fermentor666 Posted May 18, 2006 Share Posted May 18, 2006 Ok, my computer has been acting funny lately and I've been combing over things to pinpoint any problems. Aside from a Java trojan, not much has come up. I did a scan with this website program called Housecall by TrendMicro that works well and is free. Something came up that was labeled AWS or something, and it was unnamed so I did a search for it. A while later, I started learning about Viewpoint Media Player. This is secretly installed with several programs, the biggest infiltration is with AIM. With AIM, the program is not only installed secretly, but upon removal it is automatically re-installed, EACH TIME YOU OPEN AIM What does it do? Well, it used to just look for updates and hijack your browser with pop-ups, along with allowing AIM to do those video ads. As of this year, they have begun something much more devious: TRACKING AND COLLECTING YOUR EVERY MOVE ON THIS INTERNET AND DOING SO WITH PRIDE, CLAIMING IT IS IN YOUR BEST INTEREST. - http://www.clickz.com/news/article.php/3561546 This means that it is using not only your internet connection, but a heavy amount of resources on your PC. If you are experiencing any sort of slowdowns on your computer (not just the internet), this might be why. They claim to have 120 million "customers", so there is a very good chance that it is installed on your computer. Here's a bit from their "privacy statement": "Our clients are wide-ranging, from online retailers to auto manufacturers to online advertisers. For example, Sony uses Viewpoint to display complex features of its notebook, desktop, and server computing products. Toyota, Ford, and other car manufacturers use the Viewpoint player to highlight capabilities that are difficult to promote in a showroom or on a test drive. Many other product and service companies, most notably AOL, Coke, M&Ms, Sega, and Visa use Viewpoint for high-impact rich media advertising on a variety of popular web sites. The Viewpoint Media Player comes bundled with AOL, AIM, Adobe products and most retail computers sold today." THIS PROGRAM DOES NOT SHOW UP ON A VAST MAJORITY OF SPYWARE DETECTION PROGRAMS AND WEBSITES, INCLUDING: PestPatrol (Computer Associates) Norton Mcafee Hijackthis liutilities -----> Ad-aware <---------- System Info Computer Cops Webroot Spysweeper Microsoft Anti-Spyware Spybot Search & Destroy This is probably because either Viewpoint has paid these guys off, or they have found a loophole where you automatically sign their agreement when you install AIM. Also, they have only just recently started their tracking and collection, so the spyware detectors might still be playing catch-up. If you open your Control Panel, you will most likely find Viewpoint has installed an icon even in there, as if it were an essential component. Here's a way to remove it: ViewPoint Media Player manual removal: Uninstall Viewpoint Media Player from 'Add/Remove Programs'. Make sure you close any programs that might use this and also check your taskmanager (ctrl+alt+delete) for the "viewmngr.exe" process, or anything else with it's name. If you see it, close it, because if you try to remove the program, it will not fully do so when it is open. CLOSE AIM, FOR SURE. Misc: These Related files needs to be deleted if you want to remove viewpoint: AxMetaStream.dll, ComponentMgr.dll, MetaStreamID.ini, MtsAxInstaller.exe, npViewpoint.dll, npViewpoint.xpt, JpegReader.dll, Mts3Reader.dll, SceneComponent.dll, SreeDMMX.dll, SWFView.dll, WaveletReader.dll BEFORE YOU READ ANY OF THE SITES BELOW, READ THIS ONE: http://www.clickz.com/news/article.php/3561546 YOU WILL SEE THE PRESS RELEASE REGARDING VIEWPOINT'S BLATENT DESTRUCTION OF YOUR PRIVACY. THIS IS VERY RECENT AND KEEP IT IN MIND WHENEVER YOU READ ANYTHING ABOUT THEM NOT BEING SPYWARE. Here are some links to help you: Removal: http://www.2-spyware.com/remove-viewpoint-media-player.html - This site lists it as being "legitimate", obviously they have been comprimised, but still tell you how to get rid of it. You should also read the comments, because they go much further into the illegality and the removal. http://www.download.com/ViewpointKiller/3000-2092_4-10492072.html - A "Viewpoint Killer", I have not tried this, but will after I begin the removal process. Explanations: Recent (March), guy also offers a hidden way to stop AIM from re-installing it, and a pathetic excuse for a man named "Michael Tzez" defends Viewpoint: http://edeldoug.blogs.com/thoughts_rants_raves_and_/2006/03/aols_forced_ins.html#comments A very recent Slashdot discussion: http://ask.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/05/05/026202&from=rss http://ask-leo.com/is_viewpoint_spyware.html - A guy named "Leo" explains some things, plus more of Michael Tzez's ranting, the guy is becoming a well-known name for those who try and speak out against Viewpoint. For more information, simply search for "Viewpoint", "Viewpoint spyware", "Viewpoint removal", etc on Google. Viewpoint has more users than Realplayer and nearly all of them never even knew they had installed it. Think about that and then go and rid yourself of this plague. They claim they are not spyware and campaign that statement, but they are lying and you should not be fooled. Please spread this information. The more people that know, the sooner this will end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fermentor666 Posted May 18, 2006 Author Share Posted May 18, 2006 I'm going to go disconnect my computer from the internet, close all my programs, and destroy all traces of this spyware. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feel Good Lost Posted May 18, 2006 Share Posted May 18, 2006 One of the many reasons I'm happy to own a Mac. I read an interesting article in the Globe about how spyware companies need to clean up their act in the near future or risk prosecution / pay money damages. It really is fucking insane how far they have gone to fuck with personal users. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hayabusa Posted May 18, 2006 Share Posted May 18, 2006 thank god i dont have it id prolly be in jail right now im a pirate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GLIK$ Posted May 18, 2006 Share Posted May 18, 2006 is this the shit that comes with the newer versions of AIM? Thats why I always stuck with 5.5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fondles Posted May 18, 2006 Share Posted May 18, 2006 I had it, just removed it. Thanks for the tip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trackstand Posted May 18, 2006 Share Posted May 18, 2006 Fuck that... I got AIM 4.8 still on my PC. Soon enough will I be getting a new laptop running OS 10 and I won't need to worry about the bullshit that comes along with running windows. I'm sick of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainter Posted May 18, 2006 Share Posted May 18, 2006 yet another example..................misteraven Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainter Posted May 18, 2006 Share Posted May 18, 2006 you do not need to have AIM installed on your computer you can use multiple various other instant messenger clients like Gaim, Miranda, Trillian, Jabber that do not have viewpoint in them viewpoint is on a mac so that would not matter anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainter Posted May 18, 2006 Share Posted May 18, 2006 oh might i also add it only tracks users that use IE, and netscape no matter how many times casek and i tell you GET FIREFOX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
!@#$% Posted May 18, 2006 Share Posted May 18, 2006 AIM? whats AIM? ha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Jefe Uno Posted May 18, 2006 Share Posted May 18, 2006 yep, there it is in my process list atleast i use firefox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gat Bush Posted May 18, 2006 Share Posted May 18, 2006 thanks for the info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WrIot Posted May 18, 2006 Share Posted May 18, 2006 I had it' date=' just removed it. Thanks for the tip.[/quote'] same here. as soon as i saw the name im like "What the FUCK does this "program" do anyway" *DELETE* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fermentor666 Posted May 19, 2006 Author Share Posted May 19, 2006 is this the shit that comes with the newer versions of AIM? Thats why I always stuck with 5.5 Older versions, too. Apparently, I've had it on my computer since at least 2003. According to the 2002 article I posted, Viewpoint had a 57% hold on North American internet users at that point, and they were mainly bundled with AIM and AOL. I would recommend GAIM or Trillian, in it's place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fermentor666 Posted May 19, 2006 Author Share Posted May 19, 2006 viewpoint is on a mac so that would not matter anyway This is wrong. As far as I know, Viewpoint is not a Macintosh issue. It affects PC users. They may have put out a Mac version, but I doubt it. Apple is a lot more vigilant about these secretly installed programs that come with official, mass-used programs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fermentor666 Posted May 19, 2006 Author Share Posted May 19, 2006 oh might i also add it only tracks users that use IE' date=' and netscape no matter how many times casek and i tell you GET FIREFOX[/quote'] This is not true. The pop-ups it creates might not show up in Firefox, but the viewmgr.exe process is collecting your tracks, no doubt. It could be very capable of tracking IP movement with Firefox, since Firefox is just a GUI. Even with the remote possiblity that it does not, it is still active on your computer upon start-up. It used to just connect with the servers more than a few times a day to check for updates, now it is uploading your movements, all into an unique ID number they mark you with. It also takes up precious CPU and memory resources, so just having Firefox will not protect you. And, they are supposedly bundling their spyware with other major software, so you are not exactly safe by avoiding just AIM. I forgot to post this article from 2002 that I referenced. It states that Viewpoint was installed with AOL 7.0, Netscape 7.0, and AIM 5.0. And in 2002, the foothold they had was 55.7%, not 57%. Sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guerillaeye Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 what about Trillian??? its not "aim".. but you can use your aim screen name... whatchu know? ***i just saw that you recomend trillian... but using aim via trillian.. does that pull viewpoint??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fermentor666 Posted May 19, 2006 Author Share Posted May 19, 2006 No. With Trillian you are simply using the AOL network. AIM is a GUI for this network and it was and is the official and core program for the AOL messaging network. But by using GAIM or Trillian you are just accessing the network, not the product. I read a couply of snippets about GAIM having Viewpoint installed, but I don't think that is true. The main danger is having the AIM product itself, Viewpoint will install automatically and secretly with this, and it will re-install itself every time you open AIM if it is removed. But don't worry about using 3rd-party products. I would check the terms and privacy contract to be sure, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fermentor666 Posted May 19, 2006 Author Share Posted May 19, 2006 I forgot to post this article from 2002 that I referenced. It states that Viewpoint was installed with AOL 7.0, Netscape 7.0, and AIM 5.0. And in 2002, the foothold they had was 55.7%, not 57%. Sorry. Whoops, again! http://www.pluginz.com/news/158 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willy.wonka Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 omg... they know my favorite porno site !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willy.wonka Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 nah, thanks for the info... im get on this later on tonight.. before i get up on dota for frozen throne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Man with the Answers Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 removed that shit...it tried to reinstall too, but i blocked it...I'll delete those other .dll files later Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainter Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 This is wrong. As far as I know' date=' Viewpoint is not a Macintosh issue. It affects PC users. They may have put out a Mac version, but I doubt it. Apple is a lot more vigilant about these secretly installed programs that come with official, mass-used programs.[/quote'] http://www.viewpoint.com/create/e4emac.html here is your proof This is not true. The pop-ups it creates might not show up in Firefox' date=' but the viewmgr.exe process is collecting your tracks, no doubt. It could be very capable of tracking IP movement with Firefox, since Firefox is just a GUI. Even with the remote possiblity that it does not, it is still active on your computer upon start-up. It used to just connect with the servers more than a few times a day to check for updates, now it is uploading your movements, all into an unique ID number they mark you with. It also takes up precious CPU and memory resources, so just having Firefox will not protect you. And, they are supposedly bundling their spyware with other major software, so you are not exactly safe by avoiding just AIM. [/quote'] firefox is not just a GUI it is its own code, made different than IE so its harder for viewpoint to track your activities (not saying they do not track its just harder to)FIREFOX DOES NOT USE ACTIVE X ViewPoint is a high performance ActiveX/COM DLL that allows developers to query/watch a machines network information. Available data includes TCP/UDP connections, interface cards, route tables, TCP, UDP, ICMP, and IP stats and counters, and more. and if you use Tor or Onion routers you are even more safe ViewPoint runs on these Windows Microsoft Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows NT 4.x, or Windows XP Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.x or later, Netscape Navigator 7.x, AOL version 7 or later, CompuServe 7 256 color display (24-bit recommended) 56 Kbps modem or higher 5 MB available hard-disk space 64 MB RAM Pentium II 300 MHz Processor or faster Macintosh Apple Macintosh Jaguar™ 10.2 or later Safari 1.1 or Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.2 256 color display (millions of colors recommended) 56 Kbps modem or higher 5 MB available hard-disk space 256 MB RAM PowerPC G3 or faster Macs are not sae anymore like its always been said macs were sitting in the shadows and never got noticed (well sense the light is casting on them and now they are getting hit are they not? no disrespect I do this for a living I know pretty much what the hell I am talking about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fermentor666 Posted May 19, 2006 Author Share Posted May 19, 2006 Who the hell said that? I didn't say that. No offense, but you aren't the only one who does that for a living. And the way you said that Viewpoint is on a Mac makes it seem like you're saying it's only on the Mac, which is why I took issue with your statement. And people really need to stop this thinking that Firefox or GAIM or Trillian will never be comprimised, because if they haven't yet then at some point they will. The reason you make a living running safe networks is because there are people out there that will always break them. The problem is that now, huge corporations are doing it legally, or at least without reprimand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HardyHarHar Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 "I recently received email from a marketing representative at Viewpoint pointing out that "Viewpoint has a clean bill of health from liutilities, hijackthis, Pestpatrol, Adaware, System Info, Computer Cops, Webroot Spysweeper, Microsoft Anti-Spyware Beta, and more...", and directing me to their FAQ." (sic) Very neat and tidy. Of course it's not spyware if you line the coffers of the companies who decide who is and who isn't spyware. Not to say that that is what is going on, but it very well could be. from, http://ask-leo.com/is_viewpoint_spyware.html - A guy named "Leo" explains some things, plus more of Michael Tzez's ranting, the guy is becoming a well-known name for those who try and speak out against Viewpoint. [edit for flip floppery] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainter Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 oh just an update hijackthis does report viewpoint in there log as spyware now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fermentor666 Posted May 19, 2006 Author Share Posted May 19, 2006 ^^^ That's good news! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler Durden Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 One of the many reasons I'm happy to own a Mac. Damn straight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villain Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 I had that shit. I'm usually pretty good about this security shit. I'm going to linux. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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