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Adware-infected PCs net slimeware firms $3 a pop
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/02/02/adware_market_estimate/ ^ | 2nd February 2005 | John Leyden

Posted on 02/02/2005 7:23:03 AM PST by holymoly

Adware infections net the purveyors of slimeware software around $3 a year for each infected PC, according to estimates from anti-spyware firm Webroot Software. Using this figure and stats from its own malware auditing services, Webroot guesstimates the illicit advertising market underpinned by adware infection of home and business PCs could be worth up to $1.6bn a year.

According to Richard Stiennon, VP of threat research at Webroot, the illicit ad market enjoys approximately the same growth rate as the legitimate market. But that's where the similarities end. "It [adware] has a similar bus model and some of the same affiliates as the spam industry. Adware is not just used to serve up ads for penis pills though. Sometimes legitimate companies - whether they realise it or not - purchase ad views from adware firms," he said.

It's hard to square Webroot's $1.6bn estimate with the observable size of adware market. The company looks to be on much firmer ground in working out how much adware agent makes its owner, because its assumptions derive from the public disclosure of firms operating in the market.

Stiennon notes that adware company Avenue Media claims the 2m PCS running its software brought in $7m of revenue per year in its lawsuit against rival DirectRevenue, whose VX2 package allegedly disables Avenue Media's software. Claria (the firm formerly known as Gator) revealed that its software was loaded onto 40m PCs, bringing in $90m in revenue a year in public fillings made in 2003.

From these two data points we get an estimate that each item of adware generates between $2.25 and $3.50 per year from each infected PC. That's an average of $2.95 per-infection-per-year, Stiennon says in a recent opinion piece on CIO Update. But simply averaging the two figures is a questionable statistical assumption and worse is to follow.

Stat attack

Webroot's spy audit suggests an average PC on the net (whatever that is) has at "least two pieces of adware on it". ClickZ Stats indicate that there are 280m active PCs on the internet. Multiplying the number of PCs by the average number of adware items on each by the revenue per app figure allows Stiennon to guesstimate that the illicit advertising market is worth $1.6bn a year.

This calculation assumes a uniform distribution of spyware, among other statistical sins. Estimates on the damage caused by malware are a notoriously inexact science. The same seems to apply to looking at the adware market.

Stiennon told El Reg that machines loaded with more than three pieces of adware slow down to the extent they are less effective cash generators. This may be the case but we remain unconvinced about Webroot's headline figure for the illicit ad market of $1.6bn, which it compares to the $10bn a year pulled in by Google, Yahoo! DoubleClick et al. ®


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: adware; bundle; computersecurity; driveby; infect; infected; malware; microsoft; pc; slimeware; spy; spyware; trojan; virus; windows; worm
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To: holymoly

Great info on your homepage. How about including Stinger form McAfee. It's a free quick download and will root out viruses. It's free because it's no frills and doesn't protect


21 posted on 02/02/2005 8:20:16 AM PST by dennisw (Pryce-Jones: Arab culture is steeped in conspiracy theories, half truths, and nursery rhyme politics)
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To: rmmcdaniell
I'm making extra money from my refinanced home on my personal computer and have a bigger penis right now.
22 posted on 02/02/2005 8:22:50 AM PST by Richard Kimball (We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men are ready to do violence on our behalf)
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To: dennisw
How about including Stinger form McAfee.

Will do.
23 posted on 02/02/2005 8:32:05 AM PST by holymoly ("A lot" is TWO words.)
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To: holymoly

It also helps to boot up in Safe Mode so that the adware cant recopy itself etc as your adware remover does its thing.


24 posted on 02/02/2005 8:32:57 AM PST by JFK_Lib
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To: Blood of Tyrants
Even simpler is to use Firefox to browse with the Adblock extension installed. You can download a pre-filled block list that kills 99% of ads from the start here (grab the latest), and import it into Adblock. Then you add more blocks with a right-click on ads.
25 posted on 02/02/2005 8:34:18 AM PST by antiRepublicrat
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To: InvisibleChurch
ok, i have those, and they DO get rid of a lot (two words) but still PartyPoker pokes its nose in on my computer ... and recommendations?

Is it possible "PartyPoker" isn't actually adware/spyware?

Have you checked to see if it can be un-installed? If not, you may want to go to "Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs".

If that fails, right-click on the "Start" button. Select "Explore".

Select "Programs > Startup" and see what's there.

If you don't find anything suspicous in the "Startup" folder, select "Start > Run".

In the box, type "MSCONFIG" (w.out the quotes) and hit Enter/Return. Once MSCONFIG is running, select the "Startup" tab. For now, just look at the entries to see what's there.

Note: If you see a file/entry you're not sure about, you can often view the respective file for info. If it's a hidden file (i.e. .dll) you may want to use "Start > Find > Files or Folders" to search for the filename. You may then right click on the file from there, and view its properties.
26 posted on 02/02/2005 8:40:19 AM PST by holymoly ("A lot" is TWO words.)
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To: holymoly
It is not irrelevant since so many people are absolutely ignorant of the freeware programs and gladly spend big bucks on the "pro" versions.
27 posted on 02/02/2005 8:41:01 AM PST by El Gran Salseron ( The replies by this poster are meant for self-amusement only. Read at your own risk. :-))
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To: the invisib1e hand
"An even more compelling idea is the potential for joint ventures between purveyors of and slayers of slimeware."Exactly!

I once spoke with a young lady who worked for MacAfee out of Dallas. She admitted to me that she was a virus writer for MacAfee.

28 posted on 02/02/2005 8:42:48 AM PST by El Gran Salseron ( The replies by this poster are meant for self-amusement only. Read at your own risk. :-))
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To: El Gran Salseron
I once spoke with a young lady who worked for MacAfee out of Dallas. She admitted to me that she was a virus writer for MacAfee.

For research of for distribution.

29 posted on 02/02/2005 8:44:51 AM PST by the invisib1e hand ("What are you gonna believe, the media, or your own eyes?" -- Marx .............(Groucho))
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To: highlandbreeze

There are basically two answers:

1. Learn to fix the problem
2. Learn to accept it

As for me, I decided to learn to fix the problem. This is not the same as "Tell me exactly what to do and I'll do it". It's learning how to do research about the problem. You must want to win.


30 posted on 02/02/2005 8:47:43 AM PST by AppyPappy (If You're Not A Part Of The Solution, There's Good Money To Be Made In Prolonging The Problem.)
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To: the invisib1e hand

Don't know but the mere fact that she admitted it is strong implication, wouldn't you say?


31 posted on 02/02/2005 8:52:17 AM PST by El Gran Salseron ( The replies by this poster are meant for self-amusement only. Read at your own risk. :-))
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To: El Gran Salseron
Don't know but the mere fact that she admitted it is strong implication, wouldn't you say?

No. I gave up assuming the worst a long time ago.

32 posted on 02/02/2005 8:56:40 AM PST by the invisib1e hand ("What are you gonna believe, the media, or your own eyes?" -- Marx .............(Groucho))
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To: antiRepublicrat

That's a hosts file.... I don't think so but ...


33 posted on 02/02/2005 8:56:53 AM PST by dennisw (Pryce-Jones: Arab culture is steeped in conspiracy theories, half truths, and nursery rhyme politics)
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To: holymoly
Can anitspy ware, have spyware on it? I bought Defender Pro, last night and this thing is even slower than before.

Just curious.

34 posted on 02/02/2005 8:58:40 AM PST by processing please hold (Islam and Christianity do not mix ----9-11 taught us that)
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To: InvisibleChurch
ok, i have those, and they DO get rid of a lot (two words) but still PartyPoker pokes its nose in on my computer ... and recommendations?

I've been doing a bit of reading, and PartyPoker appears to be quite nasty.

Read this thread at the SpywareWarrior.com forums:
this adware has got me stumped :(

As you can see, the people at SpywareWarrior.com are experts in removing this adware/spyware. If you're unable to completely remove PartyPoker, you may need their help. Specifically: Need Help with Spyware Now?
35 posted on 02/02/2005 9:00:22 AM PST by holymoly ("A lot" is TWO words.)
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To: pbrown
Can anitspy ware, have spyware on it?

You bet it can!

Just look at this list:
Rogue/Suspect Anti-Spyware Products & Web Sites
36 posted on 02/02/2005 9:02:19 AM PST by holymoly ("A lot" is TWO words.)
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To: holymoly

thank you very much ... i really appreciate your help ... i'll let you know what happens


37 posted on 02/02/2005 9:02:25 AM PST by InvisibleChurch (Look! Jimmy Carter! History's greatest monster!)
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To: holymoly

In regards to Spybot and Adaware, you must do more than just use the default settings to get a thorough scan. Also, in Spybot, use the innoculate function and add Spyblaster also.


38 posted on 02/02/2005 9:04:29 AM PST by aMorePerfectUnion
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To: holymoly

I run X-cleaner and it "removes" the same programs every time, but the next time I turn on my computer X-cleaner finds the same programs it "removed" again. I was told that they were installed on my harddrive. Do you have any ideas to help me?


39 posted on 02/02/2005 9:04:46 AM PST by JeffersonRepublic.com (The 51st state is right around the corner.)
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To: El Gran Salseron
It is not irrelevant since so many people are absolutely ignorant of the freeware programs and gladly spend big bucks on the "pro" versions.

As my hand rises slowly into the air. But, I only paid 12 bucks for it so I don't have to file for bankruptcy just yet.

40 posted on 02/02/2005 9:06:06 AM PST by processing please hold (Islam and Christianity do not mix ----9-11 taught us that)
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