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Groups > comp.sys.mac.system > #102337

Re: Mac Malware

From Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com>
Newsgroups comp.sys.mac.system
Subject Re: Mac Malware
Date 2017-03-15 00:14 +0000
Organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Pirates
Message-ID <eirfbhFkt2uU2@mid.individual.net> (permalink)
References (5 earlier) <1n2tehq.15tobgy1fghra5N%dcohenspam@talktalk.net> <eiqg0lFf0hbU1@mid.individual.net> <oa9p7j$tgv$1@news.albasani.net> <eir87rFjubnU1@mid.individual.net> <oa9r8a$tin$1@news.albasani.net>

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On 2017-03-14, gtr <xxx@yyy.zzz> wrote:
> On 2017-03-14 22:13:15 +0000, Jolly Roger said:
>> gtr <xxx@yyy.zzz> wrote:
>>> On 2017-03-14 15:19:49 +0000, Jolly Roger said:
>>> 
>>>> Yep, I'm sure of it. They are NOT to be trusted.
>>> 
>>> I've used them for about four years and have had no problems with
>>> adware.
>> 
>> You are a paying customer, right?
>
> No.  At some point in the past I was a subscriber, I believe.

Subscriber? Meaning you paid them money? What makes you think they
couldn't have purposefully give paying customers ad-free isntallers
while giving non-paying visitors adware-infested installers?

> Since then I have only used the app occasionally to see what needed
> updating.i

My point was you *paid* for MacUpdate Desktop - it's *not* free.

BTW, I don't suppose you ever saw an ad for MacKeeper (a well-known Mac
malware trojan) while using MacUpdate Desktop? Others surely have:

<https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7198413>

Others have noticed that MacUpdate actually omitted adware from paying
customer downloads:

"Update (Nov. 3, 2015): It turns out that this is now a “feature” of
MacUpdate. If you are a paid member of MacUpdate and are logged in, you
won’t see the adware installers. If you are not logged in, you will see
them. This is evidently configurable in the profile preferences on a
paid MacUpdate account, though not having such an account, I can’t
provide specifics."

<https://blog.malwarebytes.com/cybercrime/2015/11/has-macupdate-fallen-to-the-adware-plague/>

> They have recently changed their modus operandi and are now charging
> $20/6 mo. for their service.

Too little, too late, IMO. Fucking their visitors by bundling adware in
installers downloaded from their web site, and pushing malware like
MacKeeper on their paying customer, means they *cannot* and *will* not
be trusted by me. They've burned themselves for eternity in my eyes. 

>> IIRC, they don't foist adware installers on their paying customers
>> (oh, how gracious of them to extort money just for ad-free
>> installers! Praise be!).
>> 
>>> A couple of years ago they were messing up some downloads though,
>>> leaving the program inoperable.
 
"I’ve also been told that the MacUpdate Desktop app will download the
real app rather than the adware installer, though I’m unclear as to
whether that only applies to a paid copy of MacUpdate Desktop."

<https://blog.malwarebytes.com/cybercrime/2015/11/has-macupdate-fallen-to-the-adware-plague/>

>> They are still bundling adware in their downloaded installers:
>> 
>> <https://blog.malwarebytes.com/cybercrime/2015/11/has-macupdate-fallen-to-the-adware-plague/> 
>> 
>> 
>> <http://mjtsai.com/blog/2015/11/04/macupdate-adware-installers/>
>
> I searched for "adware" at the MacUpdate support page and instructions
> on this Yahoo installer was the only information I got.

That's not proof that they don't bundle adware with installers
downloaded from their website; rather it's proof that their support
department was likely so inundated by calls for help and complaints by
visitors about them bundling Yahoo adware in their installers that they
decided to create a support page for it.

I've actually downloaded adware-infested installers from MacUpdate. I
saw, with my own two eyes, the adware they had purposely bundled with
their installer. They took the time to create their own "MacUpdate
Installer" containing the original software developer's installer
package and adding adware installer packages to it. So I know it's not a
grand conspiracy - it happened.  And as soon as I saw that, they
permanently lost my respect.

> Perhaps their complicity in this download is to be considered.

Which download would that be? It's interesting they don't bother to
mention which downloaded installers contain the Yahoo search assist
adware they foisted on their unsuspecting victims. Wonder why they'd
omit that important detail... ; )

>>> For this reason I started using their system only to *find out*
>>> which of my apps needed updating, and then updating them myself.
>> 
>> The only way I recommend using macupdate or any other software
>> tracking site is to use it strictly as a reference and go directly to
>> the source to actually download the software.
>> 
>>> They managed to correct that issue and so for about two years I've
>>> let them do the updating of apps directly.

So you trust them even though they have a proven track record of
unscrupulous behavior, and as soon as they decide to bundle adware in an
installer you download from them, you're toast. Sucker. ; )
 
>> Yep - paying customer. MacUpdate Desktop isn't free last I checked,
>> right?'
>
> Not any more, no.  They ended it only a week or so ago.
>
>>> Again no issues.
>> 
>> You'll need to try it without being logged in and after deleting all
>> of their cookies to see the adware infested installers. And you'd
>> have to download them directly from the web site rather than through
>> MacUpdate Desktop.
>
> It's very rare that I would go to MacUpdate's page directly to
> download an update for a program; I tend to go to the software
> company's page directly.

You said above you also use their MacUpdate Desktop app to download
updates. Where do you think those come from - some website *other* than
MacUpdate?  : )

> I always appreciate your recommendations, and certainly give them
> great credibility. But it does make me wonder how MacUpdate could have
> financial arrangements with so many significant software companies
> with their "bundleware" discounts if they produced adware
> installations.

The adware installers weren't used for every single piece of software.
From what I've read, it was mainly for popular titles. And for all we
know, they excluded adware from installers for software developers who
participated in MacUpdate Bundle promotions, just like they did for
paying customers.

-- 
E-mail sent to this address may be devoured by my ravenous SPAM filter.
I often ignore posts from Google. Use a real news client instead.

JR

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Thread

Mac Malware "David B." <DavidB@nomail.afraid.invalid> - 2017-03-08 08:44 +0000
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  Re: Mac Malware Krzysztof Mitko <invalid@kmitko.at.list.dot.pl> - 2017-03-08 10:38 +0100
  Re: Mac Malware Tim Streater <timstreater@greenbee.net> - 2017-03-08 09:39 +0000
    Re: Mac Malware "David B." <DavidB@nomail.afraid.invalid> - 2017-03-10 16:33 +0000
  Re: Mac Malware Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2017-03-08 15:07 +0000
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      Re: Mac Malware nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-03-10 11:44 -0500
      Re: Mac Malware Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2017-03-10 16:45 +0000
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            Re: Mac Malware Alan Browne <alan.browne@freelunchvideotron.ca> - 2017-03-11 11:53 -0500
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        Re: Mac Malware nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-03-10 13:45 -0500
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            Re: Mac Malware Alan Browne <alan.browne@freelunchvideotron.ca> - 2017-03-11 13:41 -0500
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                Re: Mac Malware FPP <fredp151@gmail.com> - 2017-03-13 07:22 -0400
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                Re: Mac Malware nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-03-15 09:59 -0400
                Re: Mac Malware FPP <fredp151@gmail.com> - 2017-03-16 06:04 -0400
                Re: Mac Malware Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2017-03-16 14:46 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-03-16 10:55 -0400
                Re: Mac Malware Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2017-03-15 15:45 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware FPP <fredp151@gmail.com> - 2017-03-16 06:09 -0400
                Re: Mac Malware Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2017-03-16 14:48 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-03-16 10:55 -0400
                Re: Mac Malware nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-03-13 11:50 -0400
                Re: Mac Malware Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2017-03-12 22:25 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware FPP <fredp151@gmail.com> - 2017-03-13 07:26 -0400
                Re: Mac Malware Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> - 2017-03-13 14:06 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2017-03-13 14:45 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware FPP <fredp151@gmail.com> - 2017-03-15 03:38 -0400
                Re: Mac Malware Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2017-03-15 15:47 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware Savageduck <savageduck1@{REMOVESPAM}me.com> - 2017-03-15 10:18 -0700
                Re: Mac Malware nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-03-15 13:21 -0400
                Re: Mac Malware FPP <fredp151@gmail.com> - 2017-03-16 06:13 -0400
                Re: Mac Malware Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> - 2017-03-17 04:07 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2017-03-15 17:25 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware FPP <fredp151@gmail.com> - 2017-03-16 06:11 -0400
                Re: Mac Malware nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-03-16 10:55 -0400
                Re: Mac Malware FPP <fredp151@gmail.com> - 2017-03-17 07:14 -0400
                Re: Mac Malware Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> - 2017-03-18 14:49 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware "David B." <DavidB@nomail.afraid.invalid> - 2017-03-13 15:22 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware "David B." <DavidB@nomail.afraid.invalid> - 2017-03-13 15:35 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-03-13 11:50 -0400
                Re: Mac Malware FPP <fredp151@gmail.com> - 2017-03-15 03:40 -0400
                Re: Mac Malware YK <xxxxx@dialme.com> - 2017-04-03 12:19 -0400
          Re: Mac Malware Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2017-03-10 14:14 -0700
            Re: Mac Malware nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-03-10 16:53 -0500
              Re: Mac Malware Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2017-03-11 09:04 -0700
                Re: Mac Malware Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2017-03-11 16:26 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2017-03-11 17:24 -0700
                Re: Mac Malware nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-03-11 12:54 -0500
                Re: Mac Malware Davoud <star@sky.net> - 2017-03-11 17:01 -0500
                Re: Mac Malware Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2017-03-11 17:21 -0700
                Re: Mac Malware Davoud <star@sky.net> - 2017-03-11 23:23 -0500
                Re: Mac Malware Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2017-03-12 04:23 -0600
        Re: Mac Malware Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2017-03-10 19:25 +0000
          Re: Mac Malware Ken Springer <wordworks@greeleynet.com> - 2017-03-10 14:04 -0700
        Re: Mac Malware Doc O'Leary  <droleary@2015usenet1.subsume.com> - 2017-03-10 23:24 +0000
          Re: Mac Malware dorayme <do_ray_me@bigpond.com> - 2017-03-11 13:35 +1100
        Re: Mac Malware Don Bruder <Don@sonic.net> - 2017-03-10 19:07 -0800
          Re: Mac Malware nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-03-10 22:11 -0500
          Re: Mac Malware Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2017-03-11 08:14 +0000
          Re: Mac Malware Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> - 2017-03-11 11:27 +0000
          Re: Mac Malware Tim McNamara <timmcn@bitstream.net> - 2017-03-11 12:13 -0600
            Re: Mac Malware Don Bruder <Don@sonic.net> - 2017-03-11 18:16 -0800
            Re: Mac Malware befr@eaglesoft.de (Bernd Fröhlich) - 2017-03-13 09:42 +0100
        Re: Mac Malware Alan Browne <alan.browne@freelunchvideotron.ca> - 2017-03-11 11:38 -0500
      Re: Mac Malware Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> - 2017-03-11 11:03 +0000
        Re: Mac Malware "David B." <DavidB@nomail.afraid.invalid> - 2017-03-11 11:46 +0000
          Re: Mac Malware Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> - 2017-03-11 13:55 +0000
          Re: Mac Malware Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2017-03-11 14:17 +0000
            Re: Mac Malware "David B." <DavidB@nomail.afraid.invalid> - 2017-03-12 08:51 +0000
          Re: Mac Malware Doc O'Leary  <droleary@2015usenet1.subsume.com> - 2017-03-11 17:58 +0000
            Re: Mac Malware Tim Streater <timstreater@greenbee.net> - 2017-03-11 18:10 +0000
              Re: Mac Malware Doc O'Leary  <droleary@2015usenet1.subsume.com> - 2017-03-12 14:36 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware Davoud <star@sky.net> - 2017-03-12 11:34 -0400
                Re: Mac Malware Doc O'Leary  <droleary@2015usenet1.subsume.com> - 2017-03-13 22:46 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware Davoud <star@sky.net> - 2017-03-16 13:27 -0400
                Re: Mac Malware Doc O'Leary  <droleary@2017usenet1.subsume.com> - 2017-03-16 19:46 +0000
        Re: Mac Malware John Albert <j.albert@snet.net> - 2017-03-11 23:14 -0500
          Re: Mac Malware nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-03-11 23:31 -0500
            Re: Mac Malware John Albert <j.albert@snet.net> - 2017-03-12 23:18 -0400
              Re: Mac Malware nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-03-12 23:20 -0400
          Re: Mac Malware Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2017-03-12 14:16 +0000
            Re: Mac Malware dcohenspam@talktalk.net (Daniel Cohen) - 2017-03-14 09:48 +0000
              Re: Mac Malware dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson) - 2017-03-15 01:21 +1300
              Re: Mac Malware Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2017-03-14 15:19 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware gtr <xxx@yyy.zzz> - 2017-03-14 15:01 -0700
                Re: Mac Malware Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2017-03-14 22:13 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware gtr <xxx@yyy.zzz> - 2017-03-14 15:35 -0700
                Re: Mac Malware gtr <xxx@yyy.zzz> - 2017-03-14 15:45 -0700
                Re: Mac Malware Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2017-03-15 00:16 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware gtr <xxx@yyy.zzz> - 2017-03-15 10:55 -0700
                Re: Mac Malware Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2017-03-15 00:14 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware gtr <xxx@yyy.zzz> - 2017-03-15 10:54 -0700
              Re: Mac Malware FPP <fredp151@gmail.com> - 2017-03-15 03:43 -0400
          Re: Mac Malware Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> - 2017-03-12 16:14 +0000
            Re: Mac Malware Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2017-03-12 16:34 +0000
              Re: Mac Malware Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> - 2017-03-12 20:33 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2017-03-12 22:26 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware FPP <fredp151@gmail.com> - 2017-03-13 07:31 -0400
                Re: Mac Malware dcohenspam@talktalk.net (Daniel Cohen) - 2017-03-15 08:31 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-03-15 09:59 -0400
                Re: Mac Malware dcohenspam@talktalk.net (Daniel Cohen) - 2017-03-16 08:59 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-03-16 10:55 -0400
                Re: Mac Malware dcohenspam@talktalk.net (Daniel Cohen) - 2017-03-16 22:08 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-03-16 18:48 -0400
                Re: Mac Malware dcohenspam@talktalk.net (Daniel Cohen) - 2017-03-21 18:57 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2017-03-15 15:00 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware dcohenspam@talktalk.net (Daniel Cohen) - 2017-03-16 08:59 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2017-03-16 14:16 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware dcohenspam@talktalk.net (Daniel Cohen) - 2017-03-16 22:08 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-03-16 18:48 -0400
                Re: Mac Malware Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2017-03-16 23:33 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2017-03-16 23:33 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson) - 2017-03-17 13:56 +1300
                Re: Mac Malware Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2017-03-17 16:01 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson) - 2017-03-18 10:17 +1300
                Re: Mac Malware Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2017-03-17 21:53 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> - 2017-03-18 14:46 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson) - 2017-03-19 10:48 +1300
                Re: Mac Malware Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> - 2017-03-18 14:23 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-03-18 11:17 -0400
                Re: Mac Malware Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> - 2017-03-19 16:44 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware befr@eaglesoft.de (Bernd Fröhlich) - 2017-03-20 11:02 +0100
                Re: Mac Malware Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> - 2017-03-17 04:01 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2017-03-17 15:30 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> - 2017-03-18 14:10 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2017-03-18 14:56 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> - 2017-03-19 16:43 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2017-03-19 16:57 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> - 2017-03-17 03:59 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware dcohenspam@talktalk.net (Daniel Cohen) - 2017-03-21 18:57 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2017-03-21 15:06 -0400
                Re: Mac Malware dcohenspam@talktalk.net (Daniel Cohen) - 2017-03-23 07:51 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2017-03-21 20:42 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware dcohenspam@talktalk.net (Daniel Cohen) - 2017-03-23 07:51 +0000
                Re: Mac Malware Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> - 2017-03-23 05:09 +0000
            Re: Mac Malware John Albert <j.albert@snet.net> - 2017-03-12 23:19 -0400

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