruses

joelethan writes "In the new sensitive, caring world of Windows security McAfee Virusscan detects adware/malware, just like its competitors. A surprising consequence is that the McAfee's Regional Virus Info now regularly shows adware in its infection top ten. It feels so good to see old favorites like 180Search and DFC listed. "Now for your listening pleasure it's Adware.Gator at number 7 with a bullet..." "

Time to cut your virus count

[Anonymous Coward]

1) Switch to better web browser that dosen't have activeX spyware infecting it [spreadfirefox.com]
2)Destroy spyware [lavasoftusa.com]
3)Switch to a secure operating system. [mandrake.com]
4) ???
5) Profit, by not having to waste time with viruses!

Re:damn..

[Anonymous Coward]

Are you retarded? It's easy to keep a Windows machine clear of Adware. You just don't do stupid crap like install Gator. If you're capable of handling a non-Windows machine (Macs excluded) you should be more than able to not do stupid stuff to your computer.

Re:It's about time...

[garcia]

Or when will the viruses start coming from those that are supposedly protecting us from them?

Re:damn..

[techefnet]

No? What about people borrowing my computer? One click away and a lot of spyware is installed. What about i forget to pull the networkconnection before i start a fresh windows installation. Etc. You dont have to be retarded to get spyware. To avoid them you need to regulary run windowsupdate and run scan with software like Ad-Aware.

Re:It's about time...

[Anonymous Coward]

If they don't do that for viruses, why would you expect them to do it for spyware?

Re:Tums!

[Anonymous Coward]

Apart from the last line, that is precisely what I do all day. It's very painful.

Right..

[Kjella]

..let's stick to some realism. I don't have any spyware on my Windows machine. Unlike viruses, the user has to actually install them (though that may involve just clicking "yes" in IE). Poor judgement can not be solved by technical solutions, OSS or not.

Kjella

Re:damn..

[techefnet]

I dont blame them on microsoft. I never said that. But spyware and virus problem is there, you cant deny that..

Re:Claria...

[LostCluster]

Companies that change names to a made-up word usually need to be given a closer look... they usually have soiled their first name so badly they can't use it anymore.

Unfortunately...

[Kjella]

...I think you're preaching to the choir. If we're going to make a difference, it would be "Force a (l)user to use these:"

Re:Right..

[Richardsonke1]

Yeah, that sounds good, but it's FALSE [sans.org]. Lots of spyware is installed using known browser security holes. So, a user doesn't even have to click a button, they just have to be using Internet Explorer, and who can fault the normal user for using the browser that came with their computers. Most users don't even know there are other web browsers out there.

Re:damn..

[swordboy]

Actually, this used to be a valid point. But with XPSP2, IE is configured to disable ActiveX installations (but allows the user to run them, if so inclined).

I support LOTS of PCs on the side and this has eliminated 99 percent of the adware/spyware related issues. If people are no longer prompted with a "yes/no" type choice, then there is no problem.

Kudos to Microsloth on this one.

I never saw much of a difference...

[woodsrunner]

...Other than malware/Adware starts with a team of lawyers on staff, where as virus writers don't get a lawyer until after they are busted.

And while most malware may not be self replicating, it does have viral components in that it is predatory non-living creature that lives off its host. And good malware, like a good virus goes undetected. Cheating the system of confidentiality and resources. Sending it's host to places that suit it, and exploit the host.

Does it really matter that they aren't totally self replicating like a worm... early viruses were just malicious macros using MS Office and WP as a vector to be passed around by unsuspecting knobs.

A lot of smart viruses use their host to infect others. HIV, for example isn't very good at replicating itself... it relies on humans to do most of the work. It just sits in the blood stream. Other viruses use multiple species to get passed around where some species are adversly effected and other species in the chain don't even notice it's benign precence.

Similarly, code like Roings or Gator, are a great malware/virus hybrid. They just sit around and wait to be downloaded from from blog sites like Xanga or P2P networks like Kazaa... it uses other users to actually recommend to their friends to get the infection. Now that is using relational marketing!

Why bother writing self replicating code when you can get guillable fools to do the replicating for you.

As far as spyware for linux, I suspect it is out there. My browser (mozilla) has been hijacked a few times, I haven't figured out how. Has anyone else experienced this? I am not trying to start a flame war, I know I probably have something missing or misconfigured, but how... I don't know.

Re:damn..

[Mant]

Considering there is zero spyware for Macs or Linux... you're damn right I'm going to blame Microsoft.

Damit, this thread is turning me into an MS apologist. How, exactly, are MS responsible for the spyware? There isn't a single thing about Macs or Linux that prevents someone writing spyware for it, or bundling it with other programs.

It really is just a matter of them not being worth targeting. Probably part market share, and part Mac and Linux users often being more savy and careful what they put on their box.

Now, if you want to blame MS for some dodgy browser code that lets sites slip spyware onto the machine without them knowing, that is fair. But blaming MS for the mere existance of spyware on Windows is just silly.

Re:All we need now..

[evslin]

Yeah, that's gonna happen. Last thing we need are civil rights groups everywhere screaming at the top of their lungs that illegalizing adware is stifling free speech!

Call your Congressmen-it's the most important step

[drc500free]

Joe Six-Pack is finally getting a sense for these things, which is a great step. I recently started working for a net marketing company, and I'm amazed by the volume of flaming emails we get from people across the country saying that they will take us to court when they find the single cookie we put on their machine. There is also a lot of talk of pushing their congressmen to make our 'spyware' actions illegal.

I love this. It would be nice if people were more educated on this (and knew the difference between a viral program and an inert string of text that they have set their browser to allow), but it's a huge start. Detecting these programs as viruses is wonderful - it raises awareness levels. And the first step to legislation is enough people telling their congressmen. Remember, a phone call or letter is worth hundreds of constituient votes.

Four years ago when I first came across Gator, I considered taking apart their offices with a bat and a black ski mask. But I lived on the wrong coast. Now I might finally see them go to jail some day, and their cell mates will do far worse things to some scrawny coders than I ever could. But that will only happen if you contact your congresscritter. So do it.

Re:All we need now..

[AnonymousCowheart]

Though I do agree, spyware should be illegal, most of the spyware is mentioned in the EULA. Check out: Is kazaa spyware? [imilly.com]
where they quote the EULA agreement stating:
We may add, delete or change some or all of the Software's functionality provided in connection with KaZaA at any time. This may include download of necessary software modules. Any new features that augment or enhance
Like the web page suggests, thats "pretty open-ended."
Fact is, most people (>99% imho) DONT read the EULA!

Re:Yes but does it work man.

[cermanius]

Personally, I for the most part run Linux. This came in handy with all the email "viruses" floating around a little while back. I could just grab the damn things and if they were VB script, look at what they were doing with no worries.

These adware/spyware things don't really effect me now, but I am worried what might happen when Linux distributions start to permeate the desktop scene. Especially with some of the fun things a friend of mine showed me with FireFox/Mozilla and a neat thing called XUL. That was some messed up stuff....

But I am going to agree with you on the adware/spyware authors that should DIE DIE DIE. But I am going to add to that, spammers, script kiddies and all the other jack arses that decide to steal my Internet bandwidth by messing with the many windows boxes out there. It's my web too damn it!

Re:It's about time...

[Anonymous Coward]

Try suing spyware creators for illegally placing it on your machine. You'd have quite a fight on your hands to prove you didn't install it yourself.

The word you're looking for is "trojan".

Re:damn..

[alexq]

this is the reason why i dont use windows.. one minute after your installation is done, you already got lots of spyware.. heh.. cant stand it..

and of course, this could never happen under another operating system...

This falls in....

[Anonymous Coward]

the "no shit" category. Considering 90% of all my repairs are viruses/adware. This has been a problem for longer than what mcafee says. And I hate to say it, Gator isn't that far up the list WinTools is the worst I've seen considering it's been on 9 out of 10 machines that have come in my shop in the past 6 months.

I might also add, McAfee is crap. From failing to tell the user the subscription has expired, to not being able to make their own software packages work together (I've seen the anti-spam and anti-virus butt head so badly that it won't allow you to download mail, and don't get me started on their firewall), all the way to their software causing a system to no longer boot after an update.

suggestion: If you value your sanity, don't use McAfee and don't recommend it to users that ask you what you recommend. It will damage your rep, and add to your workload when you have to explain.....alot. This is coming from someone who was a loyal McAfee user for 8 years until 3 years ago.

Re:And this...

[Aggrazel]

I thought Karma was capped at 50 now anyway (well, before they took away the numbers, it was capped at 50) so whats the big deal about karma? Everyone is either a newbie, an asshole, or has perfect karma.

Re:Right..

[Peaceful_Patriot]

No, they don't really intend for users to read it. That's why it's important that you start making a habit of it. I have found gotchas hidden in many EULA's. Did you know Windows DRM is installed with such programs as Nero and W2K SP4?

Most EULAs are pretty standard and after a short while, the non-standard stuff stands out.