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JeremyL · #1 08-12-2001, 03:20 AM

It's a long story and I don't want to break any copyrights by reposting an article but just read this and I think you will understand why I'm so distubed.

http://gethighforums.com/Forum10/HTML/001386.html

davidb · #2 08-12-2001, 03:57 AM

So that is what was doing that on my schools computers. I noticed it about a month ago but so much crap was installed on it from other students. Its really annoying and pissed me off.

RunOfTheMill · #3 08-12-2001, 04:15 AM

microsoft is trying to do the exact same thing with Windows XP

JeremyL · #4 08-12-2001, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by RunOfTheMill
microsoft is trying to do the exact same thing with Windows XP

Microsoft backed down and wont be doing smart tags in XP after much critisism.

Everyone do themselves a favor and download this software and install it and wake up to the really big suprise afterwords. My web hosting site now has links to DialtoneInternet on it. OH MY GO* I AM SO FREAKIN PISSED.

I am going to go through all kinds of sites and record which companies are supporting these scumbags, write them letting them know of my disgust and boycott them. I'll give the list here.

markblair · #5 08-12-2001, 04:28 AM

I'm also in the process of writing eZula to have my domains blocked from their "service". If anyone has any other ideas outside of what has already been suggested I would appreciate hearing them. Mainly what else can be done besides just "asking" to be blocked. Because in my opinion, if I create and operate a web site, I have the rights to that site, not some half baked company. And I shouldn't have to tell them to block my sites.

Just my thoughts and I will discuss my frustration with eZula...

JeremyL · #6 08-12-2001, 04:38 AM

Heres a few suggestions,

1. Write eZula and let them know that their tactics are....

2. Write Kaza and let them know the same.

3. Write reviews on download sites like download.com so they know this software does this.

4. Write any and all news organazations to let them know about this scumware.

5. Write the FTC and let them know of this. This is illegal. The software is taking copyrighted software and altering it before presenting it to the user.

If anyone knows of any other goverment agencies to write please post them here.

So far I have found these companies advertising off words on YOUR website

http://www.consumerinfo.com
http://www.dialtoneinternet.com
http://www.charge.com
http://www.virtualbank.com

markblair · #7 08-12-2001, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by JeremyL
So far I have found these companies advertising off words on YOUR website

Who is this referring to? I just downloaded and installed KaZaa to see if there were any links added from that company and so far I haven't found any. I wonder if I missed a step but I know it installed and even have KaZaa running right now.

JeremyL · #8 08-12-2001, 05:26 AM

Im not sure what version you installed, but the one I got from download.com had it. And now there are 4 links on the main page of WHT that all point to Dialtone Internet.

They are easily identifiable by their thick yellow underline.

Get-Hosted.com · #9 08-12-2001, 05:30 AM

I did notice these links, but didn't realize KaZaa did it.

What they do is select certain keywords, and when you click/hover that word, it gives you an option to go to the advertised website.

I found what program it was and un-installed it though. So it isn't IN KaZaa, just installs with it.

markblair · #10 08-12-2001, 05:32 AM

I sent the following e-mail message to eZula regarding having my sites blocked. I am also going to look into contacting the Better Business Bureau regarding this issue...

I am very disturbed by what I have read on several web sites including the San Francisco Chronicle about your advertising techniques. I own and operate three web sites and DO NOT want you to have any access to the words or links on those sites. I am mainly sending this message to inform you that you are to block the following three domains from your so-called service.

They are:
http://www.markblair.net/
http://www.nhlredwings.net/
http://www.specializedpc.net/

Further, I want to express that what I post on my web sites is for my own private gain and is for me and my company to make money from. That is why I put in the time and effort to create these sites. You have nothing to do with them and thus have no right to place "tags" on them for others to be able to purchase products and/or services from competitors. I will be closely monitoring your technology from now on and I trust that I will not find any highlighted text on my sites that is caused by TopText, eZula, or your technology in general.

Also, I require a response to this message letting me know that the appropriate action has been taken to block my sites. If I find out otherwise, I will be in contact with the Federal Trade Commission and the Better Business Bureau located in Oakland, California.

Sincerely,
Mark Blair

...I will post any responses I receive here and hope this action is followed by thousands more by other web site owners.

Palm · #11 08-12-2001, 06:10 AM

Can you imagine what comes in the future.
What if winamp starts doing the samething.
Major companies can be doing this with their software.
Its only the beggining.

Media doesn't care, because its bringing them millions.

davidb · #12 08-12-2001, 06:15 AM

The problem here, is that it will not stop with this company. I think more and more will do this, if it proves to be effective. These companies also have the agreement on the software which allows them to do this, thats what I think, im not sure. Not only are they allowing illegal files transferd, but they screwing people over too.

(SH)Saeed · #13 08-12-2001, 06:24 AM

It's not only Kazaa! My fiancé installed Address.com's free Internet software and it did the same thing to her browser.

Has anyone tried Morpheus? Morpheus (www.musiccity.com) is the same software as Kazaa distributed by another company. Anyone know if it does the same thing to your browser or not?

I have both Kazaa and Morpheus installed on my desktop machine and I have not noticed these links on any website. I run Windows2000, Internet Explorer 5.0 and Kazaa 1.3.1.

Maybe everyone should answer these questions..
1 - Are you infected by this "Virus"?
2 - What operating system are you running?
3 - What version of Internet Explorer are you running?
4 - What version of Kazaa are you running?

wise1 · #14 08-12-2001, 10:18 AM

What's up everyone,

I say all the hosting companies should protect their customers. You should all send in a list of all your customers to get their sites block.

Peace
Wise1

reason · #15 08-12-2001, 01:07 PM

This is one of the most rank and vile attempts at brainwashing I have ever seen. Nobody with four working brain cells would install such a utility so they need to hide it inside something totally unrelated. It will spread far and wide because many PC's have kids using them and many adults like sharing media files too.

Here is my defence.

The keywords are only made active if they are unlinked. If you use CSS in your web design (foolish not to) then you can create a style for each heading, each body font or any other style of font you might use as text and have keywords in.

eg.

For my keywords inside the body text include class=same inside a href tag enclosing the keywords.
A.same { put same style descriptions as for BODY, P etc.; }
A.same:hover { put same style descriptions as for BODY, P etc.; }

For my keywords inside the H1 text include class=h1same inside a href tag enclosing the keywords.
A.h1same { put same style descriptions as for H1; }
A.hsame:hover { put same style descriptions as for H1; }

This way you can embed links which will look the same and can be directed to pages on your web site without having these sods achieve anything by their scum tactics. Need to keep a watch on your pages to keep up to date with new bought phrases.

Reason

Chicken · #16 08-12-2001, 01:15 PM

I get the feeling this is going to show up more and more. *sigh*

reason · #17 08-12-2001, 01:19 PM

I also suggest that you submit an invoice to claim payment for the time it takes to defend your web content and design style from being tampered with.

It could be very dangerous creating links from a web site without consent. For example, how do we know the links are appropriate?

This company needs to be dealt with promptly.

Reason

JeremyL · #18 08-12-2001, 01:28 PM

This won't work,

The links are not created by HTML at all. If you see one of these links on the web page and then look at the HTML, you will see that there is no change to the HTML at all. It works by affecting the IE browser itself.

Quote:

Originally posted by reason
This is one of the most rank and vile attempts at brainwashing I have ever seen. Nobody with four working brain cells would install such a utility so they need to hide it inside something totally unrelated. It will spread far and wide because many PC's have kids using them and many adults like sharing media files too.

Here is my defence.

The keywords are only made active if they are unlinked. If you use CSS in your web design (foolish not to) then you can create a style for each heading, each body font or any other style of font you might use as text and have keywords in.

eg.

For my keywords inside the body text include class=same inside a href tag enclosing the keywords.
A.same { put same style descriptions as for BODY, P etc.; }
A.same:hover { put same style descriptions as for BODY, P etc.; }

For my keywords inside the H1 text include class=h1same inside a href tag enclosing the keywords.
A.h1same { put same style descriptions as for H1; }
A.hsame:hover { put same style descriptions as for H1; }

This way you can embed links which will look the same and can be directed to pages on your web site without having these sods achieve anything by their scum tactics. Need to keep a watch on your pages to keep up to date with new bought phrases.

Reason

JeremyL · #19 08-12-2001, 01:31 PM

Can someone please list some consumer organazations that file lawsuits on behalf of consumers and such? I am sure a few of them would love to take this on, I just can't remember any of their names.

THis probably won't be the last company, thats why we have to contact the authoriies and get it deamed illegal.

WebSnail.net · #20 08-12-2001, 01:59 PM

Given that legal mumbo jumbo will take months or even years to have any affect at all...

Can I ask... has anyone found any way in which to identify the "virus" (I can't think of a better word) from accessible browser info?

If nothing else I'd like to block people who use the software from my own and users sites... or at bare minimum ensure that they are 100% aware that links in yellow, or whatever, are NOT an integral part of the site.

Sounds drastic perhaps but I can imagine the legal implications that the software will create... Especially on sites where their links to external sites are taken as solid advice and recommendation.

.. That and the fact that the result will be clients phoning up to ask why their site is promoting a credit card scam. <? $deity ?> help us.

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