P2P Software Could Install Spyware, Adware

There are often concealed packages of viruses, spyware and adware in P2P or Peer-to-peer file sharing software, proved an FTC (Federal Trade Commission) official with evidences before an oversight committee of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Consumers sharing files using P2P programs could put themselves to criminal or civil suits from organizations like the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) charging of violating laws on copyright or pornography. The manner in which P2P distributors label files could catch users unaware with unexpected pornographic contents, said Mary Engle, associate director of the FTC's unit of advertising practices. SCMagazine published this in news on July 25, 2007.

In a certain case involving Odysseus Marketing, FTC has won against the P2P file- sharing distributor. FTC accused Odysseus Marketing, the company that operates Kazanon.com, of enticing customers to install their free spyware and adware claiming that these software would provide consumers P2P file sharing application. The Federal Trade Commission charged the defendant of not disclosing the presence of spyware and adware in the free software. In the end, the defendant, Odysseus Marketing, consented to pay compensation for the damages the software caused and also agreed to stop the malicious downloads.

But even then sometime ago, a few commercial P2P file-sharing programs were present, which on advertising generated income to the company, said Jon Newton, operator of the site P2pnet.net. The programs had adware and spyware included in them. SCMagazine published this in news on July 26, 2007.

Many of these kinds of companies showed notoriety. However, the music industry has shut down 90% of them. Any numbers that still exist are corporate distributors. So while spyware and adware represented problems of previously independent programs, they are now an industry problem.

In order to protect themselves from outcomes of P2P applications, people should carefully and patiently read the documentation provided along with any P2P program before placing it on their PCs. If users come across any malicious software bundled with the program, they should report to sites like StopBadware.org or spyware Warrior, Newton advises consumers. These sites also provide verses and chapters on corrupt software.

Related article: P-I Site’s Advertisements Attacked by Computer Virus

» SPAMfighter News - 8/7/2007