Unsupported Software

University owned computers should be used only for appropriate educational and university business purposes. Spyware software in no way supports such purposes. ITS prohibits the installation of such software on university owned computers. In addition, ITS staff will immediately uninstall any Spyware programs found on university owned computers.

Spyware software programs are known to negatively impact campus computing in one or more of the following ways:  

• Causes conflicts with work-related software applications
• Poses a potential security risk by opening unnecessary TCP/IP ports
• Causes computers to boot and/or operate slowly
• Violates privacy by sending user information to 3rd parties
• Increase of SPAM and pornographic material via e-mail
• Causes computers to boot and/or operate slowly
• Violates privacy by sending user information to 3rd parties
• Increase of SPAM and pornographic material via e-mail
• May cause conflicts with vital functions such as printing and web browsing
• Impacts system resources causing computers to act sluggish (memory, CPU)
• Conflicts with or alteration of vital operating system files
• Causes the computer to crash often
• Unnecessary use of network bandwidth and resources
• Installs spyware or adaware
• Increase in annoying pop-up ads
• Causes additional work load for ITS staff, hence increasing response time for
  work orders

Please contact the ITS Helpdesk at extension 2085 for assistance in the removal of any of the following programs which are considered Spyware.  You will be notified as we discover additional Spyware software.

Alexa
Web Search tool (adware)
http://www.thestandard.com/article/display/0,1151,9599,00.html

ATTune
Sponsored pop-up ads (e.g. "Buy toner") when using your printer (spyware)

AudioGalaxy
File Sharing (spyware, copyright infringement, high bandwidth use, banned in CCLs)
http://security.uchicago.edu/peer-to-peer/no_fileshare.shtml

Aureate / Radiate
Spyware "bundled" with many free downloads, screen savers, web sites, etc.

Bargain Buddy
Advertising (spyware, bandwidth use, computer resources)

BearShare
File Sharing (spyware, copyright infringement, high bandwidth use, banned in CCLs)
http://security.uchicago.edu/peer-to-peer/no_fileshare.shtml

Bonzai Buddy
PC "Pet" (resource drain, application conflicts, no university related purpose)
http://www.cord.edu/dept/computing/news/newsletters/2001/03/26_2.html

Brilliant Digital
Brilliant Plan to Usurp Internet Bandwidth
UC-Berkeley - Security Risks and Bandwidth Hijacking
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-875274.html

Comet Cursor
Animated cursor (probable spyware, waste of resources, possible application conflicts)
http://wwwnew.towson.edu/cans/faculty/policy/software/problematic.asp

CommonName
Targeted advertising (spyware, resource drain)
http://www.safersite.com/PestInfo/C/CommonName.asp

CyDoor
http://www.cexx.org/cydoor.htm (spyware, resource drain)

DLDER
http://www.cexx.org/dlder.htm (spyware trojan)

Gator, OfferCompanion, Trickler, GAIN
Very intrusive spyware that auto-fills web forms. Dangerous because it caches and "remembers" credit card numbers. http://www.cexx.org/gator.htm

GoZilla
Download accelerator (slows boot time, drains resources, multiple spyware)
http://www.oit.duke.edu/ats/support/spyware/gozilla.html

HotBar
http://www.safersite.com/PestInfo/h/hotbar_adware.asp

Kazaa
Stealth Network Hides Inside Kazaa
http://security.uchicago.edu/peer-to-peer/no_fileshare.shtml

OnFlow
Targeted advertising bundled with many "free" applications (spyware)
http://www.slyck.com/newsjan2002/010602a.html

Spinner (Not Spyware)
As with many of the other programs listed here, it is an unnecessary application that uses up valuable system resources, especially memory and network bandwidth. One problem that sets Spinner apart from others is that, by default, it starts automatically after logon. Many necessary system services are loading at this time - so the less there is, the quicker the system boots, and the sooner you can start using the system.  If ITS finds that Spinner is installed on your PC and causing conflicts, it will be removed immediately by ITS staff.

Weatherbug
Continuous, real-time weather reports (high bandwidth use, potential security risk, slows boot time, can disable printing, spyware)
"Spyware" catches school tech directors by surprise
Weatherbug - Bandwidth Use and Questionable Behavior
UWM School of Education: Conflicts, Not Supported, Banned in Labs
Duke University: list of troublesome software

Web3000
Advertising spyware that overwrites the important wsock32.dll system file (spyware, potential security risk)

WebHancer
Extremely intrusive spyware, can disable internet connection
http://www.cexx.org/webhancer.htm

Webshots
Wallpaper rotation utility (spyware, slows boot time and system operation, application and operating system conflicts)
U of AZ: Webshots Causes Computer Performance Problems

Xupiter
Xupiter, like Gator, is spyware that can be installed on your computer without your knowledge if your Internet security settings are not set correctly. It can be installed when you visit a web site or click on an advertising link. Applications that install in this manner are also referred to as "drive-by downloads." (This term was probably derived from a similar term, "drive-by hacking", which describes a practice hackers employ to hack into wireless networks. In the case of spyware, the term "drive-by" is figurative; in the case of hackers, the term is literal.)  If you suspect that you may have Xupiter installed on your computer or you find that your web browser is running very slow, please submit a service request thru FootPrints to have it removed from your computer.