Tech Watch | InfoWorld Staff » Adware hits AOL instant messenger

February 11, 2004 | Comments: (0)

Adware hits AOL instant messenger

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My colleague, Paul Roberts at IDG News Service has posted a story about the blog I wrote earlier about a possible virus affecting AOL IM. Paul's story.

So it is not a security threat, but really an annoyance. Just don't download any Osama games today. Do work instead. ;)

Here is the story. Some marketing company has devised a program that you must download from its site to play the said game. When you download it, you are asked to agree to conditions. One of the conditions states something to the effect that you agree to let the program send a link to those on your AOL Buddy List. Brilliant, huh?

Here is the condition: Services; Modifications to Your Instant Messaging Client. The Software provides you the opportunity to access Content for no charge. In return for the right to access this Content, you acknowledge and agree that the Software contains additional software products provided to PSD Tools by its suppliers which will periodically deliver additional Content such as, but not limited to, advertisements and promotional messages to your Computer and programs that may alter your home page to offer you Content. In addition, the Software will interoperate with your current instant messaging client so as to permit the automatic sending of advertising messages originating from your Computer to your contact or "buddy" list regarding Content offered by PSD Tools or its suppliers. If you desire to stop this activity, you may elect to stop the messages by navigating to the "buddylinks.net" entry in your "Start Menu," selecting the "buddylinks.net Configuration" item, and unchecking the appropriate option. You may also refer to PSD Tools' Web site at http://www.psdtools.com for an uninstaller.

To add some color, expect to see more adware over instant messaging. According to Rahul Abhyankar, director of product management at FaceTime, this adware incident only appears to send out one message to the contact list, as agreed upon in the terms that precede the launch of the program.

Craig Scmugar at McAfee Avert explained this is not the first known 'viral marketing' program. He said FreindGreeting appeared last October via email, but this adware is the first to be spread initially over instant messaging.

Scmugar did not rule out that someday unsuspecting users would receive a link that would install a more malicious program in the background that exploits known flaws in browsers or maybe even unknown flaws in instant messaging.

As a plug for us, our Feb. 23 issue will look more closely at IM products designed specifically for the enterprise.

Posted by Scott Tyler Shafer on February 11, 2004 12:06 PM

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