# Gator Warning **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 29, 2001, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gator-warning/70649 "2001-06-29T19:46:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2001, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gator-warning/70649/1 "2001-06-29T19:46:03Z")
There is a progam called Gator which has been making its rounds on the Net. It usually comes with other programs, such as WeatherBug. Gator seems harmless enough, but has been causing problems for some. Here’s what my employer has to say about Gator (bolding mine): > [@](#): > > While Gator seems like a good Internet form filling application at first glance, it is a problem to USPTO’s security because it can be used to compromise the integrity of PTOnet. **The USPTO has recorded a couple of incidents where the application was used to launch denial of service attacks to Internet sites.** Everyone reading this might want to check their computer for Gator and remove it. ---
**Author:** ![False\_God](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ee7513/32.png) [@False\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/False_God)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2001, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gator-warning/70649/2 "2001-06-29T19:51:03Z")
Yeah, Gator’s a POS. It’s marketed as a password reminder utility-you fill in all your email accounts with UN and PW, and it’ll “remember” them for you. I don’t think I have to tell anyone how dangerous this is. I mean, remembering and changing passwords is a PITA, but I’d rather have that than my machine used in a DOS attack. I use Ad-aware to scan for stuff like this. Window Washer is also another good utility, but can be unstable, esp. in an ME environment. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2001, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gator-warning/70649/3 "2001-07-02T14:50:17Z")
Just in case some haven’t seen this yet. Although this would be more of a problem for those with a cable modem or some other direct Internet connection, I don’t think _anyone_ would want to be involved in a denial of service scheme.