Every so often a spate of forwarded emails go through from panicked people who receive
an email from someone they know that contains dire warnings about two files purported to be
horrible viruses: (jdbgmgr.exe) and/or (sulfnbk.exe). These two files are harmless, they are
installed with windows, they actually have some usefulness, and there is no reason ever to
delete them. When you forward the dire virus warnings on to everyone in our address book, we
are sending out dozens and in some cases hundreds of junk emails to our family and friends
asking them to do something not only useless or worse. The urgent command to forward the
warning to everyone you know is itself a form of spam when you actually do it.
Do not delete these files if you receive such a warning.
Do not forward the warning on to others.
Do check www.symantec.com, look in the "virus hoax"
section and read before you forward any virus warnings.
And be aware that if you do forward an email through our mail server that contains virus
warnings about those two files, your message will be caught, quarantined and summarily executed.
Perhaps you have started getting an unusual amount of junk email. Perhaps this increase in
spam coincides with your installing an Outlook/Outlook Express add-on called Hotbar. Very soon
we will begin blocking any email that contains the hidden internal references to Hotbar because
it is a pernicious piece of "spyware" that compromises your email, your privacy, and
even your computer's proper operation.
The following comes from one of the security usenet newsgroups. Read on and then uninstall
Hotbar ASAP:
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BEWARE of HOTBAR: Do not download this program as it is Spyware. It may be disabling your
ability to send pictures or stationery with your email!
"Many people have been tricked into downloading a known spyware program called HOTBAR.
Hotbar disguises itself as a cool tool for customizing your net browser or to "Add COLOR to
your emails" with unique backgrounds or "skins" and even makes itself look like
a Microsoft product by using the Microsoft(r) trademark. Hotbar is not a Microsoft product!
"SpyWare, most often installed on your PC without your knowledge, sends information about
your web browsing and email habits to advertisement companies, which, in turn, send you more
pop-up ads, junk email, and potentially even pornographic emails or virus programs. In the case
of Hotbar, which is user installed, installing it means you are allowing your email address
and web browsing habits to be bought and sold on the internet."
Hotbar not only tracks your online surfing, but may be disabling your ability to send
pictures or email stationery. It is not an upgrade to Microsoft and it is not supported by
Microsoft, even though it purports itself to be an "Upgrade to Outlook." It is far from an
upgrade; it is not even recognized or endorsed by Microsoft.
If you want to restore your ability to send and receive email stationery and pictures, you
will have to remove this program. There is help for this. Go to Question #20 at http://thundercloud.net/faq.
The bottom line? ****
This is not an official upgrade from Microsoft Outlook.
Hotbar is considered Adware/Trackware. It is a program that adds graphical skins to
Internet Explorer toolbars. It monitors all websites you visit to add link buttons to its
toolbar dependant on the websites you visit.
Is Hotbar violating your privacy? Yes, it spies on websites visited and forms filled in,
even when the toolbar is disabled.
Is Hotbar a security violation? Yes. Hotbar has a silent update feature, which means,
that without your knowledge or approval, this software will go to its home website and
download newer versions automatically.
Does Hotbar cause problems with the computer system? Yes, it can slow down you computer
or cause lockups when you are using your web browser or email.
When you install Hotbar, you are agreeing to their privacy policy, which states:
"TERMS OF USE AND END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR HOTBAR SOFTWARE AND WEB SITE: HOTBAR
COLLECTS AND STORES INFORMATION ABOUT THE WEB PAGES YOU VIEW AND THE DATA YOU ENTER IN SEARCH
ENGINE SEARCH FIELDS WHILE USING THE SOFTWARE. HOTBAR USES THIS INFORMATION TO DETERMINE WHICH
ADS AND BUTTONS TO DISPLAY ON YOUR HOTBAR TOOLBARS AND WHICH ADS TO SHOW YOUR BROWSER."
Furthermore, under their "Disclaimer of Warranties" they state (a) ... Licensee
may be exposed to contaminated files, computer viruses, eavesdropping, harassment, electronic
trespassing, hacking and other harmful acts or consequences that might lead to unauthorized
invasion of privacy, loss of data and other damages.
and
"Licensee shall receive, and desires to so receive, various product/service promotions,
marketing ads, and campaigns of third parties through the appearance of links, menus, pop-ups,
and other methods on and/or in connection with the Service and the Software." Our advice?
Always read privacy policies so you know what you are really agreeing to when using various
software programs on the internet.
Resources:
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link to other conference contacts
