gotomypc

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I have several clients that have been calling saying that since the new
upgrade by AntiSpyware that their gotomypc no longer works. They are getting
a scan that tells them gotomypc.exe has been either quarantined of deleted as
a "bad" cookie. I have also had the same experience at a computer at work.
Anyone else having this problem? Any fixes other than choosing Always Ignore?

James
 
I don't have experience with the product, so I can't say whether removing
the cookie breaks the app--I would think that would be relatively easy to
fix.

This seems a clear-cut intentional finding, not a false positive. I don't
know of a fix other than choosing Always Ignore.

Users of the product should get in touch with the vendor, I think. I doubt
that this was done without some very clear rationale.
 
I have been using gotomypc for over a year. I noticed the same thing. I
contacted gotomypc to find out what they are doing about this, because it
does not bode well for them, if their product is identified as spyware by
microsoft. They said they have been in contact with Microsoft to have their
product removed from Microsoft's product, and Microsoft does not respond to
their efforts. They have assured me that they are not spyware, and I have
not had any issues with them, which would indicate otherwise. I do not know
why they are being identified as this, and neither do they. They are more
than willing to discuss this with Microsoft's technical people, but again,
they have not had any success at being able to accomplish this. A word to
Microsoft... PLEASE CONTACT GOTOMYPC, AND RESOLVE THIS! At least, make a
specific comment on your website, as to why gotomypc is being identified as
spyware.
 
Hi Rotnfire;
It's not just Microsoft that doesn't bless GoToMyPC. Computer Associates
(PestPatrol) identifies it as a commercial RAT. I guess that leaves it up to
you to decide for yourself if you should use the product, which seems reasonable
to me.

http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/pest/pest.aspx?id=453079809

RAT

1. Remote Access Trojan (occasionally Remote Access Trapdoor).

2. Remote Administration Tool. There are legitimate remote administration tools
included with many network management products, with helpdesk and other support
software, and the like. These are installed with the system administrator's
knowledge and consent (although not necessarily with that of the end-users).
Many programs that are clearly designed to harass, annoy and spy on unsuspecting
users who are fooled into running their server part (that is, programs that
better fit the first expansion of this acronym) are referred to as 'remote
administration tools' in an attempt (usually by their writers, resellers,
agents, etc) to legitimize them. Such tools that have 'silent' installation
modes and such useful administration functions as the ability to repeatedly open
and close the CD-ROM tray of the 'administered' machine are perhaps better
thought of as 'remote antagonism tools' and should be treated as such

In any event, irregardless of what Expertcity, Inc. told you, I suspect they do
in fact understand why they are so identified.
The criteria that Microsoft uses for classification are quite clearly spelled
out by Mike Nash:

Our customers have told us they want control of the software on their machine,
and want us to be objective about how we evaluate software, which is why we
created the objective criteria, viewable at:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/isv/analysis.mspx
This includes the possibility of identifying popular beneficial software which
is
bundled with items which match the criteria, or products that are useful but
sometimes used for bad purposes. In these cases we at least inform the user
so they can have control over the software on their machines.
 
You are using a loaded term--spyware--in this message.

Lets be clear. Microsoft does not use this term about GoToMyPC's cookie.
This is the description of that item:

------------------------
GoToMyPC.com

Type: Cookie

Threat Level: Low

Description: Certain cookies are designed to be shared among multiple
unrelated sites for the purpose of tracking a user's usage and browsing
patterns, gathering and sharing private user information or used for
demographic based advertising.

Advice: Low-risk items have little potential for adverse effect, but users
may wish to examine the item further.
----------------------
If this description is inaccurate, I would expect GoToMyPC and Microsoft to
be able to settle that between them. I have first-hand experience in using
the vendor resolution web form, and submissions via that form should get a
clear, quick response. Experience in these forums when I've sent people to
those forms and received feedback has been good.

The issue is whether GoToMy PC's cookie involves a privacy risk. The
description and advice seem clear and reasonable to me.

I would be interested to hear from a representative of GoToMyPC who has
submitted the needed information at Microsofts web site for vendor disputes,
and has not been contacted further by Microsoft.

--
 
Folks--for all my theorizing about what this detection represented, the word
is that this was a False Positive, and that it will be resolved by this
weeks definition release, due sometime today.
 
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