What is Backweb Agent?

Occasionally when I’m surfing the net, things start to slow down quite badly, and occasionally my browser crashes. Nothing unusual in this, but when it happened a few days ago, I checked task manager, and there was something running called ‘Backweb Agent’, which I couldn’t shut down.

I played around a bit more, and found that sometimes closing the browser closed this program, and sometimes only shutting my internet connection closed it. Half the time I tried to do anything to close it, my computer froze.

Is this program something I have to worry about, or is it just another wonderful Microsoft ‘feature’ I’ll just have to live with?

HenrySpencer

Just put ‘Backweb Agent’ in your browser search & youll find out. That idea works for any & all message/programs your computer displays for you.
e.g.:
BackWeb: Push for e-business Solutions http://www.backweb.com/
BackWeb provides Push software for e-business solutions that solve the problem of timely,
accurate, critical information delivery across corporate networks and the Internet.

 BugTraq message: ISSalert: ISS Security Advisory: Vulnerability in the
 BackWeb Polite Agent Protocol (Tue Jan 19
 http://www.geek-girl.com/bugtraq/1999_1/0233.html
 [ by Message ] [ by Thread ] [ Post ][ Reply ] To:BugTraq Subject:ISSalert: ISS Security
 Advisory: Vulnerability in the BackWeb Polite Agent Protocol Date:Tue Jan 19 1999
 09:07:11 Author:aleph1@underground.org Messa

What? That’s not it!

BackWeb Agent is this shitty program that keeps track of your registered programs and automatically downloads newer versions and updates and patches for them.

Doesn’t work like it’s advertised.

–Tim

I use a free ISP called “GLOBAL FREEWAY” and it uses the BACK WEB AGENT to download advertisements to your computer as you surf.

To get rid of it, just press Alt-Ctrl-Del, select “Backweb Agent” and then click “End task”.