OT: Grrr spyware in a demo now
 

Yesterday I downloaded a demo of Freelancer which is ironically produced by Microsoft. Today when I ran my spyware detection stuff it found one in the demo which it erased. Anyways I got it from FilePlanet so I sent an email about the matter.

This is just annoying, not even demos are free of this stuff anymore.

And it's getting worse and worse.

Tarkus

What spyware detection software do you use?

EVERYTHING from Microsoft has spyware. They are the Matrix.

Oh the one I have is called SpyCop. I saw it on Tech TV one day and asked the Boss about it since that is her thing.

http://www.spycop.com/

Muthas...

Who's to say that this anti-spyware ain't spyware in itself ? If I wanted to plant it I'd do it that way. :D

You know any good free spyware detectors?

ad-aware by lavasoft

Domo.

was Freelancer any good? I don't have the patience to deal with fileplanet's free downloads and I refuse to pay to subscribe for downloading demos.

There is another free one called Spy-Bot Search and Destroy.

here is the link http://spybot.safer-networking.de/

You know, I got on board with ad-aware last week but after thinking about and analyzing the 'data mining" spyware files it founds, those are the same type of files that had been in the cookies directory (assuming you turned them on) and registry for years. Maybe we are seeing more of these, esp. through demos and licensed products, but I don't see the alarm since we have accepted these for a long time. Every time we order something online or setup stuff like one-click at amazon, we tell someone out there about ourselves, despite the bogus privacy policies.

On a related note, I have always argue that internet stuff should not be integrated with OS or with any products. But everyone went along with this and for such perceived "inter-connectivity" benefits, this is the downside.

Bee, Freelancer was not bad, I have not really messed with it enough to form an assessment but it is pretty open-ended as far as what you want to do in the game. It is a space game for all who are unaware. Oh I dont subscribe to FilePlanet either I just waited.

Anr I would agree with that to an extent but regarding cookies you as the user have the final say in whether you wish to use them or not. I do not like the registry entries aspect. My point is people who are anti-spyware now have something new to worry about. I just do not think a demo to test a product is the smartest marketing strategy to place spyware into thats all.