A WARNING @ YOU, THE USER OF THE NET

TMOV · Colonel Premium Member Joined: Feb 05, 2004 Posts: 1573

FIRST I'M GOING TO EXPLAIN SOMETHING.
back years ago when we were training students to fly onboard the US NAVY P-3 ORION AIRCRAFT, we were required to make them memorize the following:
in the NATOPS MANUAL for each aircraft and model is a book that the aircrew members carry with them on every flight.
the NATOPS manual's full name is NAVAL AIR TRAINING AND OPERATING PROCEDURES STANDARDIZATION PROGRAM.

IN THE MANUALS ARE THREE THING S THAT WILL STAND OUT TO ALERT THE AIRCREWMEMBERS.

WARNINGS,,,CAUTIONS ,,,AND NOTES.

................A NOTE;

APPLIES TO AN OPERATING PROCEDURE PRACTICE OR CONDITION THAT IS ESSENTIAL TO EMPHASIZE.

...............A CAUTION;

APPLIES TO AN OPERATING PROCEDURE PRACTICE OR CONDITION THAT IF NOT STICTLY ADHERED TO WILl RESULT IN DAMAGE TO EQUIPMENT.

..............A WARNING;

APPLIES TO AN OPERATING PROCEDURE PRACTICE OR CONDITION THAT IF NOT STRICTLY ADHERED TO WILL RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH.

THOSE ITEMS OF MEMORY HAVE NEVER BEEN FORGOTTEN AND I APPLY THEM ON A DAILY BASIS.
BEING AROUND THE AIRCRAFT HAS MADE ME VERY AWARE OF THE DANGERS TO HUMAN BEINGS THAT WORK AROUND THEM.
NOW I SEE AN ITEM THAT I MUST CALL OUT A WARNING ON WITH REGARDS TO THE INTERNET.
IT MAY NOT CAUSE YOUR DEATH, BUT I'M SURE THAT IT WILL CAUSE YOU TO BE INJURED IF YOU ARE NOT AWARE AND DO NOT APPLY CAUTION.

THANKS TO THE PEOPLE AT "THEEYE@LAVASOFT"

THEY HAVE PUBLISHED THIS NOTICE TODAY; THE 1ST OF JUNE 2004:

By Ĺsa Karlsson - Content Manager

Enigma Software Group Inc. is the company behind the SpyHunter software. They claim that Our suites are built to address the need of privacy protection and computer security. We empower internet users to take control over their computers against Spyware, parasites, SPAM, and others obtaining your personal information online! However, whats not disclosed is the hidden transmission of the Microsoft Windows Product ID to their servers every time their software checks for an update. They also uniquely identify their users by use of a unique ID for each installation. This unique ID is also sent to their servers undisclosed. This is something we at Lavasoft find highly questionable and unethical.

Enigma Software Group also uses questionable methods to market their software SpyHunter. Their pop-up ads resemble virus alerts from well-known anti-virus programs, and DOS windows displaying fake scan results.

The pop-up ads can be found here:
http://www2.enigmasoftwaregroup.com/TMP/1.htm
http://www2.enigmasoftwaregroup.com/TMP/2.htm
http://www2.enigmasoftwaregroup.com/TMP/3.htm
http://www2.enigmasoftwaregroup.com/TMP/4.htm

and here (mirrored site):
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Example 4

Internet users are tricked into believing their computers are infected with a spyware virus and that they must download and scan their computers with SpyHunter to get rid of it. The SpyHunter scanner is free to download, but in order to remove these items, the software must be purchased.

Earlier this year the so-called anti-spyware software SpyBan was removed from the website Download.com because adware was installed along with the software. According to News.com SpyBan had failed to disclose and explain all the software components included in its installation, a violation of the Web site's policies.

Enigma Software Groups End User Licence Agreement does not contain information about SpyHunter transmitting a client id or the Product ID of the Microsoft Windows Operating System. That is why we at Lavasoft hope that SpyHunter will be removed from the Download.com website soon.

Why SpyHunter has been added to Ad-aware's database
While some may claim adding SpyHunter to Ad-awares database is an attempt to defame a competitor, our users trust us with protecting their privacy, and when another company is doing the very thing theyre claiming to help protect against, Ad-aware is there to ensure our users privacy isnt deceptively violated.

All items added to Ad-awares database are qualified using a Threat Assessment Chart (TAC) prior to inclusion. The system is based on a total of 10 points, 1 being the least and 10 being the most threatening and/or problematic. Behavior and intent weigh more heavily towards becoming a legitimate detection than do the technical aspects. Please note that applications that are difficult to remove and cause system instability due to poor coding and DO NOT contain any further violations as described below ARE NOT considered for inclusion in the Ad-aware database.

Points are added according to the following criteria:

Removal One Point
Integration Two Points
Distribution Two Points
Behavior Three Points
Privacy Two Points
An application requires a TAC number of three or higher to be included in the database.

More information about the TAC can be found on the Threat Assessment Chart page.

SpyHunter from Enigma Software Group Inc. has received a TAC level of four and has been added to the database. The TAC level was determined using the following information:

Removal No Points Received
This item does not have any characteristics which match those defined in the Removal section.
Integration No Points Received
This item does not have any characteristics which match those defined in the Removal section.
Distribution Two Points Received
This items End User Licence Agreement (EULA) does not contain information pertaining to the transmission of a client id or the Product ID of the Microsoft Windows Operating System.
This transmission is not disclosed in the EULA. More information about this transmission can be found in the Privacy section.
Behavior No Points Received
This item does not have any characteristics which match those defined in the Removal section.
Privacy Two Points Received
This item transmits the Product ID of the Microsoft Windows Operating System. This ID is transmitted as part of the update check process.
MemScanner is the memory-resident portion of Enigma.SpyHunter. This component transmits a Unique ID during its update process.
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FTC Spyware Workshop

By Ĺsa Karlsson - Content Manager
Contributions by Michael Wood - VP Sales, US & Canada, Stefan Lundström - Development, Aaron Hulett - R&D

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hosted a one-day workshop in Washington, D.C. on April 19, 2004. The issues the FTC deals with touch on the economic lives of most Americans, where the FTC works to ensure that US markets are free of restrictions that harm consumers and enforces federal consumer protection laws that prevent fraud, deception and unfair business practices.

The public Workshop was designed to explore the issues surrounding the topic of Spyware. Six panel discussions were held during the one day event where defining, understanding the harmful effects, the distribution of, and the possible beginnings of a common goal for the regulation of Spyware were discussed in a moderated question-answer format.

Michael Wood, VP for Sales, USA & Canada, for Nicolas Stark Computing AB (Lavasoft), was one of the panellists in the second panel that focused on the harmful effects that Spyware can have on your computers and networks. More information about the workshop can be found at the FTC Spyware Workshop website.

For a copy of our public commentary please see the following link:
Public commentary for the FTC Spyware Workshop (pdf 46 kB)

The comments are a direct response to the questions circulated by the FTC prior to the Workshop and help to provide the FTC and the public with a more detailed source of information about the issues discussed and for those who could not attend to provide their feedback.

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Question & Answer Section

By Ĺsa Karlsson - Content Manager
Contributions by Mĺrten Holmqvist - Support

"I recently replaced my hard drive and need to download Ad-aware again. The URL I got when I purchased Ad-aware doesn't work. What should I do?"

Send an e-mail to including your name as well as your reference or order number and which version of Ad-aware you have. If you have lost your reference number and order number contact Element 5.

"I am running Ad-watch but I still get pop-up windows. How do I stop this?"

Do the pop-up windows resemble Windows dialog boxes and have the title "Messenger Service"? To get rid of these pop-ups you need to turn off Windows Messenger Service. You can do this by downloading the Messenger-Control plug-in for Ad-aware.

Download Lavasoft's Messenger-Control plug-in here.

http://www.lavasoftnews.com/plugins/plmessengerctrl.exe

More information about Windows Messenger Service and the Messenger-Control plug-in can be found here.

Note! Windows Messenger Service should not be confused with Microsofts instant messaging services Windows Messenger and MSN messenger!

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Send Us Your Questions

We're looking for questions you feel should be answered in future editions of The Eye. Submit your questions to the Editor here and we'll answer the frequently asked questions.

Note! The Editor email address is not for support questions requiring a response. You're more than welcome to post support questions at our Support Forums, or visit our support page for furhter information.

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If you have any questions about anything found in this newsletter,
please contact us at our Support Forums.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking here.

The Eye, brought to you by Lavasoft News.
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Issue 1.9
June 1, 2004

SpyHunter now included in Ad-aware's database

FTC Spyware Workshop

Question & Answer Section

Send Us Your Questions

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Š2004 Nicolas Stark Computing AB
All rights reserved. Lavasoft and the Lavasoft logo are Registered Trademarks of Nicolas Stark Computing AB. Registered trademarks/servicemarks and trademarks/servicemarks are those of their respective companies


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