that's what I am trying to say: I have no moral dificulties caracking spyware, as well as adware (most often you get two in one, arent you?)

--Max

..so is it possible to say what *is* a safe client (sans spyware?) I'd really appreciate knowing since I've been searching for hours but the ones that aren't known to be bundling it don't specifically say they're *not* - and I'm not ready to make the leap of faith over to "clean" limeware.

Three Gnutella clients are using spyware:

- bearshare
- swapnut
- Limewire (only the "FREE" windows version!)

Morgwen

To keep you uptodate....
here another interesting thread about past and current spyware in LimeWire:

http://www.gnutellaforums.com/showth...&threadid=7908

I'm proud to admit that spyware has changed my life. When I first heard about spyware, I thought, "hey man, what's all that fuzz about". Today I can't live without it.

I don't think spyware is just some piece of software, really, it's rather a state of mind. And now-a-days, when I look at LimeWire or Bearshare running, I'm proud to be using spyware, so developers can make a living and deliver great software like those two gnutella clients for free.

--
"By using spyware-free gnutella clients you support global terrorism."
George W. Bush

Its not "FREE" - there are clients that are "FREE" in price and "FREE" of spyware!

This are "FREE" clients!

Morgwen

You should mention that under Linux Limewire does NOT install spyware! And YOU are using Linux!

Troll John!

Morgwen

I had recently updated my Limewire (which I loved). During the install procedure I noticed the "by the way we need to pay our 6 new programmer's salaries so...blah blah...advertisement" message. WHAT??? I was not amused. Oh well...
I was even less amused when the install procedure proceeded to reboot (damn!) and I ended up with the NT blue screen of death (yikes!!!). "Last known configuration" failed, my ERD failed, I was getting nervous by now. VGA boot passed and I was able to weed out most of the malignant spies from my registries (at least 4) and windows (dlls) using Lavasft Ad-Aware. I then found and ran aureateremove.exe. I am still unable to reboot and service packs didn't help either. It's format c:\ and re-install everything. Nice. Really nice.
Spies are one thing, blowing up my workstation is another.
Can anyone out here recommend a basic stable spy-free gnutella client for me ol' NT?
Many thanks,
Scalded.

gnucleus

You know , what some of these companies ought to do is what Opera does with their web browser. Cydoor is in Opera, but it doesn't operate unless you are running the program, and doesn't have a separate .dll that resides outside of the program.

Most of us appreciate having full time developers working on programs, I know I do. I also know that bandwidth and servers take time and money to upkeep, so I dont mind supporting good programs with a few ads and whatnot, but HATE popups and porn banners interrupting my downloads (CLUE: I am not interested in porn, and even if I were, I'm sure not going to go give my credit card to some foreign, offshore scammer, HELLOOOOOOOOOO!!)

Topmoxie and ezula are totally unacceptable, gator maybe useful, I dont trust it with my info anymore than I trust Microsoft Wallet, or Passport. These programs absolutely betray your trust to profiteers and scumlords. They also ripoff webmasters who are relying on ads for their website to operate, although as a business plan ads seem to leave a lot to be desired, even slashdot has a subscription now.

In short they need to find a better way to roll ads into the product
without being intrusive, and give users a means to opt-out of ALL bundled software if they want.