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PimpScourge

Jun 17 2005, 03:55 PM

Post #1

QB Challenge Champion!

Sink Ya Drink Champion!

Broken As Designed

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Posts: 529
Joined: 17-March 04
Member No.: 2

QUOTE

BitTorrent, the beloved file-sharing client and protocol that provides a way around bandwidth bottlenecks, has become the newest distribution vehicle for adware/spyware bundles.

Public peer-to-peer networks have always been associated with adware program distributions, but BitTorrent, the program created by Bram Cohen to offer a new approach to sharing digital files, has managed to avoid the stigma.

Not any more, anti-spyware advocates warn.

According to Chris Boyd, a renowned security researcher who runs the VitalSecurity.org nonprofit resource center, the warm and fuzzy world of BitTorrent has been invaded by a massive software distribution campaign linked to New York-based adware purveyor Direct Revenue LLC.

"This is the marketing campaign to end all marketing campaigns," said Boyd, the Microsoft Security MVP (most valuable professional) known throughout the security industry by the "Paperghost" moniker.

In an e-mail interview with Ziff Davis Internet News, Boyd said rogue files have popped up occasionally in BitTorrent land but those were usually just random executables. "This is the first time I've seen a definite money-making campaign with affiliates, distributors and some pretty heavy-duty adware names," he added.

Boyd, widely known for chronicling spyware, hacking and malware exploits, has published details of the BitTorrent distributions and identified Direct Revenue and Marketing Metrix Group as the companies responsible for the rigged files.

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1828633,00.asp

http://www.vitalsecurity.org/2005/06/auror...ed-and-175.html

Streetwise

Jun 17 2005, 10:00 PM

Post #2

Le Papillon

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Posts: 1993
Joined: 18-March 04
From: The lowlands
Member No.: 12

QUOTE

BitTorrent, the beloved file-sharing client and protocol that provides a way around bandwidth bottlenecks, has become the newest distribution vehicle for adware/spyware bundles.

I was wondering when this would start.

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TWINE006	Jun 18 2005, 01:56 AM Post #3
Narcissism Incarnate Group: Private Member Posts: 475 Joined: 18-March 04 Member No.: 25	It's a shame but not very surprising.... no matter. It really is only a matter of time before a whole new system comes around and becomes the latest fad. -------------------- You can win a thousand battles but you can still only lose one.

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