Spyware: First, infect all the lawyers.... - Page 3

Notice the bits about installing additional software, including search clients or software from affiliates or third parties. Instead of using Google or whatever your search engine preference is, your searches can be filtered by parties you had no intention of contacting.

This extremely interesting post at Wilders Security details precisely what happens when iDownload's iSearch toolbar is installed and when you use their uninstaller. An extremely interesting quote about the iDownload uninstaller is excerpted in the article:

Please be aware that many so called "ad ware removers" and "spy ware removers" can cause damage to your computer and may alter your computer in such a way that our automated removal application will not function. At the present time, there is no third party software which is capable of removing iSearch applications. If you have purchased an application which claims to remove iSearch, we encourage you to contact your credit card company and request an immediate reversal with the reason of "Product Not As Described" and/or contact the Better Business Bureau.

Aha. They've engineered it in such a way that only they know how to remove it, or are they spreading FUD?

The interesting thing about this episode is that security forum operators are being targeted first, with presumably smaller security vendors (pay, shareware or freeware) on the radar. I doubt that iDownload would want to take on the deep pockets such as MSFT, but it's a rather scary broadside in that there are a lot of good folks who volunteer at various venues to help people get control of their computers back who might be intimidated by these tactics.

And I wonder just which companies purchase advertising through outfits such as iDownload.....

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