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" Increase your download speed with software X! " At some point, you've probably come across a program that claims to download programs faster: Download Accelerator (Speedbit), Marketscore (previously Netsetter), and GetRight (Headlight Software) are just a few popular titles. But did you know that these programs do more harm than good? How download speed is effected by a download accelerator When a file is being downloaded, it is sent to your computer using a single connection: you are connected to the web site, and the web site is sending you a file. A download accelerator works by increasing the number of connections to a web site so that the same file can be downloaded faster. Are you being watched? The truth is that almost all download accelerator programs contain some sort of Adware or Spyware. Adware is software that sends advertisements to your computer through a banner window or pop up advertisement. Spyware is intrusive software that keeps track of information about you, and has the ability to collect your name and email address via the Windows Registry in order to send unsolicited emails. How nice! Read the Fine Print Most accelerators offer some sort of "essential" feature, such as the ability to resume a download. The "essential feature" is usually what interests most users to install the download speed enhancing software in the first place. As with most software obtained from the Internet, download accelerators come with an End User License Agreement (EULA) which is displayed during the installation process. Most of us are so accustomed to skipping through the install procedure that we miss out on the tidbit about the Adware and Spyware which will be installed on our systems in addition to the main program. Some programs such as MarketScore come hard-coded with Adware and Spyware and cannot be uninstalled separately. Uninstalling couldn't be easier... or not! In general, the nature of most download accelerators must modify the Windows Registry so that multiple connections can be opened in order to increase download speed; as well, it modifies how your computer interacts with the world wide web so it has the ability to send advertisements to your machine. In MANY cases, a download accelerator does not uninstall cleanly and can leave many web applications (such as Internet browsers) unworkable. More Adware and Spyware programs Unfortunately, more and more programs are being produced to promote Adware and Spyware. Why? Simply because it pays the developer who wrote the program. Programs which are FREE usually come at some price. If you want to check whether or not a program you have installed contains Adware or Spyware, I recommend visiting Spychecker. It contains a database full of Spyware and Adware programs: http://www.spychecker.com/ Free Spyware Removal Software:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html (Spybot) http://www.lavasoftusa.com (Ad-aware) More about the Windows Registry http://www.infopackets.com/articles/systemregistry.htm
-- Related newsletter articles:
2004/03/17 RoboForm Special Release (download)
2005/02/23 Registry Mechanic Frequently Asked Questions (download)
2004/07/27 Registry Cleaning Q and A (download)
2003/09/30 Registry Backup and DLL Hell?, Part 3 (download)
2002/09/11 Outlook Express has removed access to unsafe attachments, Part 2 (download)
2004/06/16 Windows Update XP won't download Critical Updates? (download)
2004/12/04 Key benefits of Microsoft SP2 CD vs SP2 download? (download)
2005/03/16 Genie Backup Manager: Trial Download (download)
2003/10/17 File Association incorrect after download? (download)
2004/08/26 Download directly to CD using Windows XP? (download)
2003/04/17 Disable or enable AutoComplete in Internet Explorer? (adware spyware)
2004/11/03 XoftSpy Spyware Tool: Legitimate or Scam? (spyware)
2004/03/11 What Spyware is safe to remove? (spyware)
2003/12/02 Web PopUps, Messenger PopUps, and Spyware PopUps (spyware)
2005/01/07 Use more than one Virus Scanner at same time? (spyware)
2004/11/04 XoftSpy Spyware Tool: Legitimate or Scam?, Part 2 (spyware)
2004/10/26 XP Service Pack 2 Windows Firewall: does little to ... (spyware)
2002/11/27 Uninstall Bargain Buddy adware (adware)
2002/06/11 The Morpheus Shopping Club -- Scumware, Adware, Spyware (adware)
2004/11/10 Suggestions for purchasing a Laptop? (speed)
2002/08/22 How to calculate AMD XP+ speed ratings in MHz (speed)
2005/02/02 Comparing Processor performance (desktop and laptop PCs)? (speed)
2003/04/15 CD Burner won't write at maximum recording speed?, Part 2 (speed)
-- Recent articles (from all channels): 2008/05/15 Today in History: for Thursday, May 15, 2008
2008/05/15 [ShellX 20080515]: 'Commercial Games Released As Freeware', and '
2008/05/15 Outside Company Offers Smarter Wikipedia Searches
2008/05/15 Microsoft-Google Battle Goes Galactic
2008/05/15 Find it Over and Over Again in MS Word
2008/05/15 Hackers Find A New Hiding Place for Rootkits
2008/05/14 [ShellX 20080514]: 'Blend', and 'Dexpose2'
2008/05/14 Windows XP Service Pack 3 Gives Boot to HP, AMD Machines
2008/05/14 Stephen Colbert Among 'Webby' Winners
2008/05/14 Irony Strikes At Tech Conference
2008/05/14 Getting Closure in MS Outlook
2008/05/13 [ShellX 20080513]: 'Drive Spacio', and 'Youtube Batch Downloader'
2008/05/13 Congressman Calls For Second Life Ban In Schools
2008/05/13 Trying to Exit MS Excel 2007
2008/05/13 Problems Reported With Windows XP SP3
2008/05/12 [ShellX 20080512]: 'Remote Manager', and 'Cyber Bandwidth ...
2008/05/12 Video Gaming Trade Group Struggling
2008/05/12 T-Mobile Finally Joins 3G Phone Race
2008/05/12 Apple Slammed by Environment Watchdog
2008/05/09 [ShellX 20080509]: 'Advanced Run', and 'Diver Windows Manager'
2008/05/09 Texas Refuses Facebook Friend Request
2008/05/09 Photo-Enforcement Technology Replaces Officers On Patrol
2008/05/09 Cuban Government Says 'Ok Computer'
2008/05/09 Excel Can E-Mail Your Weekly Reports For You!
2008/05/08 [ShellX 20080508]: 'Shell Enhancer', and 'Lansweeper'
2008/05/08 Xobni: MS Outlook Social Networking Technology for your Inbox
2008/05/08 Music Companies Jump on GTA IV Bandwagon
2008/05/08 Fascinating: Memristor to replace Binary
2008/05/08 Adobe Hopes To Make Flash Master Of The (Mobile) Universe
2008/05/08 Spiffy Envelopes and Labels in MS Word
2008/05/07 [ShellX 20080507]: 'Winbin2iso', and 'Loop Typer'
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