Some Kazaa News...

[Truth]

1. They contacted google and told them to remove links on google.com that showed up when people searched for Kazaa.. Links that were hacked versions of Kazaa Media Desktop... (Like Kazaa Lite) Google did so...

http://news.com.com/2100-1032_3-5070227.html


2. Kazaa Now Has Released something called "Kazaa Plus" Its 30 bucks and it has new features and they claim is ad-free/spyware Free... Is that really true? Its hard to believe them considering they also say there free version is spyware free and we all know it isn't... But from what im hearing this Kazaa Plus is actully free of spyware, At least thats what those who have tested it said...


Anyway I posted this to hear thoughts on this from some of you... Any Comments People?

[robyrob]

Originally posted by AAOT
1. They contacted google and told them to remove links on google.com that showed up when people searched for Kazaa.. Links that were hacked versions of Kazaa Media Desktop... (Like Kazaa Lite) Google did so...

http://news.com.com/2100-1032_3-5070227.html


2. Kazaa Now Has Released something called "Kazaa Plus" Its 30 bucks and it has new features and they claim is ad-free/spyware Free... Is that really true? Its hard to believe them considering they also say there free version is spyware free and we all know it isn't... But from what im hearing this Kazaa Plus is actully free of spyware, At least thats what those who have tested it said...


Anyway I posted this to hear thoughts on this from some of you... Any Comments People?

Yeah, they have tried this before, and guess what - Sharman is still a sleazebag.

KaZaA IS spyware, and in case you weren't aware the "Kaza Media Desktop" is a program that allows the use (or misuse) of excess processor cycles by grid computing ... normally an application like this would be used for people to voluntarily allow the use of their pc's for things like genome research or analyzing data from radio telescopes such as in the SETI@Home project - Sharman Networks has not openly stated WHAT they are using this for, but presumably they intend to sell your processor cycles to the highest bidder.

Why would anyone want to pay for Kazaa and its malacious spyware/poorly written malware when Kazaalite is free, and actively tries to protect its user's rights for security and privacy.

If you are using KaZaA, uninstall it and run a Spyware removal tool such as Spybot or AdAware 6 (I use both) .

[Truth]

I don't understand why anyone would even want to use a hacked version considering the amount of viruses that target Kazaa...

[Liza]

If Kazaa's so bad, is there any other free download service that's better? Just wondering

[Truth]

Originally posted by Liza
If Kazaa's so bad, is there any other free download service that's better? Just wondering

Winmx is good..

[Ewan's My Man]

Yea, I got rid of all my Kazaa, my mom told me too...

My mom's also the SAME person who is always wondering when I'm gonna burn her next cd for her.

[robyrob]

Originally posted by AAOT
I don't understand why anyone would even want to use a hacked version considering the amount of viruses that target Kazaa...

If you are refering to Kazaalite as "hacked" - well that is just plain silly; just look in the Microsoft knowledge base for evidence of the problems that Kazaa and its nasty little "surprises" do to Windows (gee aint reinstalling Windows fun?). Kazaa uses a network that is shared by other P2P programs, it doesnt belong to them. The viruses on the Kazaa network can be downloaded by any of the P2P programs using it; it doesnt matter which YOU are using, what matters is your antivirus software and common sense.

Kazaalite isnt a "hacked" version of it, it is WAY less buggy, does not have a bunch of poorly-written spyware thrown in, and in fact has a ton of extra features, like hiding your shared files, ip-block lists, speed-up, codec packs, the list goes on. WinMX IS spyware free, however, if you use it you better be extremely careful, and make sure you are using every trick in the book to protect yourself, because it does not have the built-in features of Kazaalite.

Please, be aware of what is going on here, the RIAA has sent out hundreds of supoenas (+800 last I checked), is suing file-sharers, and has already settled some cases for $7,000 - $12,000. They recently announced that they may start going after downloaders as well.
I honestly don't know what the answer is to the RIAA's desire to rid itself of its customers, but I am liking what Universal (home of my fav band Weezer!!) is doing - lowering the prices of its cd's instead of destroying peoples lives. I for one am going to continue to boycott the RIAA by not purchasing their cds.

[Truth]

Originally posted by robyrob
Kazaa uses a network that is shared by other P2P programs, it doesnt belong to them. The viruses on the Kazaa network can be downloaded by any of the P2P programs using it; it doesnt matter which YOU are using, what matters is your antivirus software and common sense.

Kazaalite isnt a "hacked" version of it, it is WAY less buggy, does not have a bunch of poorly-written spyware thrown in, and in fact has a ton of extra features, like hiding your shared files, ip-block lists, speed-up, codec packs, the list goes on. WinMX IS spyware free, however, if you use it you better be extremely careful, and make sure you are using every trick in the book to protect yourself, because it does not have the built-in features of Kazaalite.

Kazaa Lite is a Cracked Version of Kazaa Media Desktop, They violated the EULA and edited the program... As far as Winmx I dont use Winmx Im joined with a music service online... I use to use winmx though..





From Wired News: "Kazaa users, angered by the network's inclusion of secretly embedded spyware, can now connect to the peer-to-peer network using a hacked version of the application called Kazaa Lite."

[musicradio77]

Originally posted by Ewan's My Man
Yea, I got rid of all my Kazaa, my mom told me too...

My mom's also the SAME person who is always wondering when I'm gonna burn her next cd for her.

I only have KaZaA Lite on my computer. I download any kind of music and videos, not porn!

[Sitcomwriter]

I must be lucky because I never got any viruses from Kazaa of course, I bet I will now that I said that .

[robyrob]

Originally posted by AAOT
Kazaa Lite is a Cracked Version of Kazaa Media Desktop, They violated the EULA and edited the program... As far as Winmx I dont use Winmx Im joined with a music service online... I use to use winmx though..


From Wired News: "Kazaa users, angered by the network's inclusion of secretly embedded spyware, can now connect to the peer-to-peer network using a hacked version of the application called Kazaa Lite."

That quote is taken from statements made by Sharman Networks, and has absolutely no truth to it at all - Kazaalite does NOT have Kazaa Media Desktop in it at all, Kazaalite originated with the KaZaA client ALL IT DOES IS ACCESS THE SAME NETWORK - same as a Toyota can be driven on the same road as a Ford. Other filesharing programs like Grokster, iMesh and Limewire also use the same FastTrack network.


The current version of Kazaalite was created by merging two separately created programs - Kazaalite and K++ (go look up the version history on their site). THERE ARE hacked versions of KMD, such as KaZaaGold which usually sells for around $30, but this has NOTHING to do with Kazaalite. Of course Sharman Networks is upset about KazaaGold and Kazaalite, because it is costing them money.
Kazaa Media Desktop is the memory-resident component of Kazaa - and there is nothing even remotely resembling that installed with Kazaalite at all.

If you want to believe Sharman, go right ahead - but this is one of the largest distributors of spyware/malware on the net you're putting your faith in.

[ConservativeBalla]

I stopped using any and all P2P programs, because of Spyware/Adware; and also, I've been hearing for the past year that they're "cracking down" and really punishing people and trying to track down people for getting videos.

[Truth]

Originally posted by robyrob
Kazaalite does NOT have Kazaa Media Desktop in it at all, Kazaalite originated with the KaZaA client ALL IT DOES IS ACCESS THE SAME NETWORK -

"In actual fact, it is a modified version of the very popular Kazaa Media Desktop (often called the 'Original Kazaa' or 'KMD'), which is made by Sharman Networks. Both programs are very similar, with almost identical features and appearance. The main difference is that Kazaa Lite has been modified so that it does not have any of the so-called 'Spyware' and 'Adware' that comes with the Original Kazaa."

That is from the official Kazaa Lite site.. sure sounds a lot alike... And modifying the program is certainly breaking the EULA isn't it? Even SpywareInfo consideres them cracked...


Perhaps you should take this up with those at spywareinfo though or whoever has looked into this more... Ill admit I haven't looked into it a whole lot... I just always thought (And had read) that "Kazaa Lite" Was A modified version/hacked version of Kazaa Media Desktop and others seemed to think/say the same.. Im always open to the possibility of me being wrong...


You can't deny though that many viruses target Kazaa/FastTrack Network, Always some new P2P Virus that puts infected files into the Kazaa Shared Folder as "Unreal Tournament Full.EXE" Or "SeeBritneyNude.exe"

[ConservativeBalla]

Originally posted by ConservativeBaller
...they're "cracking down" and really punishing people and trying to track down people for getting videos.

Is this true?

[robyrob]

Originally posted by AAOT
"In actual fact, it is a modified version of the very popular Kazaa Media Desktop (often called the 'Original Kazaa' or 'KMD'), which is made by Sharman Networks. Both programs are very similar, with almost identical features and appearance. The main difference is that Kazaa Lite has been modified so that it does not have any of the so-called 'Spyware' and 'Adware' that comes with the Original Kazaa."

That is from the official Kazaa Lite site.. sure sounds a lot alike... And modifying the program is certainly breaking the EULA isn't it? Even SpywareInfo consideres them cracked...

Perhaps you should take this up with those at spywareinfo though or whoever has looked into this more... Ill admit I haven't looked into it a whole lot... I just always thought (And had read) that "Kazaa Lite" Was A modified version/hacked version of Kazaa Media Desktop and others seemed to think/say the same.. Im always open to the possibility of me being wrong...

You can't deny though that many viruses target Kazaa/FastTrack Network, Always some new P2P Virus that puts infected files into the Kazaa Shared Folder as "Unreal Tournament Full.EXE" Or "SeeBritneyNude.exe"

Yes, Kazaa lite is based on the original KaZaA client - this is NOT the same thing as KaZaA Media Desktop (Sharman Networks changed the names as part of their "marketing strategy")- which is just a PART of KaZaA, specifically it is the part that runs in the background all the time and lets Sharman Networks download and install new ads and spyware to YOUR computer and use your excess processor cycles for whatever they want.

Maybe my view on this is a bit skewed because I have fixed literally hundreds of pcs that have been hijacked by KaZaA and its nasty little surprises - call it "hacked" "cracked" or whatever, I'd rather do it to their software, than have them do it to MY machine.

This has become an argument of semantics here; maybe if I put to you this way: Kazaalite is basicly KaZaA with the KaZaA Media Desktop removed (plus some other stuff removed and extra features added) - so the point I have been trying to make is that they arent hacking the KMD - they just remove it.

As for the EULA, have you read what you are agreeing to with Sharman Networks? you are agreeing to let them install anything they want to your machine whenever they want and if you remove any of it (such as with Spyware removal tools) you are then breaking the EULA.

I never denied that viruses are attacking ALL P2P networks (not just the FastTrack either), I stated that it is NOT just Kazaalite that is being targeted. Actually if you check out this Wired News article you will see that KaZaa has infact distributed versions of its software which included a Trojan (-oops, that EULA you agreed to means you arent allowed to remove it either!!!). I maintain that common sense and an up-to-date antivirus are the only method of protecting yourself no matter what you use.

I think that anyone that uses any shareware/adware/freeware programs should visit spywareinfo.net frequently and READ any EULA that they agree to (and they are counting on the fact that almost no one ever reads them)