Nonconsensual 180 Installations Continue

180 hit an all time low

thanks for the info.

 

Wait a second ! This guy is reporting the 180 installs......ok, that is nothing new.....but he is not saying which browser he is using.....how the browser’s security settings were set-up.....an if 180 bypassed the browser’s security settings........

Half an apple is still half an apple.......how about advising the public ON HOW TO PREVENT 180 “drive-by-installs” and all other such type of installs..........tooting one’s own horn isn’t doing anything towards educating the public.......give the public the whole apple !

Frankly, at this time in the game nearly everyone either should know how to prevent such installs or be asking why they don’t know how.

Sure, the guy is testing to see if 180 has gone legit.........he discovered that there is an issue with that.......

We already know that snakes bite....................

 

Ben Edelman was actually trying to show that, despite assurances from 180 that their software would never be installed without the user being presented with their "S3" dialog.

Regardless as to how much we are certain that a particular company has crossed the line into forbidden territory, the courts and other respectable authorities need solid evidence to be able to do something about them. Merely saying that we can protect ourselves from these vermin is doing nobody any good in the long run since that is simply ignoring the fact that what they are doing is illegal and immoral.

At least Ben is fighting that particular corner on our behalf with great commitment, for which we should all be extremely grateful. There are thousands of technical experts who could tell you how to avoid the 180 infestation, but precious few who can fight the legal battle to any effect.

 

IMHO and many others I might add....Mr. Ben has many publications and in some of those users are presented with many fine suggestions of how to stay secure.

Personally speaking only....Ben Edelman has done enormous work towards informing the general public of many aspects of how the "snakes bite" and would ask you to respectfully read some of his publications or visit his site linked to in Ronjor's post before characterizing him as a horn tooter

 

he was using internet explorer.

 

okay so critics are "Irresponsible" and they're freaking idiots.

 

Re: testing environment, protection

Hi, folks. Glad to see you're all interested in the article. And thanks for the kind words, Bubba, Trickyricky, GUI_Tex.

Snowman: I was using IE on ordinary "raw" XP (just as originally released from Microsoft). You're right to think that patches are a good idea and will prevent many exploits. But, notably this exploit uses a WMF vulnerability, as mentioned in my paper. That problem was only patched last month, so even the otherwise-generally-secure XP SP2 is vulnerable to this exploit.

Point taken. But do realize that this is the first nonconsensual S3 install to be publicly documented. 180 has previously had considerable PR success in claiming that S3 stops its previously-widespread nonconsensual installations. Revealing the falsity of that claim is, in my view, important. That's why I thought this piece was worth writing.

 

When A snake sheds its skin it does not shed its nature.... an thus remains a snake. It does not take a genius to know or understand this very small but true fact of nature.

Is it better to give a hungry man a fish.....or to teach a hungry man how to fish ? Is it better to holler to the world that a so-called spyware company remains infecting computers....or is it better to holler to the world that a so-called spyware company remains infecting computers BUT THIS IS HOW YOU PREVENT THE INFECTION>

For the past fifteen years or more there has been tens of thousands of spyware warriors out there fighting the good fight against spyware. Their ages know no boundaries... ....the young and the old.... side by side have fought together seeking nothing as reward........gaining only an ordinary “thank You” on occasion from those they have helped along the way........they work their good deeds while shadowed behind nick-names... an rarely reveal their identity..........they do not seek publicity .....an many times fail to even receive a “thank you” for their efforts.......but they push onwards....helping those with infected computers regain not only control of their computers but also regain that sense of dignity that comes from defeating those who invaded their privacy......an personally affronted them more often than not in the privacy of their own homes......

It to those un-known warriors that goes the real glory. Its to those tireless individuals who travel forum to forum in the wee hours of the night or the lunch hours of the day helping strangers.....an leaving them as friends........


The Security Community is in fact a community of many individuals all striving towards one goal . But when push comes to shove.... its those nameless shadow warriors continuing their good fight against evil and wrong.....every moment of every day....year after year....



Their are the helpful software vendors who provide the free Tools to battle the nasties......their are those Webmasters who provide a place to meet........there are the Writers who pen their articles .......its an equal opportunity job.......an credit is delt out just as equally........its a team effort.......

 

bedelman

In just a very short matter of time I will be once again be leaving the internet......or to be more precise.....leaving/stoping all efforts to help in computer security.......for the second time.

The Security Community has undergone many changes over the years...........but there is always a place for a sincere person.

The best I can extend at this particular time is to wish you the very best.


Regards

Snowie The Snowman

 

The Snowman, don't forget that all those nameless warriors depend a lot on the named warriors as well, people like Ben Edelman, our own Suzi, Eric Howes, to name just three. Articles like those that Ben publishes on his web site help the greater fight tremendously and without their beacons shining light on these dark matters, the warriors would be very lost indeed.

 

and you're average computer user is ... both?