Embedded malware?

Remove all ads!

Today I eventually installed adaware on my new installation and wiped out the spyware that had spread on my comp. After that, my media player BSplayer didn't work, and I was asked to install an add on, iirc called When_U_save (or so).

As soon as I did my Avast sounded malware alarm and I aborted.

I have now settled for the VLC media player, which works like charm. But still, anyone else who had a similar experience?

 

In fact I had that in one of my my winblows firewalls! Kind of, at least. It was one of the freeware or shareware firewalls our uni's or our student housing's internet advisors recommend IIRC.

The only time the Avast on that computer alarmed about a spyware, I did as it recommended and quarantined the program. Then I started wondering why I couldn't access the net anymore. One of the first things that came into my mind why the net wouldn't work anymore was the firewall. Looking up where the quarantined file resided was of course a good clue. So I turned off the firewall and bingo. That was it. So out goes the stupid firewall and in with another one.

I guess the problem was that after the trial period, some programs might try to notify some instance what the downloader is doing with it, without going through the fuss of doing that under the permission or the knowledge of the computer's owner. I don't know about programming or anything, but it's a hypothesis...

 

I remember that one. It came packed along with Daemon Tools, and when my bro Daemon Tools, When U Save tried to connect to the Internet everytime he would log on - fortunately he has the brillant habit of unplugging the cable modem, so the vile spyware wasn't able to "download" anything.

I was able to eradicate it after uninstalling and reinstalling Daemon Tools, but I wonder if the sucker still has registry keys and crap like that.

But yeah, embedded malware is nothing new. Sometimes the license will clearly tell you that XYZ program will be installed and is necessary for the application you want to install to function, or it installs without knowledge of the person that installs it. Kazaa comes to mind - came packed with Cydoor.

Kitrax's guide is a great source of information regarding malware... though being a Linux user, I'm immune.

 

Which means: it's not worth the hassle to sort it out. Whatever the reason, adware is strictly no-no simply because it is the same as turning your personal computer into a corporate trash-can.

Personally, I prefer ZoomPlayer's free version with the necessary codexes.

 

My ISP is Qwest DSL with MSN Premium...and when you try to install MSN, Qwest takes the liberty of installing their lame program called 'Qwest Quick Care'...that's *supposed* to help prevent customer service calls...but McAfee and ZoneAlarm both threw up a red flag during the installation.

I later found out you can install MSN without having the unwanted Qwest spyware program...but the typical PC user wouldn't know how.

 

No, you are not.
http://www.viruslist.com/en/analysis?pubid=184625030

The only reason UNIX-based systems do not get as much malware is simply because the majority of computers are running Windows, so malware programmers do not bother with other systems. It does not make business sense.