i would like to know if the spyware attatched to the file sharing network program KaZaa will affect my computer in a bad way. Also if there is anyway to keep kazaa from affecting any of the files in my computer, how? thank you i'm really worried. dustin

the worst part of kazaa is newdotnet&webhancer, read the write-up at; http://www.cexx.org/newnet.htm and http://www.cexx.org/adware.htm info from; http://www.simplythebest.net/info/spyware.html KaZaa Toptext Sells targeted traffic based on the content of everyone's web page without having to develop any content of their own. There is a new file sharing system launched in the wake of the MP3 war called KaZaa. When you install KaZaa you get a spyware virus installed on your computer. Toptext takes control of your browser and makes changes to everything you read on the Internet (like Flyswat), which qualifies it as a hacking program as well. It changes the way you'll browse forever. NOTE: the latest version of this program also installs the following spyware agents: Cydoor, Webhancer and Newdotnet. TopText operates with a browser to highlight words on every web page, inserting a yellow background behind keywords that have been purchased through their media sales company eZula, Inc. If a web user clicks on one of those yellow highlighted words on a web page, the user is sent to the site of the company paying the most that day for each click-through. If a user whose browser is infected with TopText visits your web site, they will be offered links to competitor's web sites for every keyword they find on your site for which they have a buyer. This is not much different from the Smart Tags system that Microsoft announced for their Windows XP browser. Media and webmaster outrage caused Microsoft to cancel the release of that feature, for the time being that is. Several download web sites are actively helping this kind of virus to spread, as long as it pays, I guess. SimplytheBest.net does not. We don't like this invasion of privacy and will not in any way assist in spreading the use of this program. This spyware agent is very hard to get rid of so your best option is to never download it in the first place. Look for alternatives instead that offer the same functionality without the spyware agent. You can remove EZula instances from the Registry: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\EZulaBoot.InstallCtrl.1 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\EZulaBoot.InstallCtrl.1 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\EZulaBootExe.InstallCtrl HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\EZulaBootExe.InstallCtrl.1. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\AppID\eZulaBootExe.exe HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\AppID\{C0335198-6755-11D4-8A73-0050DA2EE1BE} HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\TypeLib\{3D7247D1-5DB8-11D4-8A72-0050DA2EE1BE} HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\TypeLib\{C0335197-6755-11D4-8A73-0050DA2EE1BE} HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Code Store Database\Distribution Units\{3D7247DE-5DB8-11D4-8A72-0050DA2EE1BE} HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ModuleUsage\C:/WINDOWS/Downloaded Program Files/eZulaBoot.dll And in HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Doc Find Spec MRU you'll find an entry for EZulaboot. And from your harddisk: C:\WINDOWS\Downloaded Program Files\InstallCtrl.class, which mentions two files it depends on ezulaboot.dll and ezulaboot.inf. C:\WINDOWS\eZulains.exe C:\WINDOWS\APPLOG\ezulains.lgc You can use AD-aware to get rid of Toptext, but it will cause problems with your Internet connection and so forth. Best way to go is not to download and install ANY spyware. It's getting more difficult to get rid of them and even to find them. After using AD-aware you can double check the Registry by doing a Find for eZula. You can also visit the WhirlyWiryWeb.com web site for more information on eZula and Toptext. They also feature a script which checks if you have Toptext installed and a complete Toptext removal guide. Users wanting similar functionality are advised to download Morpheus 1.3 (uninstall 1.2 first) instead. Get it here. NOTE: we are hearing rumors that Morpheus contains spyware agents as well. We'll be investigating this and will post any findings here as soon as we can confirm the rumors.

I run KaZaa and have not seen any "abnormal" activity. The only files outside of the application that your KaZaa account can see is the shared folder that you setup when you created the account. Even in that folder you can choose not to share a file. I don't think I would let it do the search for media to share. Ps. If you don't have one already, you need to get a firewall up and running on your system.

If you are asked to install any software outside Kazaa, dont install. I dont use Kazaa so i dont know it. But if it is like Audiogalaxy, which ask to istall some nasties such as Webhancer, Gator, BuddyBonzi, dont isnatll it. Just install the software or the core u need it.

I use kazaa & I've found that AD-aware detects 7 objects - cookies I guess they are-kazaa will not function if you clear them all,there is a cydoor item "clint.dll" - this is the only one that's needed for kazaa to operate & with a firewall & popup stopper I don't notice anything malicious or intrusive at all.I don't see that it's anything to get wound up about(I havn't seen any highlighted links in any browsers either)Nothing ventured Nothing gained I reckon

forgot to mention,kazaa will reinstall the spyware every time you open the media desktop-so I just run AD-aware afterwards everytime

yep i guarantee morpheus has spyware in it