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==Complaints==
==Complaints==
Older versions of the program displayed pop-up advertisements onto the user’s screen and contained an adware function. Sophos, unlike many other antivirus companies,<ref name="bitdefender.com">http://www.bitdefender.com/VIRUS-1000252-en--Adware.Mywebsearch.DV.html</ref> says that the most recent build of the MyWay Searchbar does not display pop-up ads and does not contain the adware function.<ref name="sophos">{{cite web|url=http://www.sophos.com/security/analyses/controlled-applications/mywebsearch.html |title=Click 'More Information' |publisher=Sophos.com |date= |accessdate=2010-03-05}}</ref> Another complaint is the inability to completely uninstall it without using third party software. <ref>http://www.pchell.com/support/smileycentral.shtml</ref> It is regarded as a PUP (potentially unwanted program) by some security companies; Spybot, Superantispyware, and Panda detect and encourage removal of this software.<ref name="pandasecurity.com">http://www.pandasecurity.com/homeusers/security-info/40682/MyWay/</ref> According to VirusTotal, <ref>virustotal.com</ref> certain antivirus software claims that Smiley Central is adware. ParetoLogic's Health Advisor software suggests removal of all Mindspark products for PC performance <ref>http://www.driversupdate.org/paretologic-pc-health-advisor-review.php</ref> Reports have stated that certain MyWay products, such as Webfetti, can slow down one's computer. <ref>http://www.pchell.com/support/webfetti.shtml</ref>
Older versions of the program displayed pop-up advertisements onto the user’s screen and contained an adware function. Sophos says that the most recent build of the MyWay Searchbar does not display pop-up ads and does not contain the adware function.<ref name="sophos">{{cite web|url=http://www.sophos.com/en-us/threat-center/threat-analyses/controlled-applications/MyWebSearch/detailed-analysis.aspx|title=Detailed Analysis - MyWebSearch|publisher=Sophos.com |date= |accessdate=2010-03-05}}</ref> Although the software was once flagged by hphosts and urlvoid, the current version is no longer listed.<ref>http://www.urlvoid.com/</ref><ref>http://hosts-file.net/?s=mywebsearch.com</ref> VirusTotal lists mywebsearch as a "clean site" across its numerous data sources.<ref>https://www.virustotal.com/url/5c5b6a8b5dc19e3bab50769daa88a610c4398a49c4f322ccde6d868c1ac0ca7a/analysis/</ref>

The software is still regarded as a PUP (potentially unwanted program) by some security companies; Spybot, SuperAntiSpyware, and Panda detect and encourage removal of this software.<ref name="pandasecurity.com">http://www.pandasecurity.com/homeusers/security-info/40682/MyWay/</ref> ParetoLogic's Health Advisor software suggests removal of all Mindspark products for PC performance <ref>http://www.driversupdate.org/paretologic-pc-health-advisor-review.php</ref> Reports have stated that certain MyWay products, such as Webfetti, can slow down one's computer. <ref>http://www.pchell.com/support/webfetti.shtml</ref>


==Design==
==Design==

Revision as of 15:27, 13 February 2012

The MyWay Searchbar, also known as the MyWay Speedbar, MyWay Search Assistant, MyWebSearch, MyAllSearch, and MyWeb Searchbar, is a toolbar program that replaces an Internet browser's default search engine with MyWay's website. MyWay is owned by InterActiveCorp.

Complaints

Older versions of the program displayed pop-up advertisements onto the user’s screen and contained an adware function. Sophos says that the most recent build of the MyWay Searchbar does not display pop-up ads and does not contain the adware function.[1] Although the software was once flagged by hphosts and urlvoid, the current version is no longer listed.[2][3] VirusTotal lists mywebsearch as a "clean site" across its numerous data sources.[4]

The software is still regarded as a PUP (potentially unwanted program) by some security companies; Spybot, SuperAntiSpyware, and Panda detect and encourage removal of this software.[5] ParetoLogic's Health Advisor software suggests removal of all Mindspark products for PC performance [6] Reports have stated that certain MyWay products, such as Webfetti, can slow down one's computer. [7]

Design

After a user installs the program, a toolbar appears in Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Opera web browsers,[8] adding search functions and pop-up blocking. The toolbar allows users to search on Google, Yahoo!, and Ask.com.

Add-ons

  • Smiley Central, lets the user add emoticons to instant messages and Emails
  • Cursor Mania, allows the user to set their cursor to one of a selection of cursors
  • Popular Screensavers, allows the user to set their screensaver to one of a selection of screensavers
  • Zwinky, an online game with a virtual self
  • Webfetti, puts one of a selection of templates onto a user's website
  • MyWebSearch, a toolbar by MindSpark

References

  1. ^ "Detailed Analysis - MyWebSearch". Sophos.com. Retrieved 2010-03-05.
  2. ^ http://www.urlvoid.com/
  3. ^ http://hosts-file.net/?s=mywebsearch.com
  4. ^ https://www.virustotal.com/url/5c5b6a8b5dc19e3bab50769daa88a610c4398a49c4f322ccde6d868c1ac0ca7a/analysis/
  5. ^ http://www.pandasecurity.com/homeusers/security-info/40682/MyWay/
  6. ^ http://www.driversupdate.org/paretologic-pc-health-advisor-review.php
  7. ^ http://www.pchell.com/support/webfetti.shtml
  8. ^ "Browser Support", My Way - Browser Support, http://info.myway.com/index/id/browser.html
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