|
 |
|
|
Spyware Characteristics |
| Description: |
|
The
ActualNames software is an address bar
search hijacker targeting IE, Netscape
and AOL browsers.
It also seems to contain components
to interfere with the sending of mail
from various applications and web sites.
However, the function of these files
has not been pinned down.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
What it does? |
| Advertising: |
|
No. |
|
| Privacy
violation: |
|
No. |
|
| Security
issues: |
|
Yes,
ActualNames can silently download and
execute arbitrary unsigned code from
its controlling server actualnames.com,
as a self-updating feature.
ActualNames/BrowseProxy is also a
severe security hole as it allows
any web site to execute arbitrary
programs.
|
|
| Stability
problems: |
|
None
known (other than its tendency to contact
its server at startup and every ten
minutes, which can be problematic for
auto-connect). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Indications of infection |
| There
could be an entry in Add/Remove programs
as 'AdvSearch'. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
