All Known BHO's September 06, 2003

  • Thread starter Thread starter siljaline
  • Start date Start date
S

siljaline

http://www.spywareinfo.com/bhos/archives/2003_09.php
'X' = Spyware by CLSID & DLL file name.
'Y' = Legitimate.
'O' = Open for discussion - *probably* Malware. (Google Toolbar, as an example).
More on Malware:
http://users.iafrica.com/c/cq/cquirke/malware.htm

"Spyware Defined: Silent background use of an Internet "backchannel" connection MUST BE
PRECEDED by a complete and truthful disclosure of proposed backchannel usage, followed by
the receipt of explicit, informed, consent for such use. Any software communicating across
the Internet absent of these elements is guilty of information theft and is properly and
rightfully termed: Spyware"


--

siljaline

"Arguing with anonymous strangers on the Internet is a sucker's game
because they almost always turn out to be -- or to be indistinguishable from
-- self-righteous sixteen-year-olds possessing infinite amounts of free time."
- Neil Stephenson, _Cryptonomicon_
 
The Google toolbar = malware? There's a link on the download page to it's FAQ site which then has a link to their privacy policy http://toolbar.google.com/privacy.html and other info. And there's nothing there that I see to be worried about. Nonetheless, spywareinfo.com is a great site.
 
The Google toolbar = malware? There's a link on the download page to it's FAQ site which
then has a link to their privacy policy http://toolbar.google.com/privacy.html and other
info. And there's nothing there that I see to be worried about. Nonetheless,
spywareinfo.com is a great site.

Jon,
Just reporting as it is... IMO - Google toolbar *is* open for discussion.
A privacy statement does not always reveal all.
Status: O - Open to discussion
Filename(s): Googletoolbar.dll
Description: Google toolbar
Link: http://toolbar.google.com/

http://forums.spywareinfo.com/index.php?showtopic=10113&hl=google+toolbar
http://www.spywareinfo.com/articles/googleupdater/


--

siljaline

"Arguing with anonymous strangers on the Internet is a sucker's game
because they almost always turn out to be -- or to be indistinguishable from
-- self-righteous sixteen-year-olds possessing infinite amounts of free time."
- Neil Stephenson, _Cryptonomicon_
 
Thanks for the extra information in those links you provided, siljaline. I was not aware that the Google toolbar had an auto-update feature you couldn't turn off. That's not very good. I can now see why it's listed as "Open to discussion". I would think the guys and gals at Google would know better, and hopefully they will fix this situation ASAP. 'preciate the info, siljaline!
 
Thanks for the extra information in those links you provided, siljaline. I was not aware
that the Google toolbar had an auto-update feature you couldn't turn off. That's not very
good. I can now see why it's listed as "Open to discussion". I would think the guys and
gals at Google would know better, and hopefully they will fix this situation ASAP.
'preciate the info, siljaline!

Jon - you're welcome for the added info - I'm always suspicious of any toolbar - Google
included.
I was as surprised when I read the Spyware Info article.
I sent Google a feedback e-mail on the subject of the auto-updater and they sent me a
"rubber stamp"
response back.

<snip from Google>

Hi Siljaline,

Thank you for your note and for your interest in the Google Toolbar. As
newer versions of the Google Toolbar become available, we automatically
update all of our current toolbar users. We do this in order to provide
the latest Google technology and the highest quality toolbar to all of
our users. The updates often include new feature offerings and bug fixes that
make the Google Toolbar more stable and reliable. Our team is always
working to improve the toolbar, and these updates allow us to incorporate
bug fixes and new features as soon as they are available.

We appreciate your feedback however and will keep your thoughts in mind
as work to improve the toolbar.

Regards,
The Google Team
Click to expand...
</snip>

You'll notice the word "automatic" in there, that doesn't speak of any ability to turn it
off.
There are no features within the Google Toolbar, v2, AFAIK that allows the updating
feature to be disabled. Disable the DLL in your Windows directory to read only maybe.

Regards,

--

siljaline

"Arguing with anonymous strangers on the Internet is a sucker's game
because they almost always turn out to be -- or to be indistinguishable from
-- self-righteous sixteen-year-olds possessing infinite amounts of free time."
- Neil Stephenson, _Cryptonomicon_
 
Jim Byrd said:
Hi siljaline - Also very worth mentioning is BHOList, the front end GUI for
this by merijn, here: http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/files/bholist.zip
Recommended.
Click to expand...

Hi Jim,
Been running Tony Klein's BHO "front-end" for some time, he e-mailed me the other
day advising of a Beta version. Try it if you like.
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/files/beta/bholist.zip Being a Beta, it's not for
public
release - don't distribute it just yet. It's probably just fine but may have bugs.

Thanks for the recommendation, btw - it's updated daily from Spyware Info.

Regards,

--

siljaline

"Arguing with anonymous strangers on the Internet is a sucker's game
because they almost always turn out to be -- or to be indistinguishable from
-- self-righteous sixteen-year-olds possessing infinite amounts of free time."
- Neil Stephenson, _Cryptonomicon_
 
Oops ! Well, too late now! :) Interesting to note that on BHO's Google
is O, but on Toolbars it's L. Rationale? Thanks very much - nice
improvements - I've already replaced my old one.
 
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