adware, threat level "t-4-2" <dhuang1[ at ]cogeco.ca> 12/29/2008 2:02:09 PM Hello everyone, I had recently downloaded some animated Smiles. My AV programs found adware in the Smiley program, namely MyWebSearch and Fun Web Products. The threat level ( scale 1- 10 ) is 1. I am not sure if I should or should not keep the Smiley program. Please advise. Thank you.

Re: adware, threat level "Richard Urban" <richardurbanREMOVETHIS[ at ]hotmail.com> 12/29/2008 4:12:49 PM If you don't mind adware, keep the silly smilies. -- Richard Urban Microsoft MVP Windows Desktop Experience "t-4-2" <dhuang1[ at ]cogeco.ca> wrote in message news:F343B440-7EFA-4D6F-AFC6-E7F189BDA7B4[ at ]microsoft.com... [Quoted Text] > Hello everyone, > I had recently downloaded some animated Smiles. My AV programs found > adware in the Smiley program, namely MyWebSearch and Fun Web Products. The > threat level ( scale 1- 10 ) is 1. > I am not sure if I should or should not keep the Smiley program. Please > advise. Thank you.

Re: adware, threat level "t-4-2" <dhuang1[ at ]cogeco.ca> 12/29/2008 5:01:33 PM Please elaborate what adware at threat level 1 could do to my computer. I am not knowledgeable to understand the consequences. " Level 1 " seems to be non-threatening. No ? "Richard Urban" <richardurbanREMOVETHIS[ at ]hotmail.com> wrote in message news:uepxMBdaJHA.1268[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... [Quoted Text] > If you don't mind adware, keep the silly smilies. > > -- > > Richard Urban > Microsoft MVP > Windows Desktop Experience > > > "t-4-2" <dhuang1[ at ]cogeco.ca> wrote in message > news:F343B440-7EFA-4D6F-AFC6-E7F189BDA7B4[ at ]microsoft.com... >> Hello everyone, >> I had recently downloaded some animated Smiles. My AV programs found >> adware in the Smiley program, namely MyWebSearch and Fun Web Products. >> The threat level ( scale 1- 10 ) is 1. >> I am not sure if I should or should not keep the Smiley program. Please >> advise. Thank you. >

Re: adware, threat level "Richard Urban" <richardurbanREMOVETHIS[ at ]hotmail.com> 12/29/2008 5:06:03 PM The problem with adware, especially the ones you have placed on your computer, is that there is nothing stopping them from placing god knows what else on your computer at a future date. The adware companies basically have a back door into your computer. I certainly wouldn't their crap on my computer. -- Richard Urban Microsoft MVP Windows Desktop Experience "t-4-2" <dhuang1[ at ]cogeco.ca> wrote in message news:u0VDecdaJHA.4684[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... [Quoted Text] > Please elaborate what adware at threat level 1 could do to my computer. I > am not knowledgeable to understand the consequences. " Level 1 " seems to > be non-threatening. No ? > > "Richard Urban" <richardurbanREMOVETHIS[ at ]hotmail.com> wrote in message > news:uepxMBdaJHA.1268[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... >> If you don't mind adware, keep the silly smilies. >> >> -- >> >> Richard Urban >> Microsoft MVP >> Windows Desktop Experience >> >> >> "t-4-2" <dhuang1[ at ]cogeco.ca> wrote in message >> news:F343B440-7EFA-4D6F-AFC6-E7F189BDA7B4[ at ]microsoft.com... >>> Hello everyone, >>> I had recently downloaded some animated Smiles. My AV programs found >>> adware in the Smiley program, namely MyWebSearch and Fun Web Products. >>> The threat level ( scale 1- 10 ) is 1. >>> I am not sure if I should or should not keep the Smiley program. Please >>> advise. Thank you. >>

Re: adware, threat level "t-4-2" <dhuang1[ at ]cogeco.ca> 12/29/2008 5:10:53 PM Thank you, Richard. "Richard Urban" <richardurbanREMOVETHIS[ at ]hotmail.com> wrote in message news:u7Nu8edaJHA.2620[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... [Quoted Text] > The problem with adware, especially the ones you have placed on your > computer, is that there is nothing stopping them from placing god knows > what else on your computer at a future date. The adware companies > basically have a back door into your computer. > > I certainly wouldn't their crap on my computer. > > -- > > Richard Urban > Microsoft MVP > Windows Desktop Experience > > > "t-4-2" <dhuang1[ at ]cogeco.ca> wrote in message > news:u0VDecdaJHA.4684[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >> Please elaborate what adware at threat level 1 could do to my computer. I >> am not knowledgeable to understand the consequences. " Level 1 " seems to >> be non-threatening. No ? >> >> "Richard Urban" <richardurbanREMOVETHIS[ at ]hotmail.com> wrote in message >> news:uepxMBdaJHA.1268[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... >>> If you don't mind adware, keep the silly smilies. >>> >>> -- >>> >>> Richard Urban >>> Microsoft MVP >>> Windows Desktop Experience >>> >>> >>> "t-4-2" <dhuang1[ at ]cogeco.ca> wrote in message >>> news:F343B440-7EFA-4D6F-AFC6-E7F189BDA7B4[ at ]microsoft.com... >>>> Hello everyone, >>>> I had recently downloaded some animated Smiles. My AV programs found >>>> adware in the Smiley program, namely MyWebSearch and Fun Web Products. >>>> The threat level ( scale 1- 10 ) is 1. >>>> I am not sure if I should or should not keep the Smiley program. Please >>>> advise. Thank you. >>> >

Re: adware, threat level "Mark H" <jmhonzell[ at ]nospam.comcast.net> 12/29/2008 6:04:57 PM Threat levels are assigned by the vendor and inconsistent between vendors. While "Level 1" sounds low, it's still adware. Kind of like me tapping on your knuckles with a hammer, a nag screen, toolbar, or other unwanted function will eventually become annoying and as Richard points out it provides a backdoor to somebody (which doesn't have to be those who created it.) The level assignments provide you a guage as to where you can draw the line on future installations of other crapware. I would simply tell you that if you got it for free, and you were warned about it's contents, you'll probably find the controls on that tapping hammer a little inconsistent over time. "t-4-2" <dhuang1[ at ]cogeco.ca> wrote in message news:u0VDecdaJHA.4684[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... [Quoted Text] > Please elaborate what adware at threat level 1 could do to my computer. I am > not knowledgeable to understand the consequences. " Level 1 " seems to be > non-threatening. No ? > > "Richard Urban" <richardurbanREMOVETHIS[ at ]hotmail.com> wrote in message > news:uepxMBdaJHA.1268[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... > > If you don't mind adware, keep the silly smilies. > > > > -- > > > > Richard Urban > > Microsoft MVP > > Windows Desktop Experience > > > > > > "t-4-2" <dhuang1[ at ]cogeco.ca> wrote in message > > news:F343B440-7EFA-4D6F-AFC6-E7F189BDA7B4[ at ]microsoft.com... > >> Hello everyone, > >> I had recently downloaded some animated Smiles. My AV programs found > >> adware in the Smiley program, namely MyWebSearch and Fun Web Products. > >> The threat level ( scale 1- 10 ) is 1. > >> I am not sure if I should or should not keep the Smiley program. Please > >> advise. Thank you. > >

Re: adware, threat level "t-4-2" <dhuang1[ at ]cogeco.ca> 12/29/2008 6:39:20 PM Thank you, Mark. Smileys un-installed. "Mark H" <jmhonzell[ at ]nospam.comcast.net> wrote in message news:#dcr2$daJHA.5488[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... [Quoted Text] > Threat levels are assigned by the vendor and inconsistent between vendors. > While "Level 1" sounds low, it's still adware. > > Kind of like me tapping on your knuckles with a hammer, a nag screen, > toolbar, or other unwanted function will eventually become annoying and as > Richard points out it provides a backdoor to somebody (which doesn't have > to > be those who created it.) The level assignments provide you a guage as to > where you can draw the line on future installations of other crapware. > > I would simply tell you that if you got it for free, and you were warned > about it's contents, you'll probably find the controls on that tapping > hammer a little inconsistent over time. > > "t-4-2" <dhuang1[ at ]cogeco.ca> wrote in message > news:u0VDecdaJHA.4684[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >> Please elaborate what adware at threat level 1 could do to my computer. I > am >> not knowledgeable to understand the consequences. " Level 1 " seems to be >> non-threatening. No ? >> >> "Richard Urban" <richardurbanREMOVETHIS[ at ]hotmail.com> wrote in message >> news:uepxMBdaJHA.1268[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... >> > If you don't mind adware, keep the silly smilies. >> > >> > -- >> > >> > Richard Urban >> > Microsoft MVP >> > Windows Desktop Experience >> > >> > >> > "t-4-2" <dhuang1[ at ]cogeco.ca> wrote in message >> > news:F343B440-7EFA-4D6F-AFC6-E7F189BDA7B4[ at ]microsoft.com... >> >> Hello everyone, >> >> I had recently downloaded some animated Smiles. My AV programs found >> >> adware in the Smiley program, namely MyWebSearch and Fun Web Products. >> >> The threat level ( scale 1- 10 ) is 1. >> >> I am not sure if I should or should not keep the Smiley program. >> >> Please >> >> advise. Thank you. >> > > >