PocketMatrix

This isn't exactly PocketPC related (besides the fact that it can ultimately damage your ActiveSync connection), but Anything Discussion is too nebulous for a "real" post. <br><br>Jaybot brought this to my attention, and I found it on my home pc as well. A company called NewDotNet is trying to usurp internet regulation by creating and selling its own suite of domain names, such as .free, .shop and .xxx. They can get by with this, and bypass normal internet Domain Name Servers, by installing custom software on your PC that takes over some of the networking functionality. So, how do they get their software installed on a large number of PCs? Through "foistware", or the bundling and installation of unrelated software with some other product. Thus when you install some program, it installs the NewDotNet software, without asking your permission or even warning you.<br>The following applications participate in the NewDotNet program:<br>Go!Zilla, BearShare, Mp3.com, iMesh, Babylon, Cydoor, Webshots and gDivx. The only one of those products I have installed is BearShare, and I have the NewDotNet curse, so that is obviously where it came from.<br>NewDotNet should include an uninstaller that can be accessed from Settings->Add/Remove programs. Jaybot said he could not find an uninstaller, and he is running Windows 2000, so it may not be available for that OS. It also appears that companies are getting a hold of GNU licensed source code, such as the Gnutella file-sharing program, and releasing their own flavor as a cheap, quick way to get software recognition. They then install their foistware app via the advertised "host" program. Of course there is a great amount of money to be made, through the selling of illicit domain names.<br><br>The easiest way to determine if this program is installed is to look in your \windows (\winnt for Windows 2000) directory for a file starting with newdotnet.<br><br>Use the uninstaller found in Add \ Remove programs to remove it, or else you can completely screw up the networking on your PC (DO NOT just delete the newdotnet DLL file). More info .<br><br>Dan East

Also, "Until recently, New.Net offered a 5 cent commission for each system the plugin was successfully installed on." You can bet BearShare and others made some serious bucks off of that deal. New.Net probably stopped that incentive program because it was costing them too much money.<br><br>Dan East

Dan, I have installed a number of the mentioned programs. So I should have that. But I did not find the .dll or the uninstaller. Is it possible that I have a newer version and they changed file names to keep people from removing it?

arrgh, i really dont like these people right now! >:(

well, looks like I dont have their crappy software. I am glad.

The Uninstaller worked fine for me under Windows 98. It does not ask you to reboot, so it will continue running until you reboot manually. Sheesh, they'll do anything to keep that app running just a little bit longer!<br><br>Dan East

MOTHER F'ER!<br><br>Oh, man I hate this.  I will pass on a rant, but boy am I pissed.<br><br>Thanks Dan.  You rock.

we should sue them.

Could be. I have BearShare 2.2.7, which is at least 2 weeks old.<br><br>Try to go to http://test.free. If a page comes up for new.net, then their software must be installed on your PC.<br><br>Edit:<br>It appears that ISPs can modify their DNS config / software to support the New.Net domain names. So it is possible that you can access their sites even if your PC is not "infected". They claim that over 65 million internet users can access their proprietary domain names, so it's hard to tell how many are via infected client PCs.<br><br>Dan East

They would just blame it on BearShare or whoever. Apparently their network software will contact a server every couple of days to "report in". It doesn't look like it sends any personal info. Basically it reports if it is a new installation or not, and it would also have to indicate who was responsible for the installation (BearShare, etc). That is how they would track who got commission for the installation.<br><br>Dan East

I had it too (running Win2k). And it was successfully deleted. Thanks for the info.

whats the problem? it damages activesync?

Even it it didn't cause damage to my PC I woudn't like anything that I didn't authorize in my PC.<br>Bastards.

well, what does it do to cause problems? it lets you access sites that ordinarily you wouldnt be able to access? um... 'shit'

hmph...both my work pc and laptop...<br>thanks again Dan