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What will you trade for your computer’s security?

21 Dec

Posted by Blair in Articles

For obvious reason, free security applications are often the most popular. However, the definition of free has taken on new meaning lately.

Many free security applications are being bundled with toolbars, and/or gather information about your system and surfing habits. Often these add-ons are installed by default, and not clearly explained. Here are some examples:

Recently it seems Ask! has been courting security publishers. Webroot’s Spy Sweeper, and ZoneAlarm both have the option to install the Ask search toolbar pre-checked, or installed by default. ZoneAlarm goes so far to call it “ZoneAlarm Spy Blocker”, which may make you think it’s a security add-on. Judging by the reaction in support forums, most people are surprised to find the Ask! toolbar installed after installing one of these applications.
Spyware Doctor is available as a free download from Google, as part of their Google Pack [affiliate]. However, the default Google Pack installation will also include (pre-checked) Google Earth, Norton Security Scan, Google Desktop, Picasa, Google Photos Screensaver, the Google Toolbar for IE, Firefox with Google Toolbar, Adobe Reader, and will change your homepage and default search engine to Google.
Trend Micro’s HijackThis “Analyze This” button. Per their license agreement, clicking this button submits the data from your HijackThis log to Trend Micro’s servers for them to collect, store, analyze, and disclose to third parties. Prior to Trend Micro’s acquisition, HijackThis never performed any data collection, or transmitted any information.

Why do they do it? In the case of Trend Micro, they are hoping to use the data to improve their own products, and could likely sell it to others. Google drives more customers to it’s products and search engines. The Ask toolbar pays publishers to install it.

What do you think, is it okay for these free applications to come with strings (or toolbars) attached? Does it affect your decision whether to install them? Did we miss any?

Unless there’s a user revolt, it’s likely we’ll see this trend continue, and even become more invasive. If you don’t like it, contact the publishers and let them know.

Webroot: contact form, or call (866)-612-4227

ZoneAlarm contact form, or call (415)633-4500

Trend Micro: HijackThis Feedback form

Spyware Doctor: sales@pctools.com

Google: Google Pack Group

3 Responses

Abydos

January 17th, 2008 at 10:31 am
1

I can see this article is a little old, but would like to comment it nonetheless.
Quote; “What do you think, is it okay for these free applications to come with strings (or toolbars) attached? Does it affect your decision whether to install them? Did we miss any?” end quote.
I usually don’t install such kind of products. Whenever companies goes to such length, as to make inconvinient attachments, they are sacrificing the integrity of their own product. The prospect and quality of the product are usually the first to go down the drain, in the hunt for consumers to make them money. Much like false prophets of old.
“Did we miss any”
Well, a former “rogue” product scorned by many, named Spyware Terminator have the Crawler toolbar attached to it. And furthermore, in order to use the programs site advisor (named “Web security Guard”) you have to use the crawler toolbar….
-Abydos
Coco La Blanc

March 27th, 2008 at 5:52 am
2

Any Company utilising your data (in any format whatsoever) for their Profit/Benefit should clearly state so prominently in their Marketing and their Customer Service Agreements. If the company does not do so then it is in breach of contract and should be legally accountable to both the customer and the Government of the day with NO exceptions.
Hire a Geek

May 2nd, 2009 at 8:52 am
3

for most applications, the toolbar feature is actually optional. When you get to the page where it tells you which files are being downloaded to your computer, the toolbar feature is automatically checked, but you would just need to uncheck it. sometimes, it’s a bit more tricky. They place the “download toolbar” in the window that one wouldn’t normally read. I suggest you just be more keen on each installation window if you do not want their toolbar installed on your browser. sometimes, they even give windows like “step 2. download toolbar” with some info about the ‘importance’ of the toolbar, but there is actually a small “skip” link that you can click at the bottom of the page.
Hope this helps 🙂

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