As has been pointed out, your 'tests' as you like to call them, were done using BearShare 2.2.3 which is NOT the latest version, 2.2.4 is.

Vinnie (the author of BearShare) has explained the purpose of these encrypted packets in the BearShare forums, but obviously can't reply to every paranoid post on the web. The encrypted packets are there to exchange version information between BearShare clients, and are designed to stop hackers or other low-lifes from faking a new version of the software. Remember the fake version of PKZip that was in fact a virus!!?? Well I guess Vinnie is trying to stop that from happening to BearShare (which is after all, the most popular gnutella client today).

So, the author puts in a feature to protect the integrity of the software, and all you can do is bleat about what you don't understand. Shame on you... did you actually do any research anywhere to discover what these encrypted packets were about?

And what is your problem with BearShare warning you that your software is out of date by popping up an UPDATE notice? Later versions may include important bug-fixes or enhancements, so it is only right that the software should let you know about new versions. And what does it matter if this happens several minutes after you start the program...? Obviously you have never watched American TV! Adverts... Credits... Adverts... 5 minutes of the program you want to watch... More adverts.... you get the picture ;-)

As to the spyware thing, well that's been done to death. Suffice to say that in the latest version of BearShare (2.2.4) there are very clear messages about 'adware' during the install routine, and you have the option to NOT install these components. Problem solved.

Beam me up....