CycloCide that is BearShare version 2.2.5 information. In BearShare version 2.2.6 Vinnie has removed Onflow. So now there are only the two thirdparty adware program SaveNow and New.net.

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Unregistered Guest sorry I didn't treat you as a Guest. Nice to see that you can be reasonable and admit that you didn't actually test BearShare out. I have to admit that even though I like BearShare I still did not install the adware/spyware with it.

When I started using BearShare and saw the adware in the installation, I started to worry that other programs might also be doing that, but that they might not be to up front and nice about it (i.e. options to not install) as Vinnie is in BearShare. So I downloaded a program called "Ad-aware" and scanned my computer. I had over 8 different adware/spyware programs on my computer (non BearShare ones). I had got them from my email program, shareware programs, one from a Microsoft program, lots of them and from all over the place. Not one of those programs ever told me they were installing adware/spyware on my computer. The email program wasn't even a free program, I payed for it and it still loaded me up with a spyware program. So to answer your question do other people know this in BearShare (and in other programs), my answer is that I know about this thanks to BearShare. And if it hadn't been for BearShare I would not have know about them in the other programs as well.

After that I realized that since BearShare is so up front about it even given the user the choice to not install the adware/spyware that BearShare was way better then a lot of other programs out there.

After all the reason BearShare is so popular and such a good Gnutella client is because BearShare is being developed so fast. Which is because Vinnie has quit his job at IBM and has been programming full time on BearShare. Any with the BearShare download being free how else can he earn enough money to keep going?

Nice to meet you.

Yeah, it looks like I forgot to update my local copy of the installer with the new version.

I was very disappointed to see how far people would go criticizing software they haven't researched or tried.

SaveNow is not spyware at all - it does not transmit information about you.

New.net is also not spyware, again no information about you is transmitted.

It could be argued that Onflow is not spyware either, but more of a "strong cookie". Onflow does not transmit information about *you* but it does seem to send information about which of its ads you clicked on or moved over (seems reasonable to me).

Yes, Onflow has been removed from BearShare.

The New.net disclosure screen was removed in 2.2.6 as well, however, language still appears "above the fold" in the license agreement. This was done to reduce the size of the installer by a bit. New.net has resolved the last small issue with their plugin, and it has been demonstrated repeatedly that it is not spyware. Since New.net doesn't show ads or do anything unusual I decided to streamline the installation process by removing the explicit disclosure screen with its accompanying graphic. The option not to install New.net is still provided, however.

Thanks, Cyclocide, for putting in the effort to set the record straight.

Note I was a BearShare user, I didnt stop using it because of the spyware it automaticly installed (in an older version), but I stopped using it because I found a better client (I'll leave it as that), but since I was a user I will answer the questions I would back then.

1) Was I aware? No I wouldn't have. It said it was installing some extra programs that had nice features that I didnt plan to use, but had to install (and they said it helps them out so I thought no problem), It was when I went into the message boards that I discovered that it was spyware, and that the Bearshare developers were irresponsible, they didnt even know for sure if it was spyware or not.

2) If I knew I wouldnt have installed it, I would have kept using LimeWire (the first one I used). Its nice that NOW its not a requirement, but they shouldnt have made it a requirement in the first place, and they should have been aware of what they were installing on other peoples computers (that is they should have been more responsible).

But I let by gones, be by gones (no personal grudge), I dont plan to ever install another BearShare, but that is mostly to do with me not trusting them anymore (they're irresponsible).

Nuff Said...

see this is one of the advantages of gnutella, if you don't like one client you just switch... I personally don't use Bearshare but I do tell others to use it, I also inform them of the spyware... basically bearshare is for windows users and I will admit it has been "idiot-proofed" rather nicely (at least the version that I did install a while ago) you don't need to mess with the options or anything and the network works nicely... it's very much like napster and that's what people want... I don't care if people include spyware in the program... 1) my life isn't that interesting that I worry about others stealing my identity 2) I got the prog for free... if I was paying for it and they felt the need to include the spyware then yes I'd be a little choked...

finally the one thing I dislike about bearshare but I will admit I know little about is, from what I understand, the current threats to eliminate Phex from the network because of bandwidth concerns... Gnutella is supposed to be an open protocol and it's about sharing and helping people... to me excluding clients with what I interpretted as "strong arm" tactics (threatining non-compliance between clients) is a little ridiculous...

Go look at the Phex website. They addmitted that they had problems with their program and they have changed it and released a new version to correct those problems. BearShare was just looking out for the good of the network.

zero those are 2 diffrent aspects of the same issue that is going on here, which you seem to not get. It doesnt make a diffrence what their intentions were, it does not change the fact they threatened phex. You dont pull out a gun and say your going to shoot someone every time they disagree with you, Vinnie basicly was on some power trip and decided to threaten people if they dont do what HE SAYS ("no debate"), sure he had good intentions but that doesnt change the fact he did it, he could have discussed it like a normal adult, but he decided acting like a demented little child was better, and justified it by saying this is for the network that him and Greg built (LOL, as if the users have nothing to do with that). He even was spreading FUD about it, by saying that Phex was responsible for a lot of traffic, when pressed for proof he had none. They are nothing but irresponsible punks (talking to people so arrogantly), that need to change their attitude before it destroys their public relations and reputation. You dont get anywhere in life by treating people like crap and being arrogant.

Cyclocide,

As forum moderator it seems rather odd that you 'educate' forum users on the details of spyware in Bearshare.

Looks like you have more to do with the Bearshare people than meets the eye.

Even if you personally 'like' the Bearshare program, as a good forum moderator you should stay well away from any discussions as to the pro and cons of features and undesirable functions of the software discussed here, and especially not take sites to one or the other.

Next you may 'moderate out' (=censor) articles posted which are against or for a specific program? I hope not.

If you have to voice your own opinion, you really must not do it as moderator, i.e. use a different name.
There is nothing wrong with having your own opinion and voicing it, while being a moderator too.
Wearing 2 hats is quite common, keeping them apart is the difficult bit.

This forum is so very useful to express and find information and concerns about Gnutella Network programs, but being 'educated' by the moderator on a program like Bearshare, which causes so much controversy, should not occur.

Please moderate, but do not speak for or against one or the other programs discussed here in your official function.

Thank you.

JD

I'm educating users about misconceptions they have about the spyware in BearShare.


I don't.

Cyclocide,
you are 'helping' to push the Bearshare 'spyware' issue, by
Quote:
'I'm educating users about misconceptions they have about the spyware in BearShare.'

That's not would a forum moderator should do. It makes you appear biased.

As far as I/we know, Bearshare is the only Gnutella client having spyware bundled with its installation.
Many of us Gnutella users are unhappy with this and want to make others aware of it.

It is not for you or me to suggest how these developers should make money. That is not what the Gnutella network is about and should be about.
If they don't make money with it, they shall do something else.
There will be others who will have fun working on new clients in their spare time.

There are some great clients now around, such as Gnucleus and Gnotella V1.0.
Pure fun to use. No hidden spyware and/or encrypted packets and forceful upgrade behaviour.
So hopefully the Bearshare phenomena will slowly die down, for the good of the Gnutella Network and the cessation of the dreaded 'spyware' talk.

Enough said.

Greetings to you Gnutella fans

JD