MyWay Searchbar: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:My_Search_Bar_3_uninstall_screen_small_556x360.jpg|thumb|right|360px|MyWay Searchbar's uninstaller. When the uninstall button is clicked, nothing happens.]] |
[[Image:My_Search_Bar_3_uninstall_screen_small_556x360.jpg|thumb|right|360px|MyWay Searchbar's uninstaller. When the uninstall button is clicked, nothing happens.]] |
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'''MyWay Searchbar''', also known as '''MyWay Speedbar''',<ref name="adwarereport"/> is a [[search]] [[toolbar]] program that allows the user to query [[Google search|Google]], [[Ask.com|Ask Jeeves]], [[Yahoo!]], and [[LookSmart]] search engines. [[HP]] and [[Dell]]<ref name="Righi 2005">Righi, Michael, "Dell Charges $49 to Remove Their Own Spyware", http://www.michaelrighi.com/2005/07/21/dell-spyware-my-way, July 21, 2005</ref><ref>Dotson, Anthony, "Ethics and "Spyware", Sandusky Computers, http://sanduskycomputers.com/editorials/spywareethics.php, June 28, 2006</ref> pre-install this software on some of their commercially sold PCs<ref>LS CalamityJane, "HELP! My computer is infected! What should I do?", Lavasoft Support Forums, http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/lofiversion/index.php/t3403.html, September 20, 2006, 02:57 PM</ref>. It is also bundled with some versions of [[Kazaa]].<ref name="Martin 2003"/> MyWay Searchbar attaches itself to the [[Internet Explorer]] and [[Netscape Navigator]] browsers,<ref>"Browser Support", My Way - Browser Support, http://info.myway.com/index/id/browser.html</ref> adding search functions |
'''MyWay Searchbar''', also known as '''MyWay Speedbar''',<ref name="adwarereport"/> is a [[search]] [[toolbar]] program that allows the user to query [[Google search|Google]], [[Ask.com|Ask Jeeves]], [[Yahoo!]], and [[LookSmart]] search engines. [[HP]] and [[Dell]]<ref name="Righi 2005">Righi, Michael, "Dell Charges $49 to Remove Their Own Spyware", http://www.michaelrighi.com/2005/07/21/dell-spyware-my-way, July 21, 2005</ref><ref>Dotson, Anthony, "Ethics and "Spyware", Sandusky Computers, http://sanduskycomputers.com/editorials/spywareethics.php, June 28, 2006</ref> pre-install this software on some of their commercially sold PCs<ref>LS CalamityJane, "HELP! My computer is infected! What should I do?", Lavasoft Support Forums, http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/lofiversion/index.php/t3403.html, September 20, 2006, 02:57 PM</ref>. It is also bundled with some versions of [[Kazaa]].<ref name="Martin 2003"/> MyWay Searchbar attaches itself to the [[Internet Explorer]] and [[Netscape Navigator]] browsers,<ref>"Browser Support", My Way - Browser Support, http://info.myway.com/index/id/browser.html</ref> adding search functions and [[pop-up ad|pop-up]] blocking. MyWay also collects data about the user's surfing habits and tailors ads toward their interests.<ref name="Martin 2003">Martin, Melissa, "MyWay Speedbar", Scumware, http://www.scumware.com/apps/scumware.php/action::view_article/article_id::1063294991/topic::Scumware,-Spyware,-Adware-&-Malware-Applications, |
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September 11, 2003</ref> MyWay is owned by [[IAC Search & Media]] (formerly Ask Jeeves) and was one of many properties purchased as a part of their acquisition of Interactive Search Holdings in 2004.<ref>IAC Search & Media, "Ask Jeeves Closes Acquisition of Interactive Search Holdings", http://www.irconnect.com/askj/pages/news_releases.html?d=57155, May 6, 2004</ref> |
September 11, 2003</ref> MyWay is owned by [[IAC Search & Media]] (formerly Ask Jeeves) and was one of many properties purchased as a part of their acquisition of Interactive Search Holdings in 2004.<ref>IAC Search & Media, "Ask Jeeves Closes Acquisition of Interactive Search Holdings", http://www.irconnect.com/askj/pages/news_releases.html?d=57155, May 6, 2004</ref> |
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As a [[Browser Helper Object]], MyWay shares the [[Computer storage|memory]] that the browser uses and detects certain events, such as a new browser window. When a new [[Web browser|browser]] window is opened, MyWay |
As a [[Browser Helper Object]], MyWay shares the [[Computer storage|memory]] that the browser uses and detects certain events, such as a new browser window. When a new [[Web browser|browser]] window is opened, MyWay will send a [[computer configuration|configuration]] request that prepares ads according to visited sites. Browsing habits data are collected and sent to a central server, enabling MyWay to tailor advertisements based on the user's browsing habits.<ref name="Righi 2005"/> |
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Because it tracks browsing habits, the MyWay Searchbar is |
Because it tracks browsing habits, the MyWay Searchbar is frequently considered to be [[spyware]] and/or [[adware]],<ref name="adwarereport">"MyWay Searchbar", Gooroo, Inc., http://www.adwarereport.com/mt/archives/000062.html, 2004</ref><ref>"MyWay? Or TheirWay?", Spyware Info, http://www.spywareinfo.com/newsletter/archives/april-2003/24.php#myway, April 24, 2003></ref><ref>"Fun Web Products "My Web Search" Removal Intructions and Help", PCHell, http://www.pchell.com/support/mywebsearch.shtml</ref><ref>"Chapter 6: TOP SPYWARE THREATS", PC Security News, http://www.pcsecuritynews.com/spyware_top_threats.html, 2003-2005</ref> but IAC Search & Media's Director of Internet Security and Privacy, Kirk Lawrence, denies these claims.<ref name="Kirk Lawrence">Lawrence, Kirk, "Response to Sunbelt's Blog Posting", Anti-Spyware Blog, http://kirks-anti-spy.blogspot.com, September 13, 2005</ref> |
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==See Also== |
==See Also== |
Revision as of 04:33, 10 November 2007
This article contains promotional content. (October 2007) |
MyWay Searchbar, also known as MyWay Speedbar,[1] is a search toolbar program that allows the user to query Google, Ask Jeeves, Yahoo!, and LookSmart search engines. HP and Dell[2][3] pre-install this software on some of their commercially sold PCs[4]. It is also bundled with some versions of Kazaa.[5] MyWay Searchbar attaches itself to the Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator browsers,[6] adding search functions and pop-up blocking. MyWay also collects data about the user's surfing habits and tailors ads toward their interests.[5] MyWay is owned by IAC Search & Media (formerly Ask Jeeves) and was one of many properties purchased as a part of their acquisition of Interactive Search Holdings in 2004.[7]
As a Browser Helper Object, MyWay shares the memory that the browser uses and detects certain events, such as a new browser window. When a new browser window is opened, MyWay will send a configuration request that prepares ads according to visited sites. Browsing habits data are collected and sent to a central server, enabling MyWay to tailor advertisements based on the user's browsing habits.[2]
Because it tracks browsing habits, the MyWay Searchbar is frequently considered to be spyware and/or adware,[1][8][9][10] but IAC Search & Media's Director of Internet Security and Privacy, Kirk Lawrence, denies these claims.[11]
See Also
- Zwinky, an avatar program that is part of MyWay Searchbar
References
- ^ a b "MyWay Searchbar", Gooroo, Inc., http://www.adwarereport.com/mt/archives/000062.html, 2004
- ^ a b Righi, Michael, "Dell Charges $49 to Remove Their Own Spyware", http://www.michaelrighi.com/2005/07/21/dell-spyware-my-way, July 21, 2005
- ^ Dotson, Anthony, "Ethics and "Spyware", Sandusky Computers, http://sanduskycomputers.com/editorials/spywareethics.php, June 28, 2006
- ^ LS CalamityJane, "HELP! My computer is infected! What should I do?", Lavasoft Support Forums, http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/lofiversion/index.php/t3403.html, September 20, 2006, 02:57 PM
- ^ a b Martin, Melissa, "MyWay Speedbar", Scumware, http://www.scumware.com/apps/scumware.php/action::view_article/article_id::1063294991/topic::Scumware,-Spyware,-Adware-&-Malware-Applications, September 11, 2003
- ^ "Browser Support", My Way - Browser Support, http://info.myway.com/index/id/browser.html
- ^ IAC Search & Media, "Ask Jeeves Closes Acquisition of Interactive Search Holdings", http://www.irconnect.com/askj/pages/news_releases.html?d=57155, May 6, 2004
- ^ "MyWay? Or TheirWay?", Spyware Info, http://www.spywareinfo.com/newsletter/archives/april-2003/24.php#myway, April 24, 2003>
- ^ "Fun Web Products "My Web Search" Removal Intructions and Help", PCHell, http://www.pchell.com/support/mywebsearch.shtml
- ^ "Chapter 6: TOP SPYWARE THREATS", PC Security News, http://www.pcsecuritynews.com/spyware_top_threats.html, 2003-2005
- ^ Lawrence, Kirk, "Response to Sunbelt's Blog Posting", Anti-Spyware Blog, http://kirks-anti-spy.blogspot.com, September 13, 2005
External links
- MyWay Speedbar Description - description of MyWay Search Bar with removal instructions.
- MyWay.com - makers of MyWay Speedbar
- MyWay Speedbar Privacy Information
- MyWay Privacy Policy
- Dell rejects spyware charge - article describing controversy generated when Dell began including MyWay with new computers