Google's Spyware Principals
Jason Calacanis links to Google's Software Principals.
I don't know about Jason's laying the blame for all these spyware apps at the foot of Microsoft, but I do agree that Google has done us all a big favor laying out "best practices". Someone like Truste ought to grab these and run with them. If every legitimate software company followed these rules, we'd be a lot better off. In fact, if the Spyware removal applications agreed not to automatically remove any applications that can demonstrate they are in compliance with these rules, then the good guys who use software based downloading as a distribution methodology would be rewarded and the bad guys will suffer.
UPDATE: John Battelle has a long and interesting post on this topic.
Great info !! If you ever want to chat about spyware come see me at http://www.spywareboard.com
Posted by: Mark Henly | June 11, 2004 at 01:00 AM
Disgusting Spyware Methods! Disgusting Anti-spyware Methods!
DiamondCS is a reputable software firm that developed one of the best Anti-tojan applications I have seen, TDS-3. Unfortunately, DCS employs a hardcode technique that redirects the user to its site with numeric IP 64.91.255.87 upon pressing the F5 function key. Of course there is nothing wrong with this process. This fact could have remained unnoticed had it not been for a spate of really nasty IGN/CWS infections that showed the DCS redirects along with the nasties in hijacked Host files and shown below:
O1 - Hosts: 69.20.16.183 auto.search.msn.com
O1 - Hosts: 69.20.16.183 search.netscape.com
O1 - Hosts: 69.20.16.183 ieautosearch
O1 - Hosts: 69.20.16.183 ieautosearch
O1 - Hosts: 69.20.16.183 ieautosearch
O1 - Hosts: 69.20.16.183 ieautosearch
O1 - Hosts: 64.91.255.87 www.dcsresearch.com
O1 - Hosts: 69.20.16.183 ieautosearch
O1 - Hosts: 69.20.16.183 ieautosearch
A quick google search of "O1 - Hosts: 64.91.255.87 www.dcsresearch.com" will provide at least 1,500 links (Yup! that many!). It should be noted that an HJT 01 entry will only appear if a Hostfile hijack is involved. Redirecting to the local host to will not appear in the HJT log. When asked about this, representatives of DCS at Wilders Security Forum replied that this is perfectly normal since it simply redirects from an alleged "bad site" to the legitimate DCS IP.
If such were the intention, a simple redirect to the local host would have sufficed as this blocking technique is acceptable. However, redirecting to a preferred website is in any laguage, a hijack. This type of redirect is the method used by hijackers with the same objectives: redirecting to the chosen website. DCS cannot claim that since they are reputable, a redirect to their site is acceptable. No one has nor can given them that status. A hijack is a hijack is a hijack.... The method is absolutely wrong!
Now comes an interesting scenario.
Quote:
"It’s becoming such a sizeable problem in the US that the Government voted unanimously in Spring 2004 to approve the first-ever anti-spyware bill. The Securely Protect Yourself Against Cyber Trespass (Spy Act), approved by the US House of Representatives, would levy fines up to $3 million for those who illegally collect personal information, change a browser's default home page or bookmarks, log keystrokes, or steal identities "
Quoted from http://www.net-security.org/article.php?id=746
Do you realize that if I invested in TDS3, bookmarked www.dcsresearch.com or set my homepage to www.dcsresearch.com, the chances are I will be redirected to DiamondCS? This can be documented and I can then sue DCS for illegally redirecting my browser, right? And all because DiamondCS has chosen to adopt a Trojan method instead of a Hostfile block or Help update? Think about it.
Too, what are the chances of a crazy picking up this post and doing exactly the above? This is a possibility they brought upon themselves for insisting that what they were doing was simply protecting their interests. They chose the expedient/easier route now they are susceptible to para-legal issues.... Sooner or later, this will happen....
Your thoughts?
Posted by: True Orient | December 08, 2004 at 02:21 AM