Some cyber advertisers have gone to extraordinary lengths to both target Internet ads and spy on the user's computer activities. This is very scary. In fact, it happened to me. Here is the story.

By CURT CLARK

Published: Apr 04, 2000 12:00 am

Some cyber advertisers have gone to extraordinary lengths to both target Internet ads and spy on the userâs computer activities. This is very scary. In fact, it happened to me. Here is the story.

Some months ago, I noticed ads appearing while using the shareware software program CuteFTP V 3.0 (a popular utility for transferring files to HTML servers when creating and maintaining Web sites). Initially, I did not give it a second thought. Watching a few more ads would be a small price to pay for using this flexible and powerful product.

Fred Langeâs weekly geekish newsletter (The LangaList) raised a warning flag in a March issue. It seems that CuteFTP and hundreds of other free utilities contain something called spyware. Many âfreeâ utilities contain Trojan-horse-esque segments of computer code that secretly collect data on all phases of a computer userâs activities. The most well-known spyware carries the moniker Aureate. Periodically, the Aureate âcollectorâ transmits its payload of user activity back to its masters at Aureateâs headquarters using the Internet. This product conveniently slips below the radar of virus checking software programs because it is considered an application. Yikes. Some application.

Enter Steve Gibson

As described in a previous column, Steve Gibson is a programmer of extraordinary skill. Aureateâs activity did not escape his watchful eye. He thoroughly investigated the issue and made his findings public on his Web site: http://grc.com/optout.com. In addition, he wrote a program (which he distributes at no cost, at least so far, on the site) named OptOut V .99. It is designed specifically to thwart the spyware intrusion. With its small size, 32Kbytes, the software downloads quickly even with a low speed connection to the Internet.

After downloading, OptOut takes only seconds to scan a 20 GB hard drive! This software gives the word âfastâ a new meaning. OptOut reported on my computer: â13 Aureate Process Parasite references found! 16 Adbot/Spyware entries were found in the registry!â Wow! one mouse click and the offending software can be purged completely from the hard drive(s). However, since the Trojan horse software is often active, OptOut requires special action to remove spyware. It marks actively running programs for deletion. Purging completes after the next rebooting the computer. When the degree of contamination appears on the screen, the immediate thought that springs to mind is: âhow much data was collected on my activities and how much does Aureate (and its advertisers) know about me?â Frankly, I could not remove this poison fast enough.

After removing the offending spyware, I attempted to execute CuteFTP. The program would not run. In my zeal, I had not taken into account that I had not made provisions for using an alternative File Transfer Protocol program. OptOut does not sport an âundoâ command. It seems that OptOut deletes âadvert.dllâ and âamcis.dllâ which CuteFTP requires. A quick âGoogle Searchâ uncovered a Web site http://www.globalscape.com/support/knowledgebase/docs/advert.html, which allows for reinstallation of these two programs. Users can then continue using CuteFTP until an alternative product can be installed. I no longer use CuteFTP. Leechftp.com V 1.3, a small but free German program, handles FTP tasks.

The Future Of Spyware

Sadly, my sense is spyware will become a permanent fixture on the Internet landscape. There is an overall âdumbing downâ attitude permeating many corners of the Web. Without constant vigilance, we experience an onslaught of forces that attempt to steal our privacy and bulldoze hardware security walls. Steve Gibson offers products that can help stem this disturbing trend. Visit his site, read his findings, and with OptOut, kill the Aureate intrusion if it hides on your machine. This initial confrontation appears to be the beginning of a long and protracted battle. For now, OptOut can help can win the first round.

URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) of interest:

http://grc.com

http://grc.com/optout.htm

http://www.globalscape.com/support/knowledgebase/docs/advert.html

http://stud.fh-heilbronn.de/~jdebis/leechftp/

(This is the 200th of a series of elementary articles designed for surfing the Internet. Next, Three Months of I-Cable Access is the subject on tap. Stay Tuned. Until next week, happy travels through cyberspace. Previous issues of Internet Info for Real People can be found: http://www.thebee.com. Please e-mail comments and suggestions: rbrand@JUNO.com or editor@thebee.com.)

Dorothea O’Byrne

Constance Rizzo

26 Years And Counting For WIN Easter Baskets

Time To Lose The Litter From Newtown’s Roadsides

Radical Connection Series To Continue With ‘Connection To Self’

All of the referendums deserve to be pasted. We have a history of deferring needed maintenance and then paying more years later. These are required to keep our town owned building and roads in working condition.

Vote “Yes” To Question #5 On Referendum

Every vote matters and that’s exactly why it’s important to recognize that voting No on a proposed budget is not a vote against Newtown, but rather a vote for accountability, transparency, and fiscal responsibility. Last year, when voters rejected the education budget in its first round, it wasn’t just a symbolic gesture—it resulted in a reduced spending plan that ultimately passed. That outcome showed that our voices can and do make a difference. Voting “No” is one of the few tools residents have to encourage our town leaders to re-evaluate spending, find creative solutions, and prioritize needs over wants. So yes, please vote on April 22—but don’t be afraid to vote “No” if you believe we can do better. Last year’s vote proved that when residents speak up, real changes can follow.

Get Out And Vote

Breaking the tax increase down to a “cost per day” may make it sound more palatable, but it minimizes the real impact these increases have—especially on those already struggling with rising costs across the board. A dollar here and a dollar there adds up, and for many families, it's not just about the price of a cup of coffee—it's about stretching every dollar to cover groceries, fuel, healthcare, and housing. A 6.72% property tax increase is significant, regardless of how it’s framed. Saying “it’s only $1.13 a day” overlooks the fact that for some residents, every expense matters. Just because costs are rising doesn’t mean the burden should automatically fall on taxpayers without exploring real efficiencies, cost savings, or long-term planning. We need to prioritize fiscal responsibility and find smarter ways to manage our town’s needs without assuming residents can or should absorb another round of tax hikes.

Is Our Community Worth $1.67 Per Day?

Let’s have the library present a 20-year, 40-year, and 60-year OPEX/capital investment plan to determine whether this is truly a sustainable investment or just another sunk cost fallacy. Two of the items we’re voting on next week were originally framed as “donations,” yet they continue to cost this town more money over time. It’s time to say no, and force a serious reevaluation of how we approach these decisions.

Quiz Time

Such a loss. A wife, mother and dear friend. Judy and Richard Pesce

Nancy Martin

<< Apr 2025 >>
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
30	31	1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30	1	2	3

Log In

Some cyber advertisers have gone to extraordinary lengths to both target Internet ads and spy on the user's computer activities. This is very scary. In fact, it happened to me. Here is the story.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply