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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.]]


'''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, [[pop-up ad|pop-up]] blocking and spamming the users computer with ads. MyWay also collects data about the user's surfing habits and sends it back to the MyWay server, claiming they are tailoring ads toward the users 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,
'''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,
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>


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 sends 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"/>
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"/>


Because it tracks browsing habits, the MyWay Searchbar is classified as [[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> Regardless of this, 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>
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>


==See Also==
==See Also==

Revision as of 04:33, 10 November 2007

File:My Search Bar 3 uninstall screen small 556x360.jpg
MyWay Searchbar's uninstaller. When the uninstall button is clicked, nothing happens.

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

  1. ^ a b "MyWay Searchbar", Gooroo, Inc., http://www.adwarereport.com/mt/archives/000062.html, 2004
  2. ^ 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
  3. ^ Dotson, Anthony, "Ethics and "Spyware", Sandusky Computers, http://sanduskycomputers.com/editorials/spywareethics.php, June 28, 2006
  4. ^ 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
  5. ^ 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
  6. ^ "Browser Support", My Way - Browser Support, http://info.myway.com/index/id/browser.html
  7. ^ 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
  8. ^ "MyWay? Or TheirWay?", Spyware Info, http://www.spywareinfo.com/newsletter/archives/april-2003/24.php#myway, April 24, 2003>
  9. ^ "Fun Web Products "My Web Search" Removal Intructions and Help", PCHell, http://www.pchell.com/support/mywebsearch.shtml
  10. ^ "Chapter 6: TOP SPYWARE THREATS", PC Security News, http://www.pcsecuritynews.com/spyware_top_threats.html, 2003-2005
  11. ^ Lawrence, Kirk, "Response to Sunbelt's Blog Posting", Anti-Spyware Blog, http://kirks-anti-spy.blogspot.com, September 13, 2005