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FTC Says Anti-Spyware Vendor Shut Down
Reuters ^
| Mar 11 2005
| Reuters
Posted on 03/12/2005 5:48:37 AM PST by pickemuphere
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A software vendor that tried to drum up sales by offering to clean up nonexistent computer "spyware" has been temporarily shut down, U.S. regulators said on Friday.
The makers of Spyware Assassin tried to scare consumers into buying software through pop-up ads and e-mail that warned their computers had been infected with malicious monitoring software, the Federal Trade Commission said.
Free spyware scans offered by Spokane, Washington-based MaxTheater Inc. turned up evidence of spyware even on machines that were entirely clean, and its $29.95 Spyware Assassin program did not actually remove spyware, the FTC said.
A U.S. court has ordered the company and its owner, Thomas Delanoy, to suspend its activities until a court hearing on Tuesday. The company could be required to give back all the money it made from selling Spyware Assassin.
MaxTheater could not be reached for comment.
TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: computers; computersecurity; fraud; ftc; lowqualitycrap; microsoft; spyware; windows
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To: Reaganwuzthebest
Oh! I hated the about:blank one. I found out it was linked to my Incredimail email program and got rid of it.
To: beaver fever
I haven't seen a pop stopper yet that's 100% effective. Firefox does a pretty good job though.
42
posted on
03/12/2005 7:38:19 AM PST
by
demlosers
(We win. They lose. USA number 1 !)
To: HungarianGypsy
Yep that one next to CoolWebSearch is the pest of all pests. You can actually prevent it from getting on your system through the ActiveX component of the IE browser by setting the kill bit in the registry. The free registry file from below not only will protect you from about:blank but over 200+ spyware programs, including CoolWebSearch. Just click on it and you're done:
SpywareGuide
To: pickemuphere
44
posted on
03/12/2005 7:50:07 AM PST
by
2nd amendment mama
( www.2asisters.org • Self defense is a basic human right!)
To: jdm
Pest Patrol should be next. PP offers a free scan and turned up the exact same problems on two different, independent PCs, at different companies, 20 miles apartI have Pest Patrol. It's the only one of three anti-spyware I have that could remove a "backweb" virus (whatever that is) detected by all three programs. The other 2 would remove the virus untill the next time I did a scan, then it was back.
45
posted on
03/12/2005 8:10:19 AM PST
by
lewislynn
(My other car is an XC90 T6 AWD....)
To: demlosers
I haven't seen a pop stopper yet that's 100% effective Try Admuncher. I highly recommend it. It's got a 30 day free trial. It also stops a number of malicious scripts, has a built in proxy randomizer. It's layer 3 so it's sitting right on top of the IP stack which means you don't have to change anything. Install and you're done. Well worth it. Oh and it blocks EVERYTHING.
46
posted on
03/12/2005 8:16:11 AM PST
by
Malsua
To: newfreep
47
posted on
03/12/2005 8:19:01 AM PST
by
sd-joe
To: Malsua
That's over 53,000 times I didn't have to see something a scumbag marketing jagoff was trying to shove down my throat.
48
posted on
03/12/2005 8:21:59 AM PST
by
Malsua
To: Malsua
If you are not satisfied with anti spyware programs for one reason or another (as I was not) you can end the problem entirely by changing your browser. All these hackers target the IE browser, but if you use the new Firefox or Opera you sail under thir radar and get no more problems.
To: pickemuphere
Spyware is no different than a stranger coming into your house and damaging your computer. We need to prosecute these cases hardcore. The dirty secret that no one wants to talk about is that those who get spyware get it through porn sites.
You play, you pay...
To: ServesURight
The dirty secret that no one wants to talk about is that those who get spyware get it through porn sites. True, and a lot of it also comes from P2P file sharing software.
To: ClaireSolt
If you are not satisfied with anti spyware programs for one reason or another (as I was not) you can end the problem entirely by changing your browser Click on my FR homepage ;)
52
posted on
03/12/2005 11:15:12 AM PST
by
Malsua
To: ServesURight
The dirty secret that no one wants to talk about is that those who get spyware get it through porn sites. Well, I'm sorry, but that's NOT where my computer got infected.
To: Crazieman
Next step is to smack University of Phoenix upside the head over their ads. University of Phoenix....Got a Degree? Make UP Yours!
To: lewislynn
"I have Pest Patrol. It's the only one of three anti-spyware I have that could remove a "backweb" virus (whatever that is) detected by all three programs. The other 2 would remove the virus untill the next time I did a scan, then it was back."
For the other two anti-spyware softwares, did you run the scan in "safe mode"? Running the scan in "safe mode" and removing the virus will most likely keep it from replicating.
55
posted on
03/12/2005 3:51:38 PM PST
by
jdm
(Stockhausen, Kagel, Xenakis -- world capitals or avant-garde composers?)
To: Thebaddog
I've blocked out the UofPh by going into the browser tools menu and editing them into the block list in the privacy window.I'll see that, and raise you this:
I've got a modified hosts file in C:\windows\system32\drivers\etc that forces the computer to resolve their host name to an IP of 127.0.0.1 (the internal IP of my machine, as opposed to the IP from which the ads are originating).
In other words, as far as my computer is concerned, those ad-pushing sites don't even exist!
Cheers!
56
posted on
03/13/2005 6:34:20 PM PST
by
FierceDraka
(The Democratic Party - Aiding and Abetting The Enemies of America Since 1968)
To: Crazieman
Next step is to smack University of Phoenix upside the head over their ads.I'm fairly certain Dr. Greg Cynamon is first into the fiery pit.
57
posted on
03/13/2005 6:36:11 PM PST
by
Petronski
(If 'Judge' Greer can kill Terri, who will be next?)
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