[LON-CAPA-users] CommonName

[Mark Lucas]

A message I'm posting to my students:



Several students have been managing to break their browsers by
downloading software packages that include known third-party
applications which provide targeted advertising or usage histories.

One main culprit seems to be iMesh. Others which may do this are Kazaaa and 
Gator. Please exercise great caution when deciding to download any
software on your home system. At least one of the included utilities,
CommonName, disrupts the functioning of the browser. As far as I can
tell it strips or corrupts the username/password information that is
used to log in to LON-CAPA. It also breaks the university web-mail
service.

Please make note of new software that you download on your system. If
you are having problems logging into the system, this is the first piece
of information for which I'll ask.

For those who have been downloading these free packages, I found an
editor's note on cNet regarding iMesh that you should at least take
a glance at:

Editor's note: This download includes additional applications that are
bundled within the software's installer file, some of which may be
provided by parties other than the developer of this download. These
applications may deliver advertisements, collect information, overlay
content or graphics on the Web site you are viewing, or modify your
system settings. As with all downloads, CNET recommends that you pay
close attention to the options presented to you during the installation
process. Known third-party applications bundled with this download
include GAIN, Cydoor, Hotbar, eZula TopText, New.Net, CommonName,
SideStep, NetPal, FavoriteMan, VX2, FlashTrack, and BonziBuddy. To use
iMesh, you must also install these bundled applications. For more
information, please read CNET News.com's report on bundled software.

A free software package called AdAware is available. This package is
available at www.lavasoftusa.com. As with all packages, you need to take
a look at it and decide whether to download it or not. I have not used
this package, but know students who have. Its authors describe it as:

"... a free multi spyware removal utility that scans your memory, registry
and hard drives for known spyware and scumware components and lets you
remove them safely."


						Dr. Lucas

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mark Lucas					email: lucasm@ohiou.edu
252D Clippinger Lab  				phone: (740)597-2984
Department of Physics and Astronomy             fax:   (740)593-0433
Ohio University
Athens, OH 45701