jodawi: (Default)
Apophenia ([personal profile] jodawi) wrote2005-05-21 10:02 am
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I post to the Dell support board:
I spent a few thousand dollars buying a new Dell system, and they appear to be trying to earn a few dollars more from the My Way web site ad revenue.

Every time I change my home page to what I want it to be, something changes it back.

Add/Remove Programs shows "My Way Search Assistant". There is no button to remove it, apparently because Dell doesn't want it removed.

Interestingly, the My Way terms include this statement: "The My Way Software and the Services are not intended for use by or availability to persons under the age of 13. IF YOU ARE UNDER 13 YEARS OF AGE, YOU MAY NOT DOWNLOAD, INSTALL OR USE ANY MY WAY SOFTWARE AND YOU MAY NOT ACCESS MY WAY SERVICES."

So Dell is shipping home/family computers that kids are not legally allowed to use? And a browser hijacker? With no way to uninstall it? Classy. I can see they don't want me to purchase from them again.

Tech support has not been helpful so far, sending me instructions on removing the My Way Speedbar, which is not what is installed, and trying to convince me that it's really not bad that they've shipped a browser hijacker.

I've looked at the Hijack This log but didn't see anything obvious. I tried disabling two Dell things with Spybot and restarting, but after restart they were enabled again so something is keeping me from disabling them.

[identity profile] msboop.livejournal.com 2005-05-21 05:09 pm (UTC)(link)
http://www.scumware.com/apps/scumware.php/action::view_article/article_id::1063294991/topic::Scumware,-Spyware,-Adware-&-Malware-Applications/

[identity profile] jodawi.livejournal.com 2005-05-21 05:15 pm (UTC)(link)
That's the speedbar - not the same.

[identity profile] msboop.livejournal.com 2005-05-21 05:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Isn't the hijacker part of the speedbar? The article goes into how to remove all of the registry entries for the "rest" of the program.

[identity profile] msboop.livejournal.com 2005-05-21 05:54 pm (UTC)(link)
I had this problem with some other spyware. The program promised to be completely removed and all... and the registry entries would just reinstall everything.

[identity profile] jodawi.livejournal.com 2005-05-21 06:09 pm (UTC)(link)
It's the same company but it's been customized for Dell and doesn't match the info listed there.

[identity profile] msboop.livejournal.com 2005-05-21 07:21 pm (UTC)(link)
stupid dell

It'd have been cheaper, easier, and more reliable to build your own computer, no?

(Anonymous) 2005-05-31 02:44 pm (UTC)(link)
5/31/05 - Dell is still shipping their new 'home' level PCs with this MyWay malware installed. And it still won't uninstall completely. Theres still no button and it still defaults the browser homepage to the myway clickfarm. So typical.

If you're thinking of buying a Dell PC (Dimension, Inspiron), think twice. The other 'business' level systems (Precision, Latitude) don't ship with this crap, but should there really be any distinction when it comes to spyware?

At least right now you can still reformat and reinstall...I'm wondering how long it will be before the license agreement states that you can't even do that, I'm sure non-mangeled systems would be priced accordingly.

On Dell's part this represents poor programming, bad computing, and bad policy. I agree, build you own and avoid spending your money on slimey products.