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

[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. ®

[dennisw]

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

[Richard Kimball]

I'm making extra money from my refinanced home on my personal computer and have a bigger penis right now.

[holymoly]

How about including Stinger form McAfee.

Will do.

[JFK_Lib]

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

[antiRepublicrat]

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.

[holymoly]

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.

[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.

[El Gran Salseron]

"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.

[the invisib1e hand]

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.

[AppyPappy]

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.

[El Gran Salseron]

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

[the invisib1e hand]

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.

[dennisw]

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

[processing please hold]

Can anitspy ware, have spyware on it? I bought Defender Pro, last night and this thing is even slower than before.

Just curious.

[holymoly]

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?

[holymoly]

Can anitspy ware, have spyware on it?

You bet it can!

Just look at this list:
Rogue/Suspect Anti-Spyware Products & Web Sites

[InvisibleChurch]

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

[aMorePerfectUnion]

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.

[JeffersonRepublic.com]

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?

[processing please hold]

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.