Sneaky Scumbag Adware vendors

Adware vendors buy Chrome Extensions to send ad- and malware-filled:
updates:http://arstechnica.com/security/2014/01/malware-vendors-buy-chrome-extensions-to-send-adware-filled-updates/

IAC\ASK Unwanted ineffective(except to make them $$$)Toolbar Installation Practices

From Ben Edleman, a full accounting of what IAC\ASK does to get a toolbar installed. Any toolbar they can make up. Some are a real stretch and plenty of them target kids

And goodness knows the results of having any of these is actually a lesser quality of search results, not to mention all kinds of intrusive system changes, all designed to make IAC\ASK a ton of money

IAC Toolbars and Traffic Arbitrage in 2013

Lates News & Info July 11

COMODO continues to damage it's reputation
Post a pic of your workstation\PC area.
myb88.com/t.js - A quick analysis
Rogues: WiniFighter & PC Security 2009 [July 9]
New Attacks Against Internet Explorer
Legitimate Software Typosquatted in SMS Micro-Payment Scam

Latest News & Info From Forums - Mar 2

Latest Security & News Info

• Phishers automate attacks using 'Google hacking'
• Webroot Wakes Up, Dumps Bullshit Ask Toolbar
• Windows 7 Beta WGA

SiteAdvisr News, Malware Via SWF Ads, Software Bloat, How Bad Is It?

Latest Security & News Info

• SiteAdvisor Fails To Keep Up With Malware Sites
• SiteAdvisor Sued Over Ratings
• swf Malware Thru ImageShack
• Software Bloat, Is It Really A Problem?

Security Write Up By MysteryFCM

Latest Security & News Info

• HOSTS files, IP blacklists, toolbars - is it enough?

WOT The F........

So there you are, a security vendor who uses some third party sources to supply security advice\ratings to be included in your product. Now, one would think that you would want said third party vendors to have something to offer which would aid in your product to be the best it can be.

Cost effectiveness can be one item, tho this is not always the case nor need it be.
Dependability comes to mind. What good is something if you can't rely on it? Not much.

Then there is always a matter of reliability, which when it comes right down to it, trumps the other two. If you can't trust them or the service\product they offer to be reliable, what's the point? In the end the one that suffers most is the end user.

Imagine now if you read the following, about a third party vendor, or rather all third party vendors who supply services to another product:

We don't consider our automated sources equally reliable

WOT Forums

If you don't trust them, why the hell are you using them? What sort of business uses resources\products\services it does not trust?Can you imagine if McAfee, Symantec or any other security vendor said that about someone who provided them such service?

Symantec just bought PCTools, do you think they trust them enough to improve the reliability of their product line? Ya, you betcha.

Did AVG trust Exploit Labs when they bought them out, with their LinkScanner tech? I'm sure they did.

Oh sure, maybe in this case there is no money exchanging hands, but to me at least, trust has a price on it that can't be calculated.

So, someone tell me how any security minded person can recommend a security tool from a company who gets something that is aided by third party vendors, when said security vendor does not trust the service it is geting from that third party?

Full thread:
Web Of Trust: How Trustful Is It?

Norton Safe Web Beta-Like SiteAdvisor

New From Symantec: Norton Safe Web-Plug In

AVG Linkscanner Toolbar Removal, made Easy!

Claus Valca over at Grand stream Dreams has gotten a tip from one of his readers that with the latest update to AVG the Linkscanner option is now much easier to remove from previous versions. Even tho they still say they won't be changing default install.

Good to see how much value they put into user feedback. As long as it don't affect the bottom line, they can make changes. I'm not surprised.

Anyway, Claus has a smokin' detailed tutorial on how to get the Linkscanner toolbar removed and credit him for the length of time he obviously spent doing it. It rocks!

AVG Linkscanner Toolbar Removal Tutorial

AVG 8 Free Review & Toolbar Removal Tips

Excellent review of AVG 8 and more importantly, IMHO, instructions to remove the forced install LinkScanner toolbar and other annoyances. I'm not even linking to the forum for this, just directly to the blog I found it on.
AVG 8 Free Edition Review & Toolbar Removal Tips

Forum Links - Late Mar 10

• Latest Security & News Info
  Double Flux New Botnet Threat
  RBN Updates
  Real Player AcitveX Bug

• Recent Forum Discussions
  Greedy Vendors Who Bundle Toolbars

Latest News & Info

Sorry kids, but I've been busy with the new software upgrade, tweaking things here and there along with MysteryFCM, who has been an invaluable help. If not for him I'd be struggling over at phpBB forum support.

Here are the latest links from the forum, no commentary today tho.

• Latest Security & News Info Jan 25-29
  Fake IRS Scams
  Hackers Rig Google Searches
  Malware & Manufacturing
  New Rogue Anti-Spyware App
  Update: Rogue Banner Ads [Jan28]
  Official Top 10 Webhacks
  COMODO Outbound Protection Issues
  PG Finds DIY MySpace Phish
  Zango On Snopes!
  Western Union Spam Trojans
  UPDATE: Blogspot Malware
  Panda Weekly Malware Report

• Recent Forum Discussions Jan 25-29
  Google Unveils New Search Tips
  Jetpack Dreams Come True
  Renewed Concerns Over 'Digital Pearl Harbor'
  New Freeware Strips Vista To Bare OS
  Poll: What's In Your RSS Reader?
  New Admin: MysteryFCM
  Interview w\Phish Undercover Spies
  Lavasoft Considering Ask.com Toolbar
  New Forum: Birthday Celebrations
  Stamford Wallace: FEDS Looking For $$$
  MS: Vista Is More Secure, Please Buy It!

Zone Alarm & Ask.com Toolbar, Money For Them, Annoyance For You

Well Zone Alarm has decided to try and make a few buck off unknowing users.

Following Webroot's lead, they've added a 'spyblocker'\toolbar. Of course the install option is already ticked for your convenience, isn't that nice of them? Ummm...no thanks ZA.

And by pre-ticking that lil box, it almost guarantees many installs, thereby leading to mucho money for ZA and of course Ask.com a well. Vent your
anger here....