During the installation of Messenger Plus! there are TWO
screens that inform the user about the sponsor and what it
does.
http://www.xs4all.nl/~mail2jae/screen1.png
http://www.xs4all.nl/~mail2jae/screen2.png
At the first screen the "next" button will be disabled for
a few seconds so the user can't skip this message and will
notice it. It clearly syays the sponsor (adware) is
optional. And tells you that it WILL add a searchbar to
your Internet Explorer. Also it tells you how to remove the
entire sponsor (adware) in case you do not like it after
you have installed it. Finally it tells the user to read
the license agreement for the full details.
After that you can press next and you will see screen 2.
This screen shows the search toolbar that the sponsor will
install and should give the user a visual warning. Also you
HAVE to choose if you want to install Messenger Plus! with
or without the sponsor. The Sponsor agreement itself
clearly states the this sponsor is a product from C2Media.
The EULA contains all the information like that sthe
sponsor product name (lop.com) and what it does (Provide
you with additional content, promotional offers,
advertisements and other web browser enhachements bases, in
part, on keywords in the websites you visit).
The sponsor (adware) isn't installed by default, the user
will always have to choose if he/she want's the sponsor
(adware) or not. What could be done to make this even more
clear? I know Patchou (creator of Messenger Plus!) made a
lot of changes to his installer to avoid accidental sponsor
(adware) installs by his users.
Another thins is that Messenger Plus! is also detected by
Microsoft AntiSpyware Beta1 even AFTER the user installed
Messenger Plus! WITHOUT THE SPONSOR and deleted the
installer from his/her system. This means the Microsoft's
new product detects spyware in Messenger Plus! even when
the spyware isn't on the user's system at all. It would
make more sense to target the sponsor (C2media's package)
itself and give a low threat warning at the Messenger Plus!
INSTALLER, not Plus! without the sponsor.
- Johan Brune (
[email protected])