is the PLUS spyware?

[Richard Urban]

If, when you installed Messenger Plus!, you allowed the sponsor programs to
be installed your computer will be deluged with all sorts of adware and
spyware. It is your responsibility to chose NOT to install the sponsor
programs. Uninstall Messenger Plus! Reboot. Run your arsenal of antivirus
and antispyware programs again. When the system is cleaned, reinstall
Plus! - without the sponsor programs.

--
Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Eli Aran]

i have MSN messenger 7.5 on my Windows XP Proffesional.
i recently installes the Messenger Plus addition and later did a routeen
spyware check to the computer with SpyBot Search and destroy that i
habitually keep updated.
It found a long list of suspicious objects ALL OF WHICH were Messenger PLUS
related.
does this mean that the addition is spyware or should i disregard the
results of the scan?
i it is genuine spyware then i suppose it dhould be removed form my machine
emmediately...
thank you

 

[XxRebelSeanxX]

Messenger Plus! does indeed installs adware if you allow the sponsor program
to be installed, but it doesn't install any spyware what so ever.

 

[Richard Urban]

If where I have gone on the internet is sent out to a remote server, so that
they can tailor their ads to my specific tastes and internet wanderings,
that is certainly spyware in my estimation.


--
Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Eli Aran]

thank you all for your comments!
in apreciation,
Eli

 

[Eli Aran]

mind you, Spybot S&D found about 20 "spyware items" related all to Messenger
Plus, but Ad Aware found NONE (and i do update the two progs before each
scan)

 

[John Jay Smith]

Eli you can install msn plus! and be careful to not install the sponsor
programs.
It has an option in the installation.

I am sure that patchou (the creator of msn plus!) would make more money if
he asked for a donation to keep msn plus! clean WITHOUT the sponsor option
at all.

 

[Eli Aran]

thank you!
i found an easier solution:
my A-Squared antivirus removed all the adware parts from Messenger Plus and
its still working so i am content...

 

[XxRebelSeanxX]

I very much doubt Patchou would make the amount of money it takes to keep
his servers online if he removed the sponsor, and asked for donations. I
think it'd be safe to say that the userbase of Plus! has a very high number
of people who arn't able to donate money because of their age and not having
a paypal account to give a donation. At least he's made the sponsor package
non-intrusive and appropriate for children =).

 

[John Jay Smith]

There are other ways to make money. Lots of money!

Once you get the "adware-spyware" label on you... its very hard if not
impossible to remove.

its the stupidest move of patchou adding those sponsors.

 

[XxRebelSeanxX]

His intentions is not to make "lots of money", but to pay for the servers
and things he needs to make Plus! possible to the public. You have no idea
how much it costs to run servers that 10million+ people use daily, he's not
Microsoft and Plus! isn't a multi-billion doller software company. The
sponsor program could be WAY more intrusive and non-child friendly, but
Patchou makes sure everything is appropriate for children. On top of it it's
freaking optional. What more do you want?

 

[John Jay Smith]

His intentions is not to make "lots of money",

He might want to make money to improve his service or application.
Not to buy a royals royce.

Hey.... I just read the newsgroups, what people say...

I care less if patchou has sponsors or not, I do not use that program..

but others do, and I know what they are complaining about.

its not illusion, nor imagination.

 

[Richard Urban]

Others are complaining because they do NOT read and do NOT understand what
they are doing. All a person has to do is read and he can find out how to
install "without" the sponsor programs.

--
Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[John Jay Smith]

I know..... people do not read, this is a fact, and that is why they are
complaining.

But I know how most people use their computer, and this is expected.
If you have a way to change the way people functions around the globe, then
ok.
Now tell me, do you read and print out every liscence agreement for every
program you install?
How about the documentation of each web site you join or the manuals of all
your hardware, or the helpfiles of all the programs you use?

No? So you are LAZY right? Wrong... This is human nature....

He could have the sponsor off by default and you would have to take extra
action to install it... but he wont do that will he?

 

[XxRebelSeanxX]

Thing is that it's PERFECTLY clear to the user that they are installing the
sponsor program, the page with the option is even time delayed! There is 2
pages in the installer that lets you know what you are doing, it even has
graphics standing out wich displays toolbars. Do you want him to make a
full-screen page stating "YOU'RE ABOUT TO INSTALL THE SPONSOR PROGRAM TO
MAKE ME MONEY"? That's basically what you and all the other people who
complain about the sponsor package want him to do. He shouldn't have to do
that. He shouldn't have even changed the installer before to add the extra
screen stating the sponsor agreement. It's optional and if you don't read
what you're installing it's noone's fault but theirs. And it's not like
maleware is being installed, it's simply advertisements which aren't
intrusive & are child friendly.