Spyware with Limewire?

To all you people with un-protected spyware systems, I reccomend that you either get a spyware program, I suggest a well known one or goto www.microsoft.com and they have a new and wondeful spyware program absolutely free! As Limewire staff say..."Theres no Bundled Software of Spyware", Well I'm sorry to say that you are wrong and that EVERY version has "Grokster" It is something that gets into your online connection aka Internet and will infect it soon enough. Even if you download Limewire off of www.limewire.com you will still get this problem. Even though Limewire is now one of the best MP3 downloading programs it is also the most virus/spyware/adware componet out there. No need to offend you people who created Limewire, me myself like it, BUT you need to be ready for what comes for you with Grokster. Not much is detailed about it with Mircosoft Spyware program. It is a low threat to a computer but still pretty harmful. So I hope you learn from this and enjoy your stay with Limewire

[RaaF]

Telling a story that Limewire contains spyware, OK.
But you have to come with some proof
So what is this grokster ?
Gan you give us a screenshot of this antispyware prog while it detects Grokster related to limewire ?
How does if infect, what does it do ?
So far you seem to be the only one that's having problems with it .
What version of Limewire are you talking about ?

[sberlin]

Please see http://www.gnutellaforums.com/showth...threadid=32291 . It explains why Microsoft's Anti-Spyware tool is wrong.

Infact, I could provide screenshots and a another one of a software bundle script in the Limewire folder in program files... But I had just removed Grokster from my system. So you will need to wait a little intil it can come back. Also Grokster is an Internet Hijacker witch means it will infect your internet and can track what you do on the internet. Also Microsoft spyware program is not wrong at all. If you trying to play this safe so more people can download your program so you have a larger community thats plain dumb. Once Microsoft's Spyware is out in full most people will find this problem and will execute the problem and maybe goto a different file sharing network becuase they feel un-safe with Limewire. I'm not saying I dislike Limewire but it could have some built in spyware/virus protecion. Because just about an hour ago I downloaded a file and it was actually a high risk file that I had to use Norton Anti Virus to execute it. Microsoft is not wrong, you are and you arent checking it out yourself.

Actually people are having this problem search for "spyware" in the search thing on your forum and look for some topics about it. Also Grokster is related to Limeware because I just reformated my computer and I JUST downloaded Limewire again and it showed up as spyware.

[sberlin]

If you'd like to provide screenshots, go ahead. It doesn't change the fact that LimeWire contains absolutely no bundled software. If a tool you're using detects LimeWire as bundling something, then the simple fact of the matter is the tool is wrong.

To re-iterate, LimeWire contains absolutely no bundled software, no spyware, no adware, no nothing. All LimeWire contains is LimeWire.

If you would like the technical answer ...

Microsoft's tool is detecting a registry key known as a "magnet handler". This key allows programs to use magnet links (see http://creativecommons.org/wired for some example magnet links) to download files via a p2p program, similiar to the way http links allow browsing within a webbrowser. The first tool that Microsoft found who used magnet links was "Grokster" (a competing P2P program). Because Microsoft did not know what the link was for, they falsely labelled it a threat (and named it Grokster). It is not a threat. It is perfectly legimate.

To repeat one more time: there is no spyware or bundled software in LimeWire.

You have prooved enough. I belive know that it is spyware free. One thing though if Grokster is a competeting P2P Program why add it in yours? Also if you wouldn't mind stickying this topic because I know some people with the same problems.

[sberlin]

You're misunderstanding. We do not bundle Grokster. We bundle nothing.

For an analogy, consider a child learning what a "park" is. They see green grass for the first time in a park, and equate grass with the word "park". When they leave the city and go to a house with grass in the front, the child says, "Wow, a park!". But it's not a park, it's just grass.

Microsoft is the child. They noticed magnet links (the grass) with Grokster (the park), and now every time they see a magnet link they consider it a threat with the wrong label.

Got it

[RaaF]

Nice expanation Sam !

"microsoft is the child"

Anyway I downloaded it and it indeed labels Limewire as infected, it even found another thing that Adaware and Spybot didn't mention....I'm not to worried about it at this stage, i'll try and find out tomorrow.
Here's the screenshot:

Told ya, even though the add-on that Limewire provides is completely harmless and that Microsoft just messed up.

[Paul Coy]

Here's my scan (God I hate anything that puts itself on my computer)

[sberlin]

Paul,

Please read my posts in this thread which explain why the results from Microsoft's scan are wrong.

[Paul Coy]

I think my last post was misleading, I am firmly convinced that my spyware problems are not caused by LW, just that they attach themselves to LW. BTW My Spyware program is nothing to do with Microsoft, it is made by Sunbelt Software. I will also add that I have tried a few P2P programs and think that LW Pro is the best.

[RaaF]

The spyware doesn't attach itself to limewire, its the programme you use that messes things up.
It's even worse than the Microsoft version.
It sees "Magnet" and knows that the free version from Grokster and of course Kazaa (the king of spyware) allso use magnet handlers.
So it concludes: anything that uses a magnet handler must be either Grokster or Kazaa.

It's like: I know of 2 criminals that use a blue car, so all people with a blue car must be one of those 2 criminals.

[Paul Coy]

Interesting. Point taken

I have been on to the company that make my Spyware program "Counterspy by Sunbelt Software" and I am pleased to say that they have addressed this issue and now exclude LimeWire Magnet handlers as being KaZaa or Grokster, and recognize them as genuine.

[ukbobboy01]

Dear All

I downloaded MS Spyware last night and used it for the very first time, taking care to get the latest updates before use.

At this point, I want to mention that I also use Adaware SE and Spybot, which I keep updated with their latest definitions, and always run before doing any online financial stuff.

Anyway, I ran MS Spyware and it found two diallers and some dodgy registry entries.

Now I can't say how long these pieces of crap has been on my machine, could have been months, days or hours, but I can now say that MS Spyware will now become an integral part of my PC protection.

Finally, I believe MS has now fixed the “Grokster” problem because I did not get it coming up in my spyware results, and I use LW Pro V4.4.1 running on Win XP SP1.




UK Bob

[Lindyloo]

Hi there,

I also heard that LW was associated with Grokster. I installed the new Microsoft Spyware beta 1 but it didn't detect LW or Grokster. (So maybe UK Bob is right about it being fixed.)

I searched on google about the new spyware program and it came up with this.


Microsoft probes anti-spyware Trojan
Published: February 10, 2005, 12:11 PM PST
By Dan Ilett
Special to CNET News.com
TrackBack Print E-mail TalkBack

Microsoft is investigating a piece of malicious code that targets the recently released beta version of its AntiSpyware product.

On Wednesday, antivirus company Sophos reported a new Trojan horse, dubbed "Bankash-A," which suppresses warning messages displayed by Microsoft AntiSpyware and deletes all of the files in the program's folder. The Trojan also steals passwords and online-banking details from Windows users.

"Microsoft is actively investigating new public reports of a criminal attack, known as the 'Bankash-A Trojan'," the company wrote in an e-mail statement. "Microsoft is not aware of any significant customer impact resulting from the Trojan. Microsoft continues to recommend customers evaluate the Microsoft AntiSpyware beta and encourage customers to follow the three steps to help keep your PC protected (at) www.microsoft.com/protect."

The software giant is also offering free support to victims of the Trojan.Microsoft probes anti-spyware Trojan Microsoft probes anti-spyware Trojan

I don't have much knowledge about computers and this scared the **** out of me so I uninstalled it.

Something that does happen when I've been on LW (doesn't mean it's LW's fault) is that my anti-spyware programs finds SaHaGent. (ShopAtHomeSelect) Could this be cos I've downloaded a dodgy file??

Regards, Lindy

[ukbobboy01]

Dear Lindyloo

I can understand that you were scared by the new reported Trojan, "Bankash-A", but I fail to see why that would make you uninstall MS AntiSpyware.

You see, Trojans can only be caught by downloading something, like a dodgy file, getting it from an infected disk, an e-mail attachment, secret installation or a hacker placing it on your PC via an unprotected open port.

What you have done is like a man throwing away his bullet proof vest because someone has invented a bullet that can pierce it, so making himself vulnerable to anyone else with any other type of bullet.

Besides, if you keep your anti-virus software up to date, and run it over any files you download, then that should be able to get rid of this Trojan before it can do any damage.

Keep your PC protection and keep them up to date.





UK Bob