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Rogue Distribution Gets Even More Disgusting

Aug 31, 2005
by

I doubt Bilbo Baggins would have gotten this one right.

Today’s Riddle: Where can you get adware from 180Solutions, Direct Revenue, SurfSideKick, BullsEye Network and ShopAtHome Select with an added bonus prize of a spam zombie and some rogue anti-spyware?

Wal-Mart is the wrong answer

Answer: A security exploit originating at a child porn site.

Personally I think spyware researchers should get hazard pay for having to root out this kind of sick muck…


Suzi Turner of ZDNET Spyware Confidential Blog reports:


… All of the adware was installed without consent or notice. My payload included a keylogger, spam bot, 180search Assistant and a few files from Direct Revenue. Today Sunbeltblog posted about a similar installation encountered by one of their spyware researchers. Adware from 180solutions, Direct Revenue, SurfSidekick, BullsEye Network and ShopAtHomeSelect installed in conjunction with a spam zombie and rogue anti-spyware program, all of which started from a child porn site and were installed through an exploit.

Read more at ZDNET.

Child pornography sites? Maybe I should have went into the compliance consulting business. There is simply no excuse for this.

About Wayne Porter

Wayne Porter is one of the original founders of ReveNews.com, and served as the CEO and founder of XBlock Systems a specialized research firm on greynets and malware research before being acquired by unified communications security leader, Factime Security Labs. His work includes serving as a panlist at the Federal Trade Commission to shape legislation on software and the creation of two patent-pending technologies for corporate networks. Wayne is a frequent speaker at e-commerce & business events including CJU, ASW and RSA and frequently cited in the press. He has been designated a Microsoft Security MVP three times and is recognized on Google’s Responsible Security Disclosure page- in addition to receiving the first Summit Legend Award. Wayne currently works as a Security Consultant on Social Media and operates a consultancy on digital worlds. His hobbies include reading science fiction, playing chess, fishing, writing, collecting shiny digital gadgets, playing racquetball and studying memetic engineering. He maintains a personal weblog at WaynePorter.com detailing his explorations in security, web 2.0, and virtual worlds.
You can follow Wayne on Twitter: @wporter.

Filed under: Adware, Spyware, Greynets, & Internet Fraud + Affiliate Marketing
  • Jim

    What's really interesting are the feedback comments ripping on the reaserchers…Wonder where they came from

  • http://www.revenews.com/wayneporter/archives/000942.html ReveNews: Wayne Port

    180Solutions Responds About Child Porn Distributor

    In a recent entry I touched upon the use of some distributors using child pornography. Ken McGraw, Chief Compliance Officer for 180solutions sent me (and other key researchers) this communication via e-mail….