180Solutions Invades MySpace With Zango

[TeMerc]

When Spyware Performs as AdvertisedA few words of caution to any Myspace users out there considering "free" software designed to let you spy on unsuspecting others online: Be sure to read the fine print when a product like this says "free," and don't be surprised if the software is used to spy on you.Take, for instance, the latest scam being passed around like a digital disease on MySpace: a message advertising software that promises users the ability to track who is viewing their profile pages. This thing, brought to my attention by the folks at Fortinet, arrives as a Myspace bulletin (bulletins allow Myspace users to send messages to all of their "friends" simultaneously) and directs users to visit wwx.myfriendspy.com, which claims the visitor can download the software after clicking on an icon that automatically posts the same bulletin to their friends. When the MyFriendSpy page finally loads, with everything else on the page it's very easy to overlook the message notifying visitors that the tracking software isn't really available quite yet -- but hey, there's some free adware from 180Solutions Inc. instead!When you click on the icon that reads "After posting a bulletin CLICK HERE to gain access to myfriendspy.com info," an installation agreement for Zango pops up. Zango is the much-maligned product of adware maker 180Solutions, which of course monitors what you search for and where you go online. Security Fix

[TeMerc]

You can read some more about this from Paperghost at the SpywareGuide BlogScreenshots also.

[Guest LilBambi]

Thanks for the headsup TeMerc, much appreciated! I agree Temmu ... and it's not as though MySpace doesn't have enough problems already.

[cybormoron]

a favorite website of mine has also become affiliated with zango recently. seems to me that this zango scum has very cleverly and deceptively disguised themselves as "a provider of free premium online content". they are delivering video content. zango is seducing webmasters to affiliate with them. warning; DO NOT download "zango search assistant"http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2006/04/13/003872.html

Zango's Syndication Platform Videos Drive Higher Visibility and More Traffic for Specialized Content PublisherBELLEVUE, Wash., April 13 -- Zango, a leading provider of free premium online content, today announced a partnership with WreckedExotics.com, a site featuring the Internet's "largest collection of exotic car crash photos." Through the partnership, Wrecked Exotics can deliver video from the Zango content syndication platform to its users, providing additional access to premium content.

This and other content are made available to Webmasters on the ever-growing Zango content syndication platform. Users are required to download the Zango Search Assistant in order to access Zango-sponsored content.

Edited May 19, 2006 by cybormoron