V
Virus Guy
There's a free-ware/share-ware app that I wanted to try out, but during
the installation process it's throwing up a screen saying that it
contains (or wants to install) something called "RelevantKnowledge".
Specifically, it's saying this:
--------------
In order to provide this free download, RelevantKnowlege software,
provided by TMRG, a comscore company, is included in this download.
This software allows millions of participants in an online market
research community to voice their opinions by allowing their online
browsing and purchasing behavior to be monitored, collected, agregates,
and once anonymized, used to generate market reports which our clients
use to understand internet trends and patterns and other market research
purposes. The information which is monitored and collected includes
internet usage information, basic demographic information, certain
hardware, software, computer configuration and application usage
information about the computer on which you install RelevantKnowlege.
We may use the information that we monitor, such as name and address, to
better understand your household demographics. For more details on how
the monitored information is used, please click here:
http://www.relevantknowledge.com/usage.aspx
--------------
I notice that my HOSTS file already contains entries for comscore and
relevantknowledge, so it's questionable just how operational this
monitoring functionality would be.
Based on some internet searches, it seems that RelevantKnowledge is
widely regarded as spyware (as the above paragraph indicates) but I'm
not sure if it qualifies as malware.
My only choice to continue with the software installation is to accept
the above terms.
Naturally if I did, I would immediately surgically remove
RelevantKnowledge from my system, but I don't know if that would
cripple or break the app that I want to run.
Has anyone dealt with this before?
The shareware app in question is this:
Advanced Audio Converter 2.0.0.0
http://www.download3000.com/download-advanced-audio-converter-count-reg-12546.html
the installation process it's throwing up a screen saying that it
contains (or wants to install) something called "RelevantKnowledge".
Specifically, it's saying this:
--------------
In order to provide this free download, RelevantKnowlege software,
provided by TMRG, a comscore company, is included in this download.
This software allows millions of participants in an online market
research community to voice their opinions by allowing their online
browsing and purchasing behavior to be monitored, collected, agregates,
and once anonymized, used to generate market reports which our clients
use to understand internet trends and patterns and other market research
purposes. The information which is monitored and collected includes
internet usage information, basic demographic information, certain
hardware, software, computer configuration and application usage
information about the computer on which you install RelevantKnowlege.
We may use the information that we monitor, such as name and address, to
better understand your household demographics. For more details on how
the monitored information is used, please click here:
http://www.relevantknowledge.com/usage.aspx
--------------
I notice that my HOSTS file already contains entries for comscore and
relevantknowledge, so it's questionable just how operational this
monitoring functionality would be.
Based on some internet searches, it seems that RelevantKnowledge is
widely regarded as spyware (as the above paragraph indicates) but I'm
not sure if it qualifies as malware.
My only choice to continue with the software installation is to accept
the above terms.
Naturally if I did, I would immediately surgically remove
RelevantKnowledge from my system, but I don't know if that would
cripple or break the app that I want to run.
Has anyone dealt with this before?
The shareware app in question is this:
Advanced Audio Converter 2.0.0.0
http://www.download3000.com/download-advanced-audio-converter-count-reg-12546.html