This is supposed to be news

[The PIT]

http://news.com.com/Spyware%2C+adware+hide+in+BitTorrent+downloads/2100-7349_3-5750601.html?tag=nefd.top

Well after seeing a friends computer services increase by around thirty when he used bit torrent months ago I'm not surprised. One of the main reasons I won't use it after seeing all the crap that came down with it.

[Gurm]

Ok, this first response is in reaction to PIT's reaction to the news... for my OWN reaction to the news, read the next post. It's long but very informative and actually GOOD news for most of us!

PIT - you are, of course, aware that Bit Torrent can't "install" anything?

It's the user's OWN DAMN FAULT if they download a program called "dirty_anna_kournikova_pics.scr" and double-click it! What's next? Declaring that FireFox has security vulnerabilities because it will let you download Bonzi Buddy or Gator from their websites?

[Gurm]

Ok actually I went and checked this out further, and here's the scoop:

Adware/Spyware is typically perfectly legal (if annoying) software. One of the gigantic problems is that people don't want it on their machines - and often don't KNOW it's on their machines. The companies that make the software have a tendency to work through "affiliates" - meaning that if you talk to the CoolWebSearch people they will tell you that they don't distribute CoolWebSearch AT ALL. "So how did it get on my machine?" you might ask. "We have no control over the practices of our affiliates..." they tell you.

Apparently, it's the AFFILIATE'S responsibility to make sure that you actually agreed to install the software. It's how the entire adware industry washes its hands of responsibility for the damage done to your machine. "Our adware doesn't kill your machine, it's the installers those damn affiliates put with it!"

Well of course this argument isn't working any more. So more than a few adware companies (who make, by the way, a LOT OF F***ING MONEY) have started self-policing. Pursuing other means of getting their software onto your machine WITHOUT you having an apoplectic attack.

One of these new methods is apparently hiring a distribution firm to promote the hell out of their software. MMC is such a firm. Now here's where the problem comes from:

A bunch of adware companies hired MMC to "get our software onto people's machines". MMC decided that a GREAT way to do this would be to write a wrapper for content (movies, music, pictures, whatever) that would, before showing you the content, make you agree to extensive license agreements, and then install an assload of adware.

With me so far? It gets better!

So MMC built this wrapper. Then they decided to distribute it with an assload of content... on popular Bit Torrent trackers. This has been going on for nearly a month now.

Of course, most Bit Torrent trackers have a feedback system, and the first person who pulls one of these files goes "what the F***?" and reports it. But a few big public tracker sites don't have such an option, or limit it to their forum which is separate from the main site.

The biggest problem is that the license agreement... well, it doesn't really list all the adware. MMC claim that was a "mistake", just an "out of date agreement". Of course, the truth is that they didn't want to alarm the end user by telling them that about 20 different pieces of adware/spyware were about to BOMBARD their machine.

Now it gets EVEN BETTER... wait for it...

They're using pirated copyrighted material to distro the adware. That's right - they grab the latest and greatest stuff, like last Sunday's "Family Guy" AVI, package it up, and upload it. Problem is that in both the USA (where the adware companies are based) and Canada (where MMC is based) it's ILLEGAL to upload/download Family Guy episodes. Or Photoshop 9.

Ok, there's more. I promise this one is good...

They also used... porn. This too is pretty sketchy, since it's unclear who actually OWNS half the porn that's floating around, so getting any sort of licensing would be difficult. In addition, some of the porn... is... KIDDY PORN. Or purported kiddy porn. But frankly that's just as bad, at least under Canadian law. Distributing porn and saying "hey this chick is only 15!", even if you personally think she's 18, is ILLEGAL! Hot damn! And since they just downloaded this shit off of eMule in the first place, odds are that some of the girls REALLY ARE under 18!

Now, the BIG problem for the adware people is that their DISTRIBUTOR did this, WITH THEIR KNOWLEDGE. If it was an affiliate, they're mostly clean - even though some courts have begun to disagree. But when the distributor does it, they're complicit. So let's see what that means.

ADWARE COMPANY X is now on the hook for the following CRIMES:

1. Software piracy.
2. Movie piracy.
3. TV show piracy.
4. Music piracy.
5. Illegal distribution of pornographic material.
6. DISTRIBUTION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY!

Essentially it means that the entire adware industry is about to be butt****ed by a big black man named "Bubba". Not a single company can be reached for comment at this time. It's all CRAZY. MMC initially denied any wrongdoing, but as more details became available they, too, are unreachable. Oops!

[mmp121]

Agreed Gurm:

Analysis: The Scheme to Discredit BitTorrent

[schmosef]

John Dvorak is funny. I used to read him all the time in Mac User (or was it Mac World?) magazine. That was almost 15 years ago, when I was in high school.