Posting the screenshot and providing the Fiddler file earlier was my evidence. I was saying to check out the channels found in the fiddler file.
Ask Toolbar reports back to its server way more often than it should, indicating it is spying on the user and using ad-tracking abilities.
My take…
Jay as a Malware Researcher you should already know that evidence & documentation is everything. Objectivity can help as well. Without it, you leave yourself exposed to the above. In addition, you should actively encourage what Endymion has done. It tests the results of your teams research to ensure there are no errors or omissions. This is vital process that companies pay good money for. Seriously. Also, these are public forums, if you want a more limited initial viewing, then you should consider initially publishing the results in a less public place. I do not believe it wise or beneficial to ask members to leave you alone in the way you have done after making your results public.
One more, very important thing, if you cannot demonstrate how this is related to HopSurf’s installation specifically then it is, by definition, polluting this topic. You should have started a new topic.
Jay, there is no title to spread misinformation.
If you are willing to claim you are a real “malware researcher” state for what company you work. 88)
@DMJay
Have you done comparative Fiddler tests against other search toolbars. I have, and there really is little to choose between them.
I also have to ask, by what criteria do you judge ‘spying on the user’? Does google spy on us? do Microsoft via bing?
Lets put it in to perspective:
Install a search toolbar of choice
Every toolbar has, by definition, an engine that powers the toolbar.
Every search you enter therefore, is subject to capture, use, and subsequent analysis by the engine provider, unless said engine provider categorically denies otherwise (then you may believe what you wish)
This is the world we live in, unless you take measures to counter these abuses you will be a statistic in as many databases as the websites you have visited.
I have to also reiterate Kail’s point. This thread is about HopSerf. No one denies the engine behind this is Ask/IAC, it’s in the EULA. Unless you have a specific argument or pertinent information regarding this, a separate discussion thread would be better.