Search results for: omnibar
Genieo adware proliferating
Posted on June 7th, 2015 at 9:00 AM EDT
In recent months, several new variants of the Genieo adware have crossed my path. This adware is still pulling many of the same tricks – changing the search engine to Bing, and installing all kinds of junk that runs in the background and modifies browser behavior. However, it’s now using a variety of different names, perhaps in an attempt to make detection more difficult.
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Adware Removal Guide : Genieo
Posted on November 7th, 2013 at 5:22 PM EDT
Genieo (and InstallMac, another name for the same software) is perhaps the most prolific adware at the time of this writing (late 2013). It has been in active distribution for most of the year, with a very active Israeli company behind it. Although the installer is available through the company’s web site, it has also been seen numerous times being distributed through installers that pretend to be something they are not, such as fake Adobe Flash Player installers. This behavior has been blamed on third-party “partners” each time it has been observed.
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Adware Removal Guide : ChatZum
Posted on November 7th, 2013 at 4:48 PM EDT
ChatZum is adware that was originally seen downloaded from Softonic. Downloads of a few free apps were wrapped in an adware installer by Softonic, without the knowledge and against the wishes of the developers of those apps.
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Adware Removal Guide : Identification
Posted on November 7th, 2013 at 3:36 PM EDT
Identification of adware simply requires looking for certain key files. If one of these files are present, you are “infected” with the corresponding adware, and will need to follow the removal instructions specific to that adware.
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Boycott Softonic
Posted on April 16th, 2013 at 9:53 PM EDT
Just a few hours ago, I wrote about a VLC installer on Softonic that was installing adware. (Adware that was not authorized to be included with VLC, according to a post by Jean-Baptiste Kempf of VLC.) It has just come to my attention that the same thing is happening with UnRarX, and on downloading that software from Softonic, I verified that the installer behaves in the same way. It looks like Softonic is wrapping free software in a custom installer that installs adware, obviously to generate revenue for Softonic. I’m sure that the list of software being abused in this way will continue to grow over the next few days. This is despicable behavior, and I would ask everyone to boycott Softonic until they change their behavior.
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ChatZum adware added to VLC on Softonic
Posted on April 16th, 2013 at 4:44 PM EDT
It was brought to my attention today by an astute reader that there is a copy of VLC, currently being hosted on Softonic, which has had adware added to it. Of course, I had to investigate, and what I found is very concerning. That report turns out to be completely true, and worse, the adware installs components on your system even when you opt out of installing it!
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