Installing ******** without spyware
With everybody’s favorite file-sharing software, ******** having gone away (at least for now), I have gone to another FastTrack client, ********. You may have heard that ******** installs spyware; it’s true, but I’ve found that it’s relatively easy to get around. Here are the steps to take to get yourself up and sharing with ********, with no evil spyware.
News and Updates
March 1 2002:
I’ve been FARKed! Thanks for the linkage, guys.
March 4 2002:
The following information is for Windows users. Sorry, I should have been more specific.
******** has posted a utility which removes ********’ registry entries. Be sure to read the ******** FAQ before using.
March 5 2002:
In response to requests I’ve signed up with Amazon’s “Honor System” and can now accept donations to help support the site. See below for details, and thanks.
New linkage from Grizzly.
KaZaa Admits to ******** Shutdown? Says Bills Not Paid. (MP3NewsWire)
New linkage from the F---edCompany.com Forums.
March 7 2002:
Unfair Share: ******** hits a roadblock on the fast track (Neil McAllister, Special to SF Gate)
I’ve been Googled! (Search on “******** spyware”, first result returned.)
New linkage from ExpectNothing.com
******** has released an updated version of the client software that fixes the disconnection problem.
March 8 2002:
Future of File-Swapping More Uncertain Than Ever (Wil Wheaton, special to BBSpot.com)
I. Uninstall ********
******** and ******** are both FastTrack clients built on an Internet Explorer UI. They use many of the same shared resources. To avoid any problems installing ********, you should definitely uninstall ******** first.
Click Start:Settings:Control Panel:Add & Remove Programs
Choose ******** from the list and click Add/Remove
Follow the prompts until the software is uninstalled.
Using Windows Explorer, browse to the ******** program directory (usually C:\Program Files********). Make sure there’s nothing in the Download directory you want to keep, and then delete the entire ******** directory.
Download and run ********_regclean.exe (from ********.com) to remove any leftover ******** registry entries.
II. Obtain New Software
We’ll get everything we need before beginning to install anything.
******** 1.5
******** 1.5.1 Update
DLDer-Remove (from ********.com)
Ad-Aware (from LavaSoft)
mirror | mirror | mirror | mirror | mirror
Updated Ad-Aware reference list (also from LavaSoft)
mirror | mirror | mirror | mirror
Dummy replacement Cydoor DLL (from CEXX; you can support them!)
What is Cydoor? (also from CEXX).
You’ll need WinZip or another Zip file utility if you don’t already have one.
Save all of these files to an easy-to-remember location. If any of the above links are broken, please let me know with the Feedback link at the bottom of this page.
III. Install ********
Launch the ******** installer (********setup.exe). Read every dialog carefully and make sure to deselect all checkboxes offering to install any additional software. Here are the spyware-related dialogs you will see when installing ******** 1.5. Note that your installation may be different, especially if ******** removes or changes the included spyware. Just keep your eyes open and read everything before you click that Next button!
Deselect the Install ******** with Gator and OfferCompanion checkbox.
Deselect all three checkboxes.
The first two are up to you, but definitely deselect the Launch ******** Now checkbox; we’ve got a little more work to do first!
Unless you really want your browser start page oh-so-helpfully changed, click Decline. Yes, even though I ACCEPT is in all caps with a red background, click Decline. Furrfu!
Since you clicked Decline above, you now have another chance to give out your personal information. Of course, you don’t have to do so.
Now run the ******** 1.5.1 Update (small********setup.exe). It doesn’t have any spyware checkbox dialogs, it just updates version 1.5 to version 1.5.1.
IV. Trash the spyware!
Run DLDer-Remove (dlder-remove.exe). Click Next and then Finish.
Install Ad-Aware (aaw.exe).
Open the REFLIST.ZIP file.
Extract the zipped reflist.sig to the directory where you installed Ad-Aware (usually C:\Program Files\Lavasoft Ad-Aware).
When complete, run Ad-Aware.
Under “Sections to scan:” select Scan Memory, Scan Registry (both Quick and Deep), and Scan Drives (select each of your hard drives). Then click Scan Now. This will take several minutes.
When Ad-Aware is done scanning, click Continue.
As you can see, Ad-Aware found seven new spyware components. I had previously run Ad-Aware before embarking on this project and completely cleaned out the system. This means that every one of these was installed by ********.
Select each component under the Type column.
When you have selected each of the components, click Continue.
Click OK when Ad-Aware asks you to confirm removal.
Click OK when Ad-Aware tells you it’s done, and then close Ad-Aware.
Open the CD_CLINT.ZIP file.
Extract the zipped cd_clint.dll to the directory where you installed ******** (usually C:\Program Files********).
V. Congratulations, you’re done!
Launch ******** from the icon on your desktop and you’ll see it looks pretty much just like ********.
It works the same way so if you’re familiar with ******** you shouldn’t have any trouble. Enjoy!
FAQ and Changelog
Q: Why bother moving to ******** when ******** says they’ll be back soon?
A: The rumors have it that the return of ******** will be as just another Gnutella client; and as we’ve seen (or at least I have) the FastTrack network has vastly greater potential than Gnutella. Besides, this gets you back up and running right away, without having to wait for ******** to get their collective act together.
Update: ******** is indeed back as a Gnutella client. Sorry guys, I gave up on Gnutella some time ago.
Q: What is DLDer-Remove.exe and what will it do to my system?
A: The short answer is that it is a utility provided by ******** to remove a trojan they inadvertently included in some versions of their software. For the full story, see this page on ********.com.
Q: Why extract CD_CLINT.DLL to the ******** directory instead of the windows\system or windows\system32 directory?
A: Windows executables will look for dependent DLLs first in their own home directory before looking in windows\system or windows\system32. By copying the dummy replacement Cydoor DLL to the ******** directory, you can be sure that ******** will be the only application using it.
Q: After finishing the install and extracting the dummy replacement Cydoor DLL, Ad-Aware still reports Cydoor!
A: Ad-Aware doesn’t examine the contents of a suspect file, it just goes by filename. We replaced the evil CD_CLINT.DLL with a neutered version, but Ad-Aware doesn’t know that so it will still alert you.
Right-click on the file and view the properties; you’ll see that it is in fact the dummy replacement DLL we installed.
You’ll need to exclude the replacement file from Ad-Aware’s scanning. Here’s how to do it:
Select the checkbox next to CD_CLINT.DLL, and click Exclude.
Answer OK and then click Continue, OK and OK again.
If you ever want to remove the dummy replacement DLL from Ad-Aware’s include list, click Configuration, IgnoreList, select the file in the list, and click Remove Checked Items, Yes and Proceed.
Don’t have Ad-Aware delete the replacement DLL or ******** won’t launch.
Q: What’s this “Update ********” in my StartUp group?
A: The ******** installer places an auto-update check utility in your StartUp group. Removing this shortcut is easy: