[Hot news'] FTC Shuts Down BlogSpot Spyware Ring

[Hellfighter]

FTC Shuts Down BlogSpot Spyware Ring
11.11.05


By Ryan Naraine
The Federal Trade Commission has pulled the plug on a massive spyware operation that allegedly used Google Inc.'s BlogSpot service to trick millions of computer users into downloading spyware and adware programs.

The FTC on Thursday announced a court order to shut down three California-based companies—Enternet Media Inc., Conspy & Co. Inc. and Networld One—that allegedly used free lyric files, browser upgrades and ring tones to push spyware programs on consumers' computers.

The charges stem from the discovery earlier this year that Google's BlogSpot service was being used to spread spyware and adware programs such as "Search Miracle," "Miracle Search," "EM Toolbar," "EliteBar," and "Elite Toolbar."

According to the FTC complaint, the spyware ring used the iWebTunes Web site to promise free background music on the BlogSpot-hosted sites.

The JavaScript code that was put in the BlogSpot templates also triggered pop-up advertising that flashed warnings to consumers who visited the Weblog sites about the security of their computer systems.

The pop-up warning promised browser upgrades and other PC maintenance software. Instead of getting security software, computer users who clicked on the pop-ups were tricked into downloading spyware programs that only served more pop-up ads, the FTC complaint alleged.

The federal agency said the court also froze the assets of the three outfits pending a further hearing.

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