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Just to let you know smiley central is spyware. Spyware is a program that spys on you.(password,sites you visited,etc ..) If you dont remove it spyware is gonna own your computer :P!
Technically speaking, it’s adware, not spyware, and it can be easily uninstalled. The troublesome part is the “free” search bar that it installs.
To clarify further, adware simply installs additional advertising programs with the software. It does not steal your password or tell your Mommy what you said to Sue last night in chat. It might however cause pop-ups, or add a toolbar to your explorer. Nothing overtly devious about it, just annoying. If you read the Terms of Service that you agree to upon installation, it should divulge exactly what is being installed with the program.
To clarify further–Smiley Central is not adware nor spyware. According to their website (see http://help.myway.com/features/sbar2.html?ptnrS=ZPmhp001#q10):
Does the toolbar track where I go on the Internet?
No, the toolbar does not monitor or report information about where you are traveling or what you do on Web sites.Is this toolbar “spyware”?
NO! The toolbar does not collect any personal information and is completely “spyware”-free and “adware”-free. Period.The toolbar was specifically designed to provide a great user experience free of spyware, adware, direct marketing, data collection or other similar activities. In order to achieve that goal:
The toolbar software DOES NOT collect personal information of any kind, period. No email address, registration or other information is required to use the product. No zip code, no email, no member name, no password. Unlike many other products, we do not even attempt to collect data upon startup as a requirement of use.
The toolbar software DOES NOT monitor the websites visited by the end user, collect or in any manner report any information about what sites an end users visits (or any clickstream activity), nor does it monitor or scrape information when you are on other sites.
The toolbar software DOES NOT serve or facilitate so-called “contextual advertising” or pop-up ads. Many applications are identified as spyware because they monitor end-user Internet usage and serve contextual pop-ups. The toolbar does not engage in any such practices.
In short, this toolbar provides a superior search experience on an ANONYMOUS basis and without any additional monitoring, contextual ads or other nuisances.Back to top
Why do some people mistake the toolbar for spyware?
We feel compelled to respond to the fact that our product is sometimes erroneously referred to as spyware. Such statements are completely false and in many cases subject to legal challenge as a form of libel. However, the reality is that there is a substantial amount of confusion and misinformation on the Web about how programs work and what “spyware” means.This problem has been compounded by the evolution of so-called “spyware” detection programs that are being operated in many cases without attention to the facts or details. In many cases, these programs may label programs as “adware,” “spyware,” “malware,” “dataminer” or another classification simply because the program is a plug-in.
We have engaged in a productive dialog with many providers of spyware detection software that have acknowledged that our product is not spyware and removed it or properly classified the software.
But here’s what you really need to know: Your toolbar does not collect any personal information and is completely “spyware”-free and “adware”-free. Period.
The toolbar was specifically designed to provide a great user experience free of spyware, adware, direct marketing, data mining or other similar activities. In order to achieve that goal:
The toolbar software DOES NOT collect personal information of any kind, period. No email address, registration or other information is required to use the product. No zip code, no email, no member name, no password. Unlike many other products, we do not even attempt to collect data upon startup as a requirement of use.
The toolbar software DOES NOT monitor the websites visited by the end user, collect or in any manner report any information about what sites an end users visits (or any clickstream activity), nor does it monitor or scrape information when you are on other sites.
The toolbar software DOES NOT serve or facilitate so-called “contextual advertising” or pop-up ads. Many applications are identified as spyware because they monitor end-user Internet usage and serve contextual pop-ups. The toolbar does not engage in any such practices.
To provide our users with access to a range of high quality search engines AND to enable each user to customize his or her experience:The toolbar software DOES install a browser plug-in that enables users to send a search query for processing by the toolbar using one or more of its search engines.
The toolbar software DOES send a small configuration request to the toolbar’s website upon start-up of the browser. This request is typically 5k in size and is made to confirm that the toolbar is properly configured in accordance with users’ settings and preferences.
The toolbar software DOES enable the toolbar’s website to transmit updates to the software upon notice to the user. We recognize that you may be sensitive to the issue of updating. Like many major online software distributors – including AOL, Microsoft, Yahoo, Real, etc. – we have designed updateable software in order to ensure that it can be kept current and in working order as changes may be made to Internet protocols, browser software, etc. Pursuant to our End User License Agreement, we guarantee that no update to the product or fix will ever be made in violation of the terms of the Agreement – which means that even if we do update the software, we will not deploy any software or technology that would monitor the user’s habits, collect personal information, or otherwise violate the commitments we have made to provide a product that is spyware-free and adware-free, unless we have received express agreement from the user.
In short, the toolbar provides a superior search experience on an ANONYMOUS basis and without any additional monitoring, contextual ads or other nuisances.Smiley Central is awesome. It also comes with Cursor Mania. Another way the toolbar is useful is that ts has a google-powered search-engine. That’s VERY useful.
Quote:quote:Originally posted by JeffTechnically speaking, it’s adware, not spyware, and it can be easily uninstalled. The troublesome part is the “free” search bar that it installs.
whats the difference between adware and spyware? is adware like pop-ups everywhere or something? and spyware is like spying on your computer?
SmileyCentral is a SpyWare ! that will soon compete with HotBar.
Here are few evidences you will be happy to know about the software:
Domains:
http://www.smielycentral.com – main pages and download
http://www.mywebsearch.com – search engine results
bfc.myway.com – scripts for the bar
image.imgfarm.com – images for the search’s html result
http://www.popswatter.com – popup blocker GUI
smileys.smileycentral.com – the smileys images catalogs
ak.imgfarm.com – cursors images catalogs
myinfo.myway.com – news html data
games.myway.com – games server
c4.myway.com – games server
docs1.myway.com – sponsers links data
pagead2.googlesyndication.com – working with google to handle the ads showing
http://www.mywebface.com – handles smiley images per country (for France: http://www.mywebface.com/menus/SmileyChooser_fr.html.gz)Collected tracking data for EACH URL YOU TYPE !!! –
fl=0;
UID=0BBBBAOp81LYd9N6zzauSaq;
search=l=iw&;
SAUID=358B191D-6EC0-4780-89D1-8A4DFFC6612341;
ptnrP=ZS;
id=;
uu=123C248D1345677A7B1;
d=GG3rd Party search engines in use:
http://search.netscape.com/nscp_results.adp
http://keyword.netscape.com/keyword/Additional data stored on the client PC:
Search history keywords – C:Program FilesMyWebSearchbarHistory
Menu settings and other data settings – C:Program FilesMyWebSearchbarSettingsSoftware:
F3REPROX.DLL – (MSM messenger) A dll to be a dummy proxy to RichEdit control. Uses callback function to read the text and change it
F3RESTUB.DLL – (MSM messenger) A dll object to be a dummy stub to RichEdit control. Uses WndProc to hook to events.
c3REStub.Dll – looks same as F3RESTUB.DLL
F3SCRCTR.DLL – Screen saver installer
M3OUTLCN.DLL – MS outlook toolbar/add-in
M3SKIN.DLL – Skins handler
MWSBAR.DLL – IE toolbar. Handles the search and buttons. Includes the Browser Helper Object
MWSOEMON.EXE – Main MSN Messenger events monitor (to handle the menubar and RichEdit control events). Alsho handles the updates.
MWSOEPLG.DLL – unknown (includes RPC and shell calls)
MWSOESTB.DLL – unknown
F3POPSWT.DLL – popup blocker
F3HTMLMU.DLL – handles HTML menue content. Download ads. Executes scripts. Gets HTMLDocument attributes. Sets popups
MWSSRCAS.DLL – Browser Helper Object for searchYou better be carful when downloading these tools.
If someone need an uninstall for SmileyCentral or HotBar – just askYu.
SmileyCentral is good for smileys.
Hotbar has exclusive license for Garfield(R) smileys, background and eCards. Some of Hotbar’s content require subscrition to the “premium” service, but it is not worth it. None of the smileys Hotbar have are in Flash format, only in GIF formats. Flash is only in the eCards. The tone of some of the cards suggest Hotbar’s clientele are people with dead-end jobs, and the animation is fugly and slow. So if you’re still using a 28kbps modem and a 100mhz Pentium 1, Hotbar is for you. Otherwise, SmileyCentral is your best bet. Use Flowgo.com for your eCard needs. I sometime use Vooz.com, as those are full of cute, funny action.
Weren’t there other services like these two? I though there was two more.
I’ll check out http://ezgreets.aavalue.com and http://register.freeze.com/(4paav045bkuji0fdag2o3wv0)/download/index.aspx and report how they are.
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