Report New Spyware Here

This thread will be a sticky and list all offending applications

February 27, 2008
Posted by Seth Rosenblatt

AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition is one of the most popular products on CNET Download.com, with 61 million downloads. On Thursday, AVG publisher Grisoft plans to introduce the full version of AVG Anti-Virus 8.0. This upgrade will feature significant changes to the program, integrating the previously stand-alone tools of AVG Anti-Spyware, AVG Anti-Rootkit, and recent Grisoft purchase LinkScanner as well as showcasing an entirely new interface.

According to Larry Bridwell, AVG's vice-president of global security strategies, the guts of the program have been overhauled, too. The code rewrite, he stressed, addresses several deficiencies including system slowdowns caused by real-time shields. The integration of LinkScanner, he said, will help warn users of unsafe links, search results, and downloads before they clicked on them. On-demand definition file updates will be made available to users of the free edition for the first time, as will instant messaging protection for users of MSN and ICQ.

CNET

Users need to be forewarned that AVG has seen fit to add, by default, the YaHoo! toolbar.

Mind you, this is on the pay for version no less.

Couple of threads on this issue one at DSLR and another at COU and my own forum

It's even prompted a pinned thread @ COU to list others who use the same tactic.

Vendors need to pay more attention to what BillP, of WinPatrol did.

Check out the comments there, they tell the whole story.

Currently listed:

• Shockwave Norton Security Scan
  
• Flash Google toolbar
  
• CCleaner Offers version without toolbar
  
• Daemon Tools Lite
• Nero Burning Rom Ask.com toolbar
  
• PC Tools Firewall Plus Google toolbar
  
• Zone Alarm Free 'SpyBlocker' Toolbar
  
• AVG Anti-Virus V8 YaHoo! toolbar w\LinkScanner tech
  
• Sun Java Google Toolbar
  
• Spyware Terminator Crawler Toolbar (may also change start page)
  
• Webroot Spysweeper Ask Toolbar
   
• Apple using iTunes update to auto-install Safari <<<this one causing huge ripples all over
  
• Shockwave for Firefox browser will offer Google Toolbar and it pre-checked
• DivX installer/updater will offer Yahoo! Toolbar and it is pre-selected
• Bit comet offers the Google tool bar which is checked by default
• Spyware Doctor Google toolbar now and this is the default
• Winamp 5 Full 5.53   toolbar + MP3 downloads, default selection
• Spy ware Terminator:

Crawler Tool bar 5.1 comes pre checked with the software along with web guard. Now the big problem with this software is that the the range of tool bars are only offered once Spy ware Terminator is installed. It goes straight in to the install mode once you click on the license. It doesn't even give you the Chance to see where the files will be installed so be very careful with this software

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