WARNING! TopMoxie
 

I downloaded the new version of LimeWire the other day to replace my older copy. Here, and elsewhere (Morpheus), I have been following the discussion about spyware. And scumware which is what I consider the crap that has now found a home inside my computer.

Using Adaware and just plain old fashioned deleting I thought I had removed all the cydoor and topmoxie applications. Not quite. Upon starting my computer today I got an instant error message before Windows would open concerning the absence of a C\programs\adware(?) file that topmoxie had installed. Sure, I deleted the file yesterday along with everything else I could find with either of these two programs.

A search under the Microsoft System Information application into my Start Up programs finds a file called E Traffic stuck in my registry that is suppose to begin a program named C:\program files\topmoxie\JavaR... And that topmoxie file is gone.

I am not a computer geek and have no idea whatsoever how to twick my registry. Adaware does not show this trojan gift either. Whatever. Now I get to see an error message every time I start up or download the spyware/scumware proframs all over and then worry about what else they are doing to my property.

I fully understand Limeware's need for revenue. Life is not free. However, installing something without permission or a full explanation deep within a person's computer is akin to theft and/or malicious behavior. No one would smile if they found out that their local serviceman had stuck something inside their car or washer or stereo that took on a life of its own and could not be removed without difficulty or harming the original product.

This activity is going to result in a lot of bad publicity and attention once more and more users are aware of what is happening to their computers. Especially when they find out that these viruses are consuming space, slowing ones speed down, compiling personal information, and who knows what else. Limewire has made a serious mistake associating with this kind of behavior.

PLEASE check out "removing topmoxies win xp. i nolonger can find any files that involve topmoxies in my computer and i have no problems with pop up ads (i get no pop up ads when using LW at all but the banner is still there and thats coll with me)also let me know how things are going.

Hey man,I just downloaded Norton personal firewall and Norton utilities and I used Norton utilities to delete it from my registry and I haven't had any problems since then.I am not a computer genius or anything that is for sure but it seems to have worked.

Yup, I found out about this topmoxie crap when I installed 2.1.3
The only reference I found is at the very end of the license agreement. I'm almost certain that I checked this and found no reference, but I since deleted that file. The new download of 2.1.3 does have the reference, so I either did not see it (doubtfull in my mind, since I was going through different versions at the time looking for the newest one without topmoxie), or they forgot to include this in the agreement and updated it.

At any rate, I now use FreeWire, which does not have this crap. Like the other person says, I understand the need for revenue, but they are well aware that nobody really reads those agreements anyway, so putting it there, and only there was a dirty trick in my book. They can always say "hey, it's in the agreement", but I am a software developer, and quite computer savy, and it got me too. I have of course deleted this from my system, along with 2.1.3.

Note that the agreement for 2.1.1 makes no reference to topmoxie, so I would hope this one is safe. you can get it from LimeWire's site here:
http://www3.limewire.com/download/
As far as cydoor goes, it is supposedly uninstallable.

For those who want a much more friendly version, you can get FreeWire here:
http://www.freewirep2p.com/
It has no banners either. Or if you prefer, you may like the nicely done AquaLime, available here:
http://mamiyaotaru.mangatoanime.com/
It was done with a very attractive skin made to look like the Aqua theme available on the Mac.

You guys think this is something... check this out:

"Brilliant Digital Entertainment, a California-based digital advertising technology company, has been distributing its 3D ad technology along with the Kazaa software since late last fall. But in a federal securities filing Monday, the company revealed it also has been installing more ambitious technology that could turn every computer running Kazaa into a node in a new network controlled by Brilliant Digital.

The company plans to wake up the millions of computers that have installed its software in as soon as four weeks. It plans to use the machines--with their owners' permission (wink wink)--to host and distribute other companies' content, such as advertising or music. Alternatively, it might borrow people's unused processing power to help with other companies' complicated computing tasks"

..."However, people who accept "terms of service" already distributed with Brilliant's and Kazaa's software are already agreeing to let their computers be used without any payment at all.

"You hereby grant (Brilliant) the right to access and use the unused computing power and storage space on your computer/s and/or Internet access or bandwidth for the aggregation of content and use in distributed computing," the terms of service read. "The user acknowledges and authorizes this use without the right of compensation." "

A wee bit more ambitious than just trying to sell you stuff.

for the full story see my post titled "check-out this sh*t - new spyware" a bit further down the forum.