Where do they come from. Is it legitimate companies that send out this stuff like Argos, Amazon etc? Im just curious, I know how to get rid of it, but just wondering where it comes from in the 1st place and how they manage to get away with it. :(

Im sure there will be some kind of a legal workaround (at least for a short while) to do this stuff, untill poeple get peed of and clamp the law on it. Read all you want about malware here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malware
Enjoy :thumbsup:

Don't go on porn or other dodgy sites, and don't download from P2P apps, then you won't get spyware.

Simple as.

Originally posted by Rich
Don't go on porn or other dodgy sites, and don't download from P2P apps, then you won't get spyware.

Simple as.

dont go on porn!!!!! :roll:

Originally posted by Rich
Don't go on porn or other dodgy sites, and don't download from P2P apps, then you won't get spyware.

Simple as.


I wouldnt say its a s simple as that. What do you class as a dodgy site?

Originally posted by spyro2000
I wouldnt say its a s simple as that. What do you class as a dodgy site?

Anything that says "install this to view this site", and anything that has more pop ups than you can poke a digitally enhanced stick at..

Porn and warez sites are particular culprits for this.

it's not argos and amazon and legitimate retailers that produce this sort of stuff.

It's purveyors of 'cheap natural viagra' or worse people interested in having a quick look at your bank account or paypal account.
The activity is already criminal and has been for some time, the problem is tracking down the originator and bringing a prosecution.

Originally posted by Rich
Anything that says "install this to view this site", and anything that has more pop ups than you can poke a digitally enhanced stick at..

Porn and warez sites are particular culprits for this.

Your not far wrong there. Theres a site that I go on a lot (not porn) that sends my pop up blocker nearly into overload, I hate to imagine what would happen if I didnt have the blocker on.

Originally posted by Cyclone
it's not argos and amazon and legitimate retailers that produce this sort of stuff.

It's purveyors of 'cheap natural viagra' or worse people interested in having a quick look at your bank account or paypal account.
The activity is already criminal and has been for some time, the problem is tracking down the originator and bringing a prosecution.

So it is illegal? So these viagra companies etc, how do they go about being associated with different websites. eg, as Rich said, they are mostly on dodgy or porn sites, do these companies pay the owners of the website a fee to allow the spreading of spyware or something?

Some spyware is mearly quasi legal rather than completely illegal, things like coolweb for example. They don't actually steal your passwords and banking information, but merely annoy the hell out you and redirect your browser to websites selling things.
They manage to stay just on teh side of legal by having you click to agree at some point to an installation.
The 'Viagra' companies are difficult to prosecute as they are often based out of x eastern block countries where the laws are yet to be updated into the digital age. So whilst they don't break any local laws, they do break our laws. However we have no ability to prosecute them unless they come here (and we know about it).

Cheers Cyclone, youve given me some food for thought.

Hopefully one day these companies will get whats coming to them :rant:

Originally posted by spyro2000
Cheers Cyclone, youve given me some food for thought.

Hopefully one day these companies will get whats coming to them :rant:

It's already started happening in the US, some companies have been prosecuted recently under the CAN-SPAM act, and genuine viral type spyware is just as illegal as a regular virus, just with the added intent of theft behind it.

And the biggest spammer in Russia recently gained a lot of weight in the form of bullets in the head :suspect:

He'll not be spamming anyone else now will he :wink:

The thing is, Adware does have legitimate uses (so software authors can give software away free [ad sponsored - hence the name AdWare;)]- CoffeeCup being one of the better known companies to make use of this technology).

This idea was hijacked, and spyware was born:(.

Originally posted by vidster
And the biggest spammer in Russia recently gained a lot of weight in the form of bullets in the head :suspect:

He'll not be spamming anyone else now will he :wink:
Lol, just wait till you die and go to hell :hihi:

i feel like a failure. this is the second time that i have the trojan cache cachekit virus. i am so sick of cleaning my computer everyday. it shouldn't be that hard. i have norton system works 2005 which cost me $90 and i run adware. what else shoud i do. I am running out of options. nothing seems to work. is it possible that someone can help.

sincerely,

virus magnet in NY

Originally posted by inolis9971
i feel like a failure. this is the second time that i have the trojan cache cachekit virus. i am so sick of cleaning my computer everyday. it shouldn't be that hard. i have norton system works 2005 which cost me $90 and i run adware. what else shoud i do. I am running out of options. nothing seems to work. is it possible that someone can help.

sincerely,

virus magnet in NY


Get rid of system works.

Install a (decent) 3rd party firewall, AV and anti spyware progs.

Don't run Internet Explorer, Java, activeX or VB scripts and you should be fine;).