Is New.Net spyware,adware, etc....?
I mentioned at SpywareInfo forums several weeks ago I was going to conduct another study of new.net (NN). This will be my second. The first was 2 years ago as a back up study of NN conducted by Dick Hazeleger. At that time it was determined NN was not spyware, adware or anything similar. However, several concerns were raised because of bundling with other questionable applications without installation notice being provided, automatic non user controllable updates, and a few other issues. NN responded in a manner which was not completely satisfactory but acceptable and Lavasoft removed NN from it's target list. It was understood NN would be under constant scrutiny until they proved themselves trustworthy.
Now we jump ahead 2 years.....what I have to say is going to likely tick off alot of folks and NN. But I don't care! I'm sick of the stupid flaming arguements back and forth all over the place regarding NN being the worse parasite on earth, NN trashes computers, NN destroyed my Internet connection, NN is worthless, NN datamines, NN installed without my permission, etc, blah, blah, blah, blah.... All of it is a bunch of horse manure. NN falls into none of those categories!!!! Period!!!!!!!
To begin with let me start by indicating I tested NN on 11 computers using w/98, ME, W/2000 pro and XP. I downloaded and installed NN on each computer using both the available version on the NN site and through applications it is bundled with. At no time did NN attempt a drive by install or hijacking so there is the first bull crap story being spread. It never happened anywhere I went. And I went to some nasty places and ended up with a lot of other crap installed but no NN. I tested both NN versions currently available today, 4.50 and 4.80. (The version I received at time of download varied and in some cases 4.50 was available on the NN site even after 4.80 was released. Don't know why. But anyway...
I used the uninstaller after every install (total NN uninstalls were 73 - total NN installs were 89) and never, never had a problem with it being completely removed. Not once. In each case of downloading an application with NN bundled the option of not installing NN was very clearly indicated. It wasn't hidden or hard to decipher. It was as plain as the nose on ones face. Another bull crap story about NN out the door. It doesn't install unless the user agrees. Now folks can nit pick this all they want to but the bottom line is 2 years ago folks asked for this from NN and they got it. Now they want to simply lump NN into spyware/adware because they bundle. What the heck is up with that? Who cares who they bundle with for purposes of targeting? They may be questionable apps but they are downloaded because they are wanted and perfom a function desired by the end user. Folks then have a choice of yes or no on the NN install. If they choose no it does NOT install anyway...unlike spyware or adware that could care less that you say no.
I monitored the entire process of using NN and monitored it during it's automatic update process. At no time did NN do anything at all without being called upon except for update checks. At no time was any personal or computer information transferred to NN that I could see. I use the latest version of Commview to monitor data packets and nothing out of the ordinary showed up.
What does NN do? It makes available alternate domain extensions such as .family , .sport., .inc (the entire list can be found on their site - http://www.new.net/ ) that can only be seen with the NN plugin installed. They offer typical services that any ISP would such as hosting, registration, url forwarding, etc. They just do it with their own extensions not recognized by ICANN thus requiring their plugin. They don't spy.
I also removed NN using Spybot S&D, Ad-aware freeware and Ad-ware Plus on each operating system and with each version of NN. Spybot removed NN cleanly every single time, Ad-aware failed on both versions everytime until it's most recent update. Then it worked on XP but not on w/98. The current AA version and ref file trashed w/98 internet connection. I repeated it several times and the same experience. Lavasoft still can't get the winsock thing right 2 years later.
Lavasoft is now targeting NN either because users requested it (Urizen -Lavasoft developer)
http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/index.p....6&st=40 (that seems like a good reason to target) or because they are datamining from their website (mboston - Lavasoft Admin)....hmmm And I get to pay $$ for those reasons too. But anyway, Lavasoft is another story for another time.
I found nothing to indicate NN is doing anything right now that justifies their being targeted. However, I don't let NN off the hook that easily. They are typical of many corporations and their philosophies these days. Get it while you can, anyway you can, don't worry about what anyone thinks, build your business structure around the outcome, and then work on cleaning up the reputation, then maybe make a profit.
NN started out grasping at an idea, put a half assed plan together, and began developing and distributing their application like many companies did 2-3 years ago...bundled with every hot freeware or shareware application available regardless of their reputation or value. If they could put it on lots of end user computers then it was good enough to be bundled with.
NN was put on the hot seat 2 years ago and have since responded in very positive ways. They probably have one of the best uninstalls I've seen in any commercial application. Nothing is left behind and all is restored to previous condition. This IMO is the direct result of being on the hot seat. They also improved on the application beyond words. Looking at their app 2 years vs today is amazing actually. Their developers are really pretty good and it is no doubt a result of the pressure of being on the hot seat.
However, they really screwed up when they attempted FirstLook. This would have put them legitimately in the adware column had they not backed off under the scrutiny and public pressure. This is what I mean by corporate shananigans. Things have calmed down so lets see if we can get away with it. FirstLook failed and NN successfully added fuel to the already burning fires under their asses. Now they admit it was a major mistake. Typical spin. And they wonder why it is so difficult to gain a good reputation? For what purpose? Financial integrity I'm sure. They have alot invested and need to see positive financial returns. Adware has been seen by the corporate world as a valid method of revenue raising. NN jumped on the bandwagon and got burnt. As they should have IMO .
NN still bundles with trash and questionable applications. In fact a few may have serious legal problems to contend with soon. I find this detestible and again typical of the corporate thinking. I aslo don't like the fact NN does NOT give the choice regarding updates. This is something that should not be difficult to address if they really do care about their reputation. I see absolutely no justification in not providing an option to update or not with update details. It should not be automatic. This may actually explain the strange event of different version downloads. NN may actually release an update for a short period, remove the updated version, monitor for any bugs, and then release again. A beta test at the users expense...if so really not good either. Or it may be to control bandwidth usage. Who knows for certain...only NN can answer that one...and I would like it answered without any spin too. Only the facts.
Personally I think NN being targeted as spyware/adware, etc is garbage. I also think the rants and flames against Leonard and NN are unjustified. Leornard has done something I've seen very few developers do. He lives in nearly every major forum on the net providing assistance on how to properly remove NN or to help fix problems from third party NN removals that don't work properly. He has never once told people not to remove it or try to justify using it. He simply helps. He then suffers personal abuse many times at the hands folks that really have no clue what they are talking about. Doesn't make any sense and really doesn't weigh in good for an industry (Spyware-Adware removal industry I'm talking about) trying prove it's worth and value IMO .
NN still has some things I'm concerned about, ie, automatic updating, future direction and plans, and bundling with so many crappy applications. To be honest I still don't trust them 100% and have concerns. But I don't see any justification for NN being a target. Especially not if the same targeting critieria is used across the board.
I have a complete report available which I may or may not publish. That is an issue I haven't decided yet. Some legal components weigh in on the decision as well as whether or not it really matters. Because in the current climate surrounding NN facts don't seem to matter....only what folks want to believe.
I've ranted enough now.
edited by Eagle1:
At this time I will make certain portions of the reports available under certain conditions and for legitimate comparison purposes. But certainly not to turn this into a support NN or trash NN fiasco. Another reason I'm hesitant to release the full report at this time.
E-mail me at webmaster@net-integration.net if a legitimate reason for the report, or particular portions, are needed.
SOURCE:
FEBRUARY 13, 2003
CRAIG A.T. RASHAD
http://forums.net-integration.net/index.php?showtopic=358&hl=
http://www.net-integration.net/
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