Alexa data miner removal?

[Guest]

Here is what I get from the "Alexa" information page from Parento Logic. The
program they use is called XoftspySE-

"Installed with Internet Explorer and some Microsoft updates. Alexa is the
Whats Related links feature on your Internet Explorer toolbar. Alexa
technology uses a web crawler (bot) only when the toolbar is in use".
My question is should I remove this if it is installed with IE6? It sounds
like they are in partners with MS and its an intergral part of IE.

 

[Alan Edwards]

If you don't use Related, it does not hurt to remove it.

The other option is to forget it as it is only a Registry key used for
Related Sites.
Ad-Aware falsely calls that key Alexa spyware

Is Alexa Spying On You: http://www.imilly.com/alexa.htm

....Alan

 

[siljaline]

Here is what I get from the "Alexa" information page from Parento Logic. The
program they use is called XoftspySE-

"Installed with Internet Explorer and some Microsoft updates. Alexa is the
Whats Related links feature on your Internet Explorer toolbar. Alexa
technology uses a web crawler (bot) only when the toolbar is in use".
My question is should I remove this if it is installed with IE6? It sounds
like they are in partners with MS and its an intergral part of IE.

Alexa *is* a threat but is not owned by MS.
Please see:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/threats/174.html
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/threats/290.html

Silj

--
siljaline

MS - MVP Windows (IE/OE) & Windows Security, AH-VSOP

Security Tools Updates
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=31

Reply to group, as return address is invalid that we may all benefit.

 

[Guest]

I don't understand what you mean by Related. Where is this "Tool bar" others
have spoke of? My home page is MSN.Com.

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE]

I don't understand what you mean by Related. Where is this "Tool bar"
others
have spoke of? My home page is MSN.Com.

It was an optional button on the IE6 toolbar. I think it was removed in
later versions.

 

[Alan Edwards]

Sorry. As you spoke of Related, I assumed you knew what it was all
about.

By Related, I mean Related Links as in IE-Tools-Show Related Links.
All this should be clear if you read the information supplied or use
the Help in IE and look up Related in the Index.

The Alexa toolbar is not normally installed in IE, so you shouldn't
have it (or want to have it)

....Alan

 

[Alan Edwards]

As Frank indicates, Related Links may be removed.

It's removed in XP SP2.

....Alan

 

[Robert Aldwinckle]

....

Alexa *is* a threat but is not owned by MS.
Please see:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/threats/174.html
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/threats/290.html

I think that first page should mention Amazon (Alexa's owner.)
Until Amazon acquired it Alexa was pretty benign and quite useful
(probably still is) but I just did a search on the Alexa site
and its relationship with Amazon is not that clear:

By knowing about it was I able to find it there:

http://pages.alexa.com/company/history.html
<quotes>
In June of 1999, Amazon.com purchased Alexa Internet.

In 2000, Alexa released the version 5.0 toolbar, incorporating shopping features and search functions.
</quotes>

(MSN search for
amazon site:alexa.com
)


E.g., its About page still would give users the feeling that they
were participating only in the noble experiment it began as:

http://pages.alexa.com/company/index.html

<quote>
Alexa could not exist without the participation of the Alexa Toolbar community.
Each member of the community, in addition to getting a useful tool, is giving back.
Simply by using the toolbar each member contributes valuable information
about the web, how it is used, what is important and what is not.
This information is returned to the community as Related Links, Traffic Rankings and more.
</quote>


What's really strange IMO is that there is absolutely no mention
of its founder in their History page--making me wonder if he has
requested to be disassociated from what Alexa has become.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexa_Internet


FYI

Robert Aldwinckle
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