Talk:MyWay Searchbar/Archive 1

OH SHIT!
I downloaded cursermania on me and my mom's computers!!!!!! WERE SCREWED!!!!!!!

These slimeballs belong in federal prison. Remember, if something's free then you'd best check it out on the Internet before downloading it. Type: "cursermedia spyware" (without the quotes) into your favorite search page and you'll get all the dirt on this crapware. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 189.176.244.161 (talk) 08:42, 19 June 2008 (UTC)

MyWebSearch
What's this MyWebSearch? Is it another name for or a new version of the MyWay Searchbar? According to one site, it generates pop-ups. At least two sites, however, list it as "low-risk" or say it isn't adware, but we should be careful with these sites because IAC Search and Media forced at least one (Sunbelt) to say that the MyWay Searchbar, another one of its products, is not malware.SteveSims 22:32, 31 March 2007 (UTC)

Sunbelt, which IAC forced to claim that MyWay Searchbar isn't malware, now claims that MyWebSearch too is legitimate software. We really should be careful with our sources. It's likely that other sites were forced to change information regarding MyWay products too.SteveSims 22:37, 31 March 2007 (UTC)

Lavasoft source
The Lavasoft citation is from a forum (something normally not considered a valid source). However, the post was made by a Lavasoft employee so this source should be considered acceptable.SteveSims 01:52, 22 January 2007 (UTC)

POV-Check
I added the POV check tag because this is a disputed topic and the claim that it is spyware could be disputed.


 * I deleted the PoV check because it's now been confirmed as spyware from many sources (five cited in the article). SteveSims 07:32, 4 February 2007 (UTC)


 * In other words, MyWay being spyware is no longer credibly disputed.SteveSims 22:58, 21 February 2007 (UTC)

My experience 2006/10/29
I use FireFox, but accidentally opened Explorer 6. I noticed something called "MySearch" underneath where the URL is entered. I looked it up on Wikipedia and found this. I never installed this program. When I attempted to uninstall it via Add/Remove Programs, it said that I would no longer receive "promotional offers", among other things. When I pressed the uninstall button, it would not uninstall. It is clearly malware of some sort, and is probably spyware, since in order to send me these "promotional offers" it would need to record information about me.

I will look into this further. I will also post a picture of the uninstall screen.

Though it being spyware is almost indisputable, this article is very opinionated.

SteveSims 03:32, 30 October 2006 (UTC)

Screenshots
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:My_Search_Bar_1_Add_or_Remove_Programs.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:My_Search_Bar_2_IE_script_error_before_uninstaller_loads.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:My_Search_Bar_3_uninstall_screen.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:My_Search_Bar_3_uninstall_screen_small_556x360.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:My_Search_Bar_4_after_clicking_Uninstall.jpg

SteveSims 05:20, 30 October 2006 (UTC)

9 February 2007 - Page moved to "Myway Speedbar"
On 9 February 2007, the user Kirk_lawrence moved "Myway Searchbar" to "Myway Speedbar". "Myway Speedbar" is a new article that contains almost no information.

I can't find any reliable information on the difference between "Myway Searchbar" and "Myway Speedbar". I suspect that the Myway marketing department renamed the product because of all the bad publicicty on the internet regarding "Myway Searchbar". According to many sources, both programs are notorious spyware that cause several problems and block access to some legit sites.

I undid the move by reverting this page back to an older version.

Alan Rockefeller (Talk - contribs) 23:23, 9 February 2007 (UTC)

POV is still contested
No offense Steve, but 10 out of 10 sites do not say the software is spyware. If you read my entry above, I tested it with Lavasoft's Adaware and it came back clear. Further tests with Microsoft Defender and Symantec also confirm that it's not listed as Spyware or adware. If you like I can post the scan logs. If the professionals think that it is not spyware, then I'm inclined to say that this is controversial. I think you need to take a little more objective viewpoint on this since there is not 100% consensus that it is spyware.

Further, there is confusion between different pieces of software. Note that the discussion above that shows this, how do you explain that?

Bercyon


 * MyWay's ability to allude detection does not allude the editors' intelligence and research. Please do not continue to compromise this article's accuracy by planting false seeds of doubt about MyWay's true nature. See PoV if you are still unfamiliar with the difference between accuracy and self-interested bias. Thank you. SteveSims 04:53, 24 February 2007 (UTC)

There are many peices of malware that the AV / antispyware programs don't find, so that is not proof that the software is ok.

My research shows that everyone that doesn't work there thinks that it is spyware. As an IT professional, I have had to advise people on how to clean up this spyware several times.

It has caused crashes, browser redirection, etc.

Alan Rockefeller (Talk - contribs) 08:25, 20 February 2007 (UTC)

The traffic from it is atleast considered a medium security threat by Symantec.

195.67.20.5 (talk) 06:07, 19 June 2008 (UTC) ---

Sorry, I've been busy.

Wiki def: Spyware is computer software that collects personal information about users without their informed consent.

My response is |here and not subject to the GFDL.

Bercyon

Edit is coming
Steve, I hate to say this, but this article really misses the mark. I guess you haven't read my write-up or you chose to ignore it. If you haven't read it, you should. Here are a couple of inaccuracies in the current post.

1. You have mixed up two technologies, the MyWay speedbar and the MyWay Search assistant. 2. You are citing people's opinionated blogs as if they are valid references. 3. You misunderstand the economics if you think that MyWay is collecting information and serving targeted ads. They don't make money that way. 4. The claim that the toolbar redirects Quantas.com is false. I tried it myself. 5. Kazaa does not have a MySearch toolbar. It comes with two toolbars: Need2Find toolbar and RX toolbar, but not a MySearch Toolbar.

This is not high school, but if it was, I'd give you a 'D' for accuracy. I'll get around to fixing this soon when I have time, but it's not going to be pretty.

Bercyon


 * Do I even have to respond to this?

Out of fairness, I will.

Even in high school, people know how to distinguish attempts to edit free encyclopedias for one's own self-interest from accurate, or at least fact-based, edits.

Your edits are clearly intended to baselessly cast a shadow of doubt over MyWay's true nature. IAC's communications director has admitted to using Wikipedia, and his account has made numerous MyWay-related edits, all of which compromise the technologies' true nature.SteveSims 07:51, 7 March 2007 (UTC)


 * Six more sources have been added showing that MyWay is a spyware program. How is MyWay being spyware disputed, except by people working in MyWay's public relations department? SteveSims 08:05, 7 March 2007 (UTC)

Edit is cancelled
I realize that Wiki is not a place for personal research. There is a difference between theory and fact and you've done nothing to address the inaccuracies I've called out other than to accuse me of casting doubt - which of course I've done, but not baselessly. I've shown my personal research and laid out what I know to be fact, which contradicts your "spyware" viewpoint. Even one of your new references from Mike at Spyware Info (in my opinion the only real credible security viewpoint of the 6) tells us the toolbar is not malicious. Yet you are steadfast. I've tried to interject some facts and accuracy here but clearly it's not appreciated nor wanted - so I won't be doing any edits. Good luck with the article. Bercyon 15:00, 7 March 2007 (UTC)


 * That source says nothing directly about MyWay being spyware, but it does say that it is bundled with spyware programs. Perhaps it is bundled with them in addition to being malware unto itself?

Citing sources other than the Director of Internet Security and Customer Support of IAC Search & Media, MyWay's owner, will help bring you credibility and enable you to contribute more to the online encyclopedia. SteveSims 18:44, 7 March 2007 (UTC)

I Still Don't Understand
I viewed this article because I simply wanted to know what the "MyWay Searchbar" is. The article did not answer my question.

Would someone please rewrite this article, with a descriptive paragraph first? Do not assume that your reader uses the software in question. In fact, don't assume your reader uses Windows or any of the mentioned browsers. The point of an encyclopedia is to find information about something that you DON'T know about! A picture of the actual program (toolbar? plugin?) would also be helpful, rather than a picture of the uninstall screen.

If you want to write about allegations that the software is spyware or adware, put that in a separate paragraph or section. 66.168.64.187 00:08, 21 May 2007 (UTC)

What a joke, this shit is absolutely spyware and the only people who contest it are spyware developers and the apriori creators of MWSbar and MWSearch... so obvious, the only people they are fooling is themselves. LOL...

spyware
some people say its spyware cause you cant get rid of it can someoen look this up pls 71.159.142.246 (talk) 20:32, 7 September 2008 (UTC)

MyWay EULA
According to the EULA,
 * "THIS PRODUCT IS NOT SPYWARE OR ADWARE. IT WILL NOT WATCH HOW YOU USE YOUR COMPUTER. IT WILL NOT DELIVER POP-UP ADS."
 * "The MyWebSearch toolbar, in the course of processing a given search query, sends a request to our servers. This request includes the keyword query, time of day, browser type, default language setting, IP address, an anonymous unique ID, and a code which identifies the marketing or distribution source of the toolbar used by you to conduct your search."
 * Please note, "an anonymous unique ID".


 * "[We collect] aggregated click information for the purpose of ensuring that our search partners are appropriately compensating us; information that allows us to make accurate payments to our distributors; aggregated usage and retention information; and aggregated search query information for the purpose of further monetizing commercially oriented search keywords. All information collected from a search query is recorded on a non-personally identifiable basis and is kept strictly anonymous."

The part they jazz up in technical jargon means that actually, they are doing everything they just said they aren't doing, but pretend they aren't under the guise of it's "non-personally identifiable." Whilst strictly true, "An anonymous unique ID" is unique. If a person stalks another person, it is still stalking the person, even if the stalker gives the person "An anonymous unique ID".

I do believe that there is their own confession. I may go as far as sourcing the wikipedia definition of spyware:
 * "computer software that is installed surreptitiously on a personal computer to intercept or take partial control over the user's interaction with the computer, without the user's informed consent."

I would not call the first paragraph informing the user. Stating in no uncertain terms that they don't, then stating in uncertain terms that they do is not informed consent. This is assuming the user is aware of the software being installed, which often they are not.

However, it may be argued that as they state that they are collecting the information and to uninstall if you don't want to, this could mean that it isn't spying as such, as the user is informed. Unfortunately, it is incredibly difficult to remove. It persists even after running their own uninstall program.


 * "4. Un-installation/Removal of the MyWebSearch Toolbar

The MyWebSearch Toolbar can be easily uninstalled. If you want to uninstall this product, there are several ways to do so: [four methods follow]" Their EULA explains how to uninstall the software. Following these instructions does not remove it. This means that at this point, where the user has terminated their end of the agreement, the user cannot in any way be considered to be giving informed consent.
 * "You may terminate this Agreement at any time by uninstalling and destroying all copies of the Toolbar in your possession or control and ceasing to use or access the Websites"

The user is specifically not consenting and terminating the agreement on their terms. However, the software continues to operate. So no matter how one attempts to twist the definition, at this point it is most certainly spyware.

It informs the user that the software is removed, the EULA informs the user as to how to uninstall the software.


 * "If you do not agree to the END USER LICENSE TERMS AND PRIVACY POLICY, do not let your child use the MyWebSearch toolbar or associated features"

The EULA says that if the user does not agree to the terms, not to use the program. As above, it says to terminate the agreement, to uninstall the program.

As the program continues to operate after informing the user that it has been removed, it becomes covert. It is a spy. It operates against their own agreement and against the user's lack of agreement.


 * Reference here: http://info.zwinky.com/zwinkyinfo/eula.jhtml




 * Thanks for that. A fine explantion.  LookingGlass (talk) 12:35, 24 March 2009 (UTC)

Annoying ads!!!
When I want to download ROM i see ads for the MyWay searchbar. If you want see resolution, then I suggest you to watch this :  —Preceding unsigned comment added by Junkcops (talk • contribs) 23:25, 7 November 2008 (UTC)

Webfetti and Facebook
It should be noted on this article that the Webfetti Toolbar, which is the MyWebSearch Toolbar, has an application on Facebook called Talking Smileys. 122.53.216.149 (talk)Joshua

9 February 2007 - Page moved to "Myway Speedbar" - An Explanation
This page has serious issues. There are actually 2 separate and distinct pieces of software whose behaviors & attributes are being mixed up (arguably 3). One is called the MyWay Speedbar (a search toolbar), and the other called MyWay Search Assistant (something that came pre-installed on Dell computers). Splitting the two and separating fact from fiction/opinion was the goal (for example, the screenshots used are for something called MySearch which is again a different toolbar). I'll revisit it later when I can afford more time to do a better job.

kirk_lawrence 15 Feb 2007

POV is not neutral
Lavasoft Adaware software does not consider the software to be Spyware (I just downloaded and checked it). Many of the references are editorials and do not support a Spyware conclusion. The manufacturer certainly doesn't think it is spyware. BTW - The toolbar is indeed called the MyWay Speedbar (on their website).

Bercyon

Spyware
My research shows that it is accurate to describe this software as spyware. Ten out of ten websites which talk about this product describe it as spyware, and many forums are littered with people struggling to remove it. The only people who don't think this is spyware are the manufacturers, but that is typical.

I fail to understand this
Why all the arguments about sources? You don't need sources to determine fact in this case. These "references" which you seem to be obsessed about comes from Webster's New Millennium Dictionary of English

Main Entry: 	spyware Part of Speech: 	n Definition: 	any software that covertly gathers information about a user while he/she navigates the Internet and transmits the information to an individual or company that uses it for marketing or other purposes Usage: 	computing

Main Entry: 	adware1 Part of Speech: 	n Definition: 	a software application in which advertisements are displayed while the program is running, esp. in pop-up windows or banners, and which often is installed without the user's knowledge or consent; also called [advertising-supported software]

and The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language

mal·ware      (māl'wâr')  Pronunciation Key n.  Malicious computer software that interferes with normal computer functions or sends personal data about the user to unauthorized parties over the Internet.

Now, if anyone would like to dispute these facts I'd be more than happy to provide my ethereal scan logs.