Popup Killer And DNF Toolbar Gone Wild?

[Jaques]

My computer was fine...No ads...And I did have a google popup blocker. Blocked every ad. Then I downloaded the DNF toolbar... Get atleast 5 ads a minute?? Whats up with this.... The Popup Killer is on too so i have 2 POPUP BLOCKERS and still they are sifting through...This happning to anyone else? Dont want to acuse DNF of this.

 

[NETGEEK]

....figures....what exacly is hiding behind that hotdog stand......grrr im scared!! But really i dont appriciate the DN Forum toolbar doing this to my computer.....if it was that

Yeah I don't blame you although this is the first incident of this nature I've heard since it was launched a few months ago. Doesn't mean it's not doing it though so we've asked the programmers to check it out k:

 

[Jaques]

Yeah I don't blame you although this is the first incident of this nature I've heard since it was launched a few months ago. Doesn't mean it's not doing it though so we've asked the programmers to check it out k:

Any more updates on this issue??

 

[mole]

Never, never install any toolbar except from Google. In fact, don't install anything that's free on the internet except from very reputable companies like Macromedia. A bit extreme viewpoint, but it has kept my computer uncompromised for the longest time.

 

[Mr Webname]

... it has kept my computer uncompromised for the longest time.

You hope :bandit:

 

[Anthony Ng]

Never, never install any toolbar except from Google. In fact, don't install anything that's free on the internet except from very reputable companies like Macromedia. A bit extreme viewpoint, but it has kept my computer uncompromised for the longest time.

Although I am not as "restricted", I do agree that people should apply much more caution in downloading executive files. And for this reason, I have not even downloaded the Alexa toolbar. Of course, you also need a regularly updating anti-virus software that warns you of any program installation.

 

[seeker]

anti virus software will not detect spyware and adware.
That's why I recommended adaware, which took care of the toolbar's problems.

 

[ZaZZeR.com]

I had almost the same problem. I had ad-destroyer on my computer and it is adware. While I was trying to get rid of it, it installed a program called Virtual Bouncer, then Lycos SideSearch, then some casino ads on my desktop. I use ad-aware, pestpatrol, and spysweeper. Ad-aware did nothing and spysweeper wouldn't even find anything except for hitlinks cookies. Try pest patrol, it worked for me. The trial version won't remove them, but it will tell you what directory they are installed in so you can manually remove them.

There is a problem however, which is the fact that they contain .dll's and windows will not let you delete these. I found a program on download.com that gets rid of all this crap that is running that you can't stop. I will find it and get back to you, but I have to post this now as dnf won't accept my cookies and keeps logging me off after like 2 minutes.

 

[ZaZZeR.com]

http://download.com.com/3000-2144-10255668.html
This is privacy guardian which is ok, but the winguides shredder that comes with it is awesome. I was able to delete 3 different .exe and dlls while they were running. I tried to end task on them, delete them from program files and everything and I couldn't. I found this and I was able to get rid of all that crap. Hope this helps.

 

[mole]

You hope :bandit:

hahahahaa, you peeked into my computer?

Try this new Spyware smasher

http://www.popupstop.com/sws.htm

 

[Jaques]

hmmmmm

Your telling me not to download anything but google....... Your saying watch out for bad downloads....THIS WAS FOUND ON DN FORUM!! I thought I could trust the site??? Why still have it availble for downloading?? If you say that?

 

[mole]

I thought I could trust the site??? Why still have it availble for downloading?? If you say that?

You can, but I don't think the admins here wrote that toolbar script, probably got it off some other party and customised it. There are loads of weevils you can stuff into that code, you know.

As I said, don't download any free plug-ins, that includes toolbars which may sites now offer. Be safe than sorry, especially if you are paranoid by anything you weren't already expecting to see pop up. Its ultimately your choice.

 

[Domagon]

Certainly seem strange to me that DNForum would be actively distributing spyware - hope they either clarify the situation or remove it - if they choose the latter, hopefully DNForum puts announcement up explaining how folks can remove the toolbar and all its related spyware.

On an aside, one should NOT download toolbars from anywhere - even Google's isn't totally benign...from what I recall reading, it allows Google (and/or one of their "partners") to log every site people visit and heavens knows what else.

Easier solution to popup-blocker toolbars is using a different web browser and/or refraining from visiting sites with excessive, annoying popups.

Ron

 

[seeker]

If you want to be totally safe, use a Mac like I am doing right now.
Of course, in the office, it's a different story...

 

[Mr Webname]

Certainly seem strange to me that DNForum would be actively distributing spyware - hope they either clarify the situation or remove it - if they choose the latter, hopefully DNForum puts announcement up explaining how folks can remove the toolbar and all its related spyware.

On an aside, one should NOT download toolbars from anywhere - even Google's isn't totally benign...from what I recall reading, it allows Google (and/or one of their "partners") to log every site people visit and heavens knows what else.

Easier solution to popup-blocker toolbars is using a different web browser and/or refraining from visiting sites with excessive, annoying popups.

Ron

From replies given by Admin staff already, it is clear that DNForum is not "actively distributing spyware" and as DNFAdmin has said a request has been made to the programmers to check out the issue and find out what, if anything, is happening.

 

[Domagon]

If the DNForum toolbar which they *customized* contains spyware, then obviously DNForum is playing a role in distributing it.

Certainly makes me wonder if I can trust anything DNForum promotes...

If it's a honest mistake, which it likely is, then DNForum should own up to it pronto - in the meantime, DNForum shoyld take DOWN the toolbar download page until these concerns are addressed.

Ron

 

[Mr Webname]

If the DNForum toolbar which they *customized* contains spyware, then obviously DNForum is playing a role in distributing it.

Certainly makes me wonder if I can trust anything DNForum promotes...

If it's a honest mistake, which it likely is, then DNForum should own up to it pronto - in the meantime, DNForum shoyld take DOWN the toolbar download page until these concerns are addressed.

Ron

Maybe some questions before you attempt to detroy DNForum's integrity:-

1) How many members have experienced this problem?
2) What have DNForum Admin stated about their knowledge of the issue?
3) Have not DNForum promised to investigate the issue with the programmers?

 

[Anthony Ng]

Like mole, I only have Google toobar (not even those of Yahoo or Alexa). Personally, I don't take just anything for granted; I won't even assume downloads from so-called reputable websites such as Google or Macromedia are trustworthy, without doing my own research on each and every one of them.

The truth is: there are so many programmers out there, asking for as little as $10 for a custom-made IE toolbar for your website (you can even get your own toolbar builder for like $35) that not only website managers but end-users should exercise extreme caution themselves. You never know.

 

[Domagon]

Did some search around...it appears DNForum outsourced the making of its toolbar to some folks in India.

http://www.elance.com/c/rfp/main/jo...5Mzc3NzE2JTI2Y2F0SWQlM0QxMDAlMjZyaWQlM0RCT0I0

http://www.elance.com/c/fp/main/viewprofile.pl?ID=381539&type=seller&catid=&rid=BOB4

http://www.elance.com/c/feedback/main/Details.pl?action=sellstats&ID=381539&rid=BOB4

Welcome someone who already has the toolbar installed or whatever to please send me the extracted files (from dnforum.exe) and I'll look through them.

From people's reports I've read on the boards and my cursory research, I'd say there's about a very good chance the toolbar contains adware/spyware.

When it comes to stuff like this, I have very little patience for excuses - DNForum is distributing a custom toolbar it appears they commissioned and paid to have made - so they definitely have a responsibility knowing what it does...

Ron

 

[impactadmin]

Hi,

The toolbar was not put together using adaware and spyware features. This was a customized toolbar to help many have their great domain tools by their side.

We provided the toolbar as a favor rather then trying to gain anything from it.

As some have comlained about adaware/spyware in the toolbar, we are now looking into the script and checking to see if there is in fact adaware.

If there is, it will be removed right away. However, the toolbar does not contain harmful spyware or it would have not been released.

we will invetigate the toolbar issue and report back shortly.

Impactadmin

 

[Domagon]

Thank you for looking into it,..

A suggestion is to have a separate, independent, experienced programmer review the actual toolbar code extracted from the dnforum.exe installer.

If they say it's all good, then that should satisfy most all folks, including myself, and also further reiterate to folks that DNForum is a top-notch, honest operation that cares about its visitors

Ron