Talk:MyWay Searchbar

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It would be really good exept for one thing unlike other toolbars, you can't seem to turn it off at all. It's either installed or uninstalled and if it's uninstalled you loose all the really cool things that come with it (the smiley's and cursor program for starters never mind the Email wall papers (yahoo charge #11.99 for those)), it's a shame but I don't have room for another toolbar on screen all the time......DS

Contents

[edit] OH SHIT!

I downloaded cursermania on me and my mom's computers!!!!!! WERE SCREWED!!!!!!!

[edit] Webfetti and Facebook

It should be noted on this article that the Webfetti Toolbar, which is the MyWebSearch Toolbar, has an application on Facebook called Talking Smileys. 122.53.216.149 (talk)Joshua

[edit] MyWebSearch

What's this MyWebSearch? Is it another name for or a new version of the MyWay Searchbar? According to one site, it generates pop-ups[1]. At least two sites, however, list it as "low-risk" or say it isn't adware, but we should be careful with these sites because IAC Search and Media forced at least one (Sunbelt) to say that the MyWay Searchbar, another one of its products, is not malware[2].SteveSims 22:32, 31 March 2007 (UTC)

Sunbelt, which IAC forced to claim that MyWay Searchbar isn't malware, now claims that MyWebSearch too is legitimate software[3]. We really should be careful with our sources. It's likely that other sites were forced to change information regarding MyWay products too.SteveSims 22:37, 31 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Lavasoft source

The Lavasoft citation is from a forum (something normally not considered a valid source). However, the post was made by a Lavasoft employee so this source should be considered acceptable.SteveSims 01:52, 22 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] POV-Check

I added the POV check tag because this is a disputed topic and the claim that it is spyware could be disputed.

  • I deleted the PoV check because it's now been confirmed as spyware from many sources (five cited in the article). SteveSims 07:32, 4 February 2007 (UTC)
  • In other words, MyWay being spyware is no longer credibly disputed.SteveSims 22:58, 21 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] My experience 2006/10/29

I use FireFox, but accidentally opened Explorer 6. I noticed something called "MySearch" underneath where the URL is entered. I looked it up on Wikipedia and found this. I never installed this program. When I attempted to uninstall it via Add/Remove Programs, it said that I would no longer receive "promotional offers", among other things. When I pressed the uninstall button, it would not uninstall. It is clearly malware of some sort, and is probably spyware, since in order to send me these "promotional offers" it would need to record information about me.

I will look into this further. I will also post a picture of the uninstall screen.

Though it being spyware is almost indisputable, this article is very opinionated.

SteveSims 03:32, 30 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Screenshots

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:My_Search_Bar_1_Add_or_Remove_Programs.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:My_Search_Bar_2_IE_script_error_before_uninstaller_loads.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:My_Search_Bar_3_uninstall_screen.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:My_Search_Bar_3_uninstall_screen_small_556x360.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:My_Search_Bar_4_after_clicking_Uninstall.jpg

SteveSims 05:20, 30 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] 9 February 2007 - Page moved to "Myway Speedbar"

On 9 February 2007, the user Kirk_lawrence moved "Myway Searchbar" to "Myway Speedbar". "Myway Speedbar" is a new article that contains almost no information.

I can't find any reliable information on the difference between "Myway Searchbar" and "Myway Speedbar". I suspect that the Myway marketing department renamed the product because of all the bad publicicty on the internet regarding "Myway Searchbar". According to many sources, both programs are notorious spyware that cause several problems and block access to some legit sites.

I undid the move by reverting this page back to an older version.

Alan Rockefeller (Talk - contribs) 23:23, 9 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] 9 February 2007 - Page moved to "Myway Speedbar" - An Explanation

This page has serious issues. There are actually 2 separate and distinct pieces of software whose behaviors & attributes are being mixed up (arguably 3). One is called the MyWay Speedbar (a search toolbar), and the other called MyWay Search Assistant (something that came pre-installed on Dell computers). Splitting the two and separating fact from fiction/opinion was the goal (for example, the screenshots used are for something called MySearch which is again a different toolbar). I'll revisit it later when I can afford more time to do a better job.

kirk_lawrence 15 Feb 2007

[edit] POV is not neutral

Lavasoft Adaware software does not consider the software to be Spyware (I just downloaded and checked it). Many of the references are editorials and do not support a Spyware conclusion. The manufacturer certainly doesn't think it is spyware. BTW - The toolbar is indeed called the MyWay Speedbar (on their website).

Bercyon

[edit] Spyware

My research shows that it is accurate to describe this software as spyware. Ten out of ten websites which talk about this product describe it as spyware, and many forums are littered with people struggling to remove it. The only people who don't think this is spyware are the manufacturers, but that is typical.

[edit] POV is still contested

No offense Steve, but 10 out of 10 sites do not say the software is spyware. If you read my entry above, I tested it with Lavasoft's Adaware and it came back clear. Further tests with Microsoft Defender and Symantec also confirm that it's not listed as Spyware or adware. If you like I can post the scan logs. If the professionals think that it is not spyware, then I'm inclined to say that this is controversial. I think you need to take a little more objective viewpoint on this since there is not 100% consensus that it is spyware.

Further, there is confusion between different pieces of software. Note that the discussion above that shows this, how do you explain that?

Bercyon

  • MyWay's ability to allude detection does not allude the editors' intelligence and research. Please do not continue to compromise this article's accuracy by planting false seeds of doubt about MyWay's true nature. See Wikipedia:PoV if you are still unfamiliar with the difference between accuracy and self-interested bias. Thank you. SteveSims 04:53, 24 February 2007 (UTC)

There are many peices of malware that the AV / antispyware programs don't find, so that is not proof that the software is ok.

My research shows that everyone that doesn't work there thinks that it is spyware.

As an IT professional, I have had to advise people on how to clean up this spyware several times.

It has caused crashes, browser redirection, etc.


Alan Rockefeller (Talk - contribs) 08:25, 20 February 2007 (UTC)

Sorry, I've been busy.

Wiki def: Spyware is computer software that collects personal information about users without their informed consent.

My response is |here and not subject to the GFDL.

Bercyon

[edit] Edit is coming

Steve, I hate to say this, but this article really misses the mark. I guess you haven't read my write-up or you chose to ignore it. If you haven't read it, you should. Here are a couple of inaccuracies in the current post.

1. You have mixed up two technologies, the MyWay speedbar and the MyWay Search assistant. 2. You are citing people's opinionated blogs as if they are valid references. 3. You misunderstand the economics if you think that MyWay is collecting information and serving targeted ads. They don't make money that way. 4. The claim that the toolbar redirects Quantas.com is false. I tried it myself. 5. Kazaa does not have a MySearch toolbar. It comes with two toolbars: Need2Find toolbar and RX toolbar, but not a MySearch Toolbar.

This is not high school, but if it was, I'd give you a 'D' for accuracy. I'll get around to fixing this soon when I have time, but it's not going to be pretty.

Bercyon

  • Do I even have to respond to this?

Out of fairness, I will.

Even in high school, people know how to distinguish attempts to edit free encyclopedias for one's own self-interest from accurate, or at least fact-based, edits.

Your edits are clearly intended to baselessly cast a shadow of doubt over MyWay's true nature. IAC's communications director has admitted to using Wikipedia, and his account has made numerous MyWay-related edits, all of which compromise the technologies' true nature.SteveSims 07:51, 7 March 2007 (UTC)

  • Six more sources have been added showing that MyWay is a spyware program. How is MyWay being spyware disputed, except by people working in MyWay's public relations department? SteveSims 08:05, 7 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Edit is cancelled

I realize that Wiki is not a place for personal research. There is a difference between theory and fact and you've done nothing to address the inaccuracies I've called out other than to accuse me of casting doubt - which of course I've done, but not baselessly. I've shown my personal research and laid out what I know to be fact, which contradicts your "spyware" viewpoint. Even one of your new references from Mike at Spyware Info (in my opinion the only real credible security viewpoint of the 6) tells us the toolbar is not malicious. Yet you are steadfast. I've tried to interject some facts and accuracy here but clearly it's not appreciated nor wanted - so I won't be doing any edits. Good luck with the article. Bercyon 15:00, 7 March 2007 (UTC)

  • That source says nothing directly about MyWay being spyware, but it does say that it is bundled with spyware programs. Perhaps it is bundled with them in addition to being malware unto itself?

Citing sources other than the Director of Internet Security and Customer Support of IAC Search & Media, MyWay's owner, will help bring you credibility and enable you to contribute more to the online encyclopedia. SteveSims 18:44, 7 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] References

I have placed a {{dubious}} tag on the claims of spyware and adware because the references used do not seem to qualify as reliable sources. The sources are commercial sites who have a vested interest in labelling other software as spyware/malware/etc. Secondly, a lot of them are from 2004 or earlier; software changes a lot in that much time. The source that says it's bundled with Kazaa is from 2003; is that still true?

I don't see any neutral, respectable, up-to-date sources here. If this is going to be labelled spyware, it needs better sources than adwarereport.com or whatever. What do the big guys say about it? Norton?Spybot? Ad-Aware? Kafziel Talk 15:08, 2 May 2007 (UTC)

  • One of the references is from a LavaSoft (the maker of Ad-Aware) support employee. The employee says that Ad-Aware cannot permanently remove MyWay, but the employee provides instructions for doing so.SteveSims 22:22, 10 May 2007 (UTC)
    • No, somebody named Malvadon calls it spyware. The LavaSoft employee never does. Kafziel Talk 00:29, 11 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] I Still Don't Understand

I viewed this article because I simply wanted to know what the "MyWay Searchbar" is. The article did not answer my question.

Would someone please rewrite this article, with a descriptive paragraph first? Do not assume that your reader uses the software in question. In fact, don't assume your reader uses Windows or any of the mentioned browsers. The point of an encyclopedia is to find information about something that you DON'T know about! A picture of the actual program (toolbar? plugin?) would also be helpful, rather than a picture of the uninstall screen.

If you want to write about allegations that the software is spyware or adware, put that in a separate paragraph or section. 66.168.64.187 00:08, 21 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] I fail to understand this

Why all the arguments about sources? You don't need sources to determine fact in this case. These "references" which you seem to be obsessed about comes from Webster's New Millennium Dictionary of English

Main Entry: spyware Part of Speech: n Definition: any software that covertly gathers information about a user while he/she navigates the Internet and transmits the information to an individual or company that uses it for marketing or other purposes Usage: computing

Main Entry: adware1 Part of Speech: n Definition: a software application in which advertisements are displayed while the program is running, esp. in pop-up windows or banners, and which often is installed without the user's knowledge or consent; also called [advertising-supported software]

and The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language

mal·ware (māl'wâr') Pronunciation Key n. Malicious computer software that interferes with normal computer functions or sends personal data about the user to unauthorized parties over the Internet.


Now, if anyone would like to dispute these facts I'd be more than happy to provide my ethereal scan logs.