EZTrust Free

[Ladyhawk]

Hi -

Just thought I'd pass on a bit of information on the new EZ trust 1 year
free trail program......here are some of the unexpected guests that took
advantage of it's trusting nature: Back Web lite, BFast, Gator, FastClick,
Commission Junction, etc.....

I have been using ZoneAlarm Free version for the past 6 months, and been
pest free according to SpyBot and AdAware the whole time.

I ran a check with the SpyBot and AdAware before installing the EZ trust
Free 1 year trial version, just to see how well it worked. I found
out....over 127 pests, 87 of which were Back Web lite. How long did it take
to amass this healthy collection? Less than 7 hours from the time I
installed the EZ trust. I timed it, just to monitor the results. I printed
out most all the list, but, so much of the Back Web lite was the same thing
that I saved some trees and stopped the printout.

Here is the info on the Back Web lite according to the SpyBot S&D
description;

company web site; http//www.backweb.com
Product: Back Web lite
Threat: Adaware/Spyware
Functionality:
Installs unknown items and advertisement popups on your system.

There's more, but, those who already have naturally curly hair might not
want to go there. Just for those who may have thought about trying it and
not sure. I've now reinstalled the real ZA program.

Ladyhawk

 

[Bob]

SO much for the FREE lunch, huh? Don't you love the way some people just
think they can load up your computer with as much crap as they want to, with
out ask you up front?

Oh well.

 

[Roy Coorne]

Ladyhawk wrote:

Just thought I'd pass on a bit of information on the new EZ trust 1 year
free trail program......here are some of the unexpected guests that took
advantage of it's trusting nature: Back Web lite, BFast, Gator, FastClick,
Commission Junction, etc.....

....


THX for the detailed warning, Ladyhawk!

(/philosophical mode)
What is really free in this world of ours?
(philosophical mode/)

Roy

 

[GraemeD]

Hi -

Just thought I'd pass on a bit of information on the new EZ trust 1 year
free trail program......here are some of the unexpected guests that took
advantage of it's trusting nature: Back Web lite, BFast, Gator, FastClick,
Commission Junction, etc.....

I have been using ZoneAlarm Free version for the past 6 months, and been
pest free according to SpyBot and AdAware the whole time.

I ran a check with the SpyBot and AdAware before installing the EZ trust
Free 1 year trial version, just to see how well it worked. I found
out....over 127 pests, 87 of which were Back Web lite. How long did it take
to amass this healthy collection? Less than 7 hours from the time I
installed the EZ trust. I timed it, just to monitor the results. I printed
out most all the list, but, so much of the Back Web lite was the same thing
that I saved some trees and stopped the printout.

Here is the info on the Back Web lite according to the SpyBot S&D
description;

company web site; http//www.backweb.com
Product: Back Web lite
Threat: Adaware/Spyware
Functionality:
Installs unknown items and advertisement popups on your system.

There's more, but, those who already have naturally curly hair might not
want to go there. Just for those who may have thought about trying it and
not sure. I've now reinstalled the real ZA program.

Ladyhawk

You must have visited some doozies of web sites in less than 7 hours.

Graeme D

 

[Bill]

Just thought I'd pass on a bit of information on the new EZ trust 1 year
free trail program......here are some of the unexpected guests that took
advantage of it's trusting nature: Back Web lite, BFast, Gator, FastClick,
Commission Junction, etc.....

You didn't get it from EZ. And being as it's not designed to pickup
spyware, you're probably asking a bit much.

 

[Iceman©]

Hi -

Just thought I'd pass on a bit of information on the new EZ trust 1 year
free trail program......here are some of the unexpected guests that took
advantage of it's trusting nature: Back Web lite, BFast, Gator, FastClick,
Commission Junction, etc.....

I have been using ZoneAlarm Free version for the past 6 months, and been
pest free according to SpyBot and AdAware the whole time.

I ran a check with the SpyBot and AdAware before installing the EZ trust
Free 1 year trial version, just to see how well it worked. I found
out....over 127 pests, 87 of which were Back Web lite. How long did it take
to amass this healthy collection? Less than 7 hours from the time I
installed the EZ trust. I timed it, just to monitor the results. I printed
out most all the list, but, so much of the Back Web lite was the same thing
that I saved some trees and stopped the printout.

Here is the info on the Back Web lite according to the SpyBot S&D
description;

company web site; http//www.backweb.com
Product: Back Web lite
Threat: Adaware/Spyware
Functionality:
Installs unknown items and advertisement popups on your system.

There's more, but, those who already have naturally curly hair might not
want to go there. Just for those who may have thought about trying it and
not sure. I've now reinstalled the real ZA program.

Ladyhawk

You still able to use ZA for firewalls just don't install EZ armour but
instead install the antivirus software.

 

[Ladyhawk]

Hi GraemeD -

You must have visited some doozies of web sites in less than 7 hours.

No, GraemeD, actually, I didn't. I only visited a few usual web sites
during that time, those being a couple of my posts on the Computer Cops,
Tomcoyote, Google forum, my Hotmail and Yahoo sites, and a few clipart
sites. But, I noticed that the EXFW was dispalying some activity almost
constantly, with intermittant flittering of the screen...which gave me the
impression that some activity was taking place between the Internet and my
PC. But, I didn't go there until I had reached my predetermined time limit
which I had set for the trial period. Then I ran the SpyBot and AdAware,
with SpyBot running first. That is when I found all the uninvited guests.

I just merely wanted to pass my personal experience along. I'm not an
expert, and I am not here to debate. It is up to others to be their own
judge.

Ladyhawk

 

[Ladyhawk]

Hello Bill -

You didn't get it from EZ. And being as it's not designed to pickup
spyware, you're probably asking a bit much.

Perhaps you are correct...perhaps it is true that I did not get it from
EZ...but, I did get it because of EZ.

The websites that I visited during this time are ones that I visit on a
daily or weekly basis. Of course, you have no personal knowledge of my
activities, thus, there is no way I can confirm, other than to say so.
However, you can simply use whatever you like, and just leave it at that.

Ladyhawk

 

[Bill]

Perhaps you are correct...perhaps it is true that I did not get it from
EZ...but, I did get it because of EZ.

My point is that anti-virus software is not designed to detect or
remove spyware, it's designed to detect and remove viruses.
Although McAfee and Norton products have recently implemented spyware
detection into their most recent offerings, I can't say how effective
they are for that purpose.

Regardless of which anti-virus product you use, you should have a
seperate program specifically for detecting and removing Spyware.
There are a couple of freeware programs that are pretty good, but what
I use is Webroot Spy Sweeper which is a paid program.

Also, Much of the spyware you mentioned has to be installed and in
most every case I've seen prompts you as to whether you want to
install the product or not.

So, you see. EZ had nothing to do with it.

Common sense goes a very long way.

 

[Ladyhawk]

Hi Bob -

SO much for the FREE lunch, huh? Don't you love the way some people just
think they can load up your computer with as much crap as they want to, with
out ask you up front?

Oh well.

Actually, there are some really good free programs available. However, there
are others. All I can say is, I tried it, and this is what I got in return.
Others may try it, and not have the problem, as all OS's and machines are
not alike. I just thought I would let others know that perhaps this might be
something they _could_ experience. It is up to the users to decide for
themselves.

Ladyhawk

 

[Ladyhawk]

Bill -

My point is that anti-virus software is not designed to detect or
remove spyware, it's designed to detect and remove viruses.
Although McAfee and Norton products have recently implemented spyware
detection into their most recent offerings, I can't say how effective
they are for that purpose.

Regardless of which anti-virus product you use, you should have a
seperate program specifically for detecting and removing Spyware.
There are a couple of freeware programs that are pretty good, but what
I use is Webroot Spy Sweeper which is a paid program.

I have SpyBot, Adaware, and I update and run them everyday. I practice safe
hex, I have an AV and update it daily,
As a backup to make sure that my AV is doing is't job, I also run
Housecalls, and F-Prot. Up until I installed EZ trust, my system was clean.
Please explain to me, HOW can I get that many pests in 7 hours after
changing AV and Firewall programs, hen I have been clean for over 4
months???? What...suddenly someone loves me??

Also, Much of the spyware you mentioned has to be installed and in

most every case I've seen prompts you as to whether you want to
install the product or not.

Sorry, but, you see, I _did not_ give anything *permission* to download or
install anyting on my system. I was allowed to install on my machine.

I have nothing to gain or lose by posting my experience with the progarm,
and I did not do so to engage in debates of right or wrong. Since there is
no way to do a controlled test of my computer and how it reacted to the
program(s) for the benefit of argument here, then all this is moot. But, I
do have the printout, and I did not authorize /any/ installations of any
such progarms.

So, you see. EZ had nothing to do with it.

....sez you....

Common sense goes a very long way.

Very true. So...does that mean you're going to put it into play soon...?

Ladyhawk

 

[Bill]

I have SpyBot, Adaware, and I update and run them everyday. I practice safe
hex, I have an AV and update it daily

Spybot allows you to "innoculate" your system against known spyware
programs, so if you have that feature enabled it should offer you some
protection. As for the firewall, well that which comes with EZ is
nothing more than Zone Alarm (the AOL of firewalls). hence, that
*could* be where you fell short.

In any case, it wasn't your anti-virus. It doesn't do spyware.
Expecting it to do so would be like expecting Notepad to protect you
from viruses.

 

[Ladyhawk]

Hello Iceman -

You still able to use ZA for firewalls just don't install EZ armour but
instead install the antivirus software.

In view of the of the number of ..whatever they are....in such a short time,
I decided to delete the entire EZ Armor. Then I reinstalled my previous AV
and ZA. I have been monitoring the system for the past 4 hours since the
change over, and so far, no unwelcome guests. I've run SpyBot, AdAware and
F-Prot every hour since changing back, and I have a clean bill of health
every time again. I did try to install my previous AV, but the EZ firewall
part kept looking for it's counter part, so, I had to axe it too and
reinstall the regular ZA.

Ladyhawk

 

[Ladyhawk]

Hello Roy -

Ladyhawk wrote:


...


THX for the detailed warning, Ladyhawk!

Not sure how much help it may be, but, this is the experience I had while I
had the program on my machine. Some may not have the same experience, but,
at least it is perhaps a bit of a heads up for others.

Ladyhawk

 

[Alastair Smeaton]

In view of the of the number of ..whatever they are....in such a short time,
I decided to delete the entire EZ Armor. Then I reinstalled my previous AV
and ZA. I have been monitoring the system for the past 4 hours since the
change over, and so far, no unwelcome guests. I've run SpyBot, AdAware and
F-Prot every hour since changing back, and I have a clean bill of health
every time again. I did try to install my previous AV, but the EZ firewall
part kept looking for it's counter part, so, I had to axe it too and
reinstall the regular ZA.

Ladyhawk

I think I have seem in another thread elsewhere that the EZ armor does
not always even install the firewall part, especially if you had ZA
installed previously - and it is well documented that uninstalling ZA
involves more than usual for any other programme.

Are you sure it was actually installed ?

Also, most firewalls may be able to prevent spyware intrusions, once
the spyware is installed - but the spyware is still there, and spybot
etc will find it - but the firewall will prevent it communicating with
its servers etc. But... this happens only when you configure it to do
so - I can't think of any that come preconfigured to do this.

Try Kerio 2.15, and visit www.geocities.com/yosponge for a ruleset
which bloc=ks a lot of common spyware

HTH

 

[Ladyhawk]

Bill -

Spybot allows you to "innoculate" your system against known spyware
programs, so if you have that feature enabled it should offer you some
protection. As for the firewall, well that which comes with EZ is
nothing more than Zone Alarm (the AOL of firewalls). hence, that
*could* be where you fell short.

In any case, it wasn't your anti-virus. It doesn't do spyware.
Expecting it to do so would be like expecting Notepad to protect you
from viruses.

But...the deal is, you get both the AV *and* the firewall. This is the free
trial package. I don't really know what to tell you, it just seems that
when I had it installed, nothing was watching the store.

Expecting it to do so would be like expecting Notepad to protect you
from viruses.

No, I don't think it was the AV side of the package. But, while I had this
program loaded and in effect on my computer, something somehow allowed all
these alien guests to get downloaded to my computer without my knowledge, or
authorization. And, that is exactly what happened. How??? Your guess would
be as good as any.

Ladyhawk

 

[Ladyhawk]

Hello Alastair -

I think I have seem in another thread elsewhere that the EZ armor does
not always even install the firewall part, especially if you had ZA
installed previously - and it is well documented that uninstalling ZA
involves more than usual for any other programme.

Are you sure it was actually installed ?

Yes, it was fully installed.

Also, most firewalls may be able to prevent spyware intrusions, once
the spyware is installed - but the spyware is still there, and spybot
etc will find it - but the firewall will prevent it communicating with
its servers etc. But... this happens only when you configure it to do
so - I can't think of any that come preconfigured to do this.

I have used ZA before I installed the EZ Armor, and made sure that all the
configuraitons were set properly.

Try Kerio 2.15, and visit www.geocities.com/yosponge for a ruleset
which bloc=ks a lot of common spyware

But, you see ...my query is, the difference in the large amount of stuff
that I was getting in that short 7 hour period, compared to 1 or 2 before.
How is this to be explained? The only change was, the installation of EZ
Armor.

Ladyhawk

 

[optikl]

But, you see ...my query is, the difference in the large amount of stuff
that I was getting in that short 7 hour period, compared to 1 or 2 before.
How is this to be explained? The only change was, the installation of EZ
Armor.

Ladyhawk

This puzzles me.
1) Are you suggesting that the installation of EZArmor brought with it these
uninvited guests, or that it just somehow facilitated this?
2) That's an incredible number of infectors to pick up in a 7 hour period.
Mind numbing, in fact.
3) Spybot can be configured (I assume you know this) to inoculate your
system against spyware. Was it set up to do that?

 

[Alastair Smeaton]

I have used ZA before I installed the EZ Armor, and made sure that all the
configuraitons were set properly.

Can you give us an example ? For example, the firewall rules by sponge
under kerio are enormous - maybe more than 50 rules to prevent
incoming packets from a wide variety of IP addresses.

It's been a while since I use ZA, but don't remember it being so easy
to set up these rules - did you have this type of rule set up ? Cos if
not, then I don't see how a firewall would help you here.

Also, and possibly the most basic question - if you now know that
sites you visit on a daily or weekly basis, are installing spyware on
your system - why would you continue to visit them ? This is a bit
like being happy to visit known gun killers, then blaming a faulty
bullet-proof vest - do you *have * to visit these sites - maybe give
us an example, and we can try to find "clean" sites as an alternative
?

HTH

 

[Anonymous]

Ladyhawk,

You don't know what your talking about. The firewall in EZtrust is
provided by Zonelabs who are the makers of ZoneAlarm, .i.e they are
one and the same thing.

http://www.my-etrust.com/products/Firewall.cfm

http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/home.jsp


Regards

nemo