Comments on: Adware-lexa? There is Adware in the Alexa toolbar http://www.blogopreneur.com/2007/03/23/adware-lexa-there-is-adware-in-the-alexa-toolbar/ Blogging is an incredible way for companies to extend their reach on the Internet. Learn how you can use blog marketing and SEO to build yourself into authority in you industry and reach out to new customers. Be a Blogopreneur! Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:42:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Kian Ann http://www.blogopreneur.com/2007/03/23/adware-lexa-there-is-adware-in-the-alexa-toolbar/#comment-576034 Kian Ann Mon, 17 Nov 2008 04:22:04 +0000 http://www.blogopreneur.com/2007/03/23/adware-lexa-there-is-adware-in-the-alexa-toolbar/#comment-576034 Hi Hristiyan, Yes, Alexa stats are inaccurate. If you rank high, you have very good traffic, but anything below 20,000 only tells you that there isn't a flow of net savvy visitors. Here is <a href="http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/thoughts-on-alexa-data/" rel="nofollow">Matt Cutts' thoughts on Alexa Traffic 2 years ago</a> Its funny, because I do use a FireFox plugin with Alexa Rankings, and I was working on a client's project - and with just ME accessing the site many times a day to make changes to the site, I upped the rankings from the initial 26 mil to 6 mil within 2 weeks. Heh. Hi Hristiyan,

Yes, Alexa stats are inaccurate.

If you rank high, you have very good traffic, but anything below 20,000 only tells you that there isn’t a flow of net savvy visitors.

Here is Matt Cutts’ thoughts on Alexa Traffic 2 years ago

Its funny, because I do use a FireFox plugin with Alexa Rankings, and I was working on a client’s project - and with just ME accessing the site many times a day to make changes to the site, I upped the rankings from the initial 26 mil to 6 mil within 2 weeks. Heh.

]]> By: Hristiyan Hristov http://www.blogopreneur.com/2007/03/23/adware-lexa-there-is-adware-in-the-alexa-toolbar/#comment-575746 Hristiyan Hristov Mon, 17 Nov 2008 01:00:21 +0000 http://www.blogopreneur.com/2007/03/23/adware-lexa-there-is-adware-in-the-alexa-toolbar/#comment-575746 Hmmm, i personally wouldn't take my chances, that is once Avira's Anti-Virus program pops up with a warning. Avira says: Contains recognition pattern of the DR/AlexaBar.N.207 dropper. Of course it's been configured for maximum sensitivity (better safe than sorry). I've also personally seen exactly how inaccurate Alexa's statistics actually are, that is, unless you're in the top 500 (very difficult to reach that one). Hmmm, i personally wouldn’t take my chances, that is once Avira’s Anti-Virus program pops up with a warning.

Avira says: Contains recognition pattern of the DR/AlexaBar.N.207 dropper.

Of course it’s been configured for maximum sensitivity (better safe than sorry).

I’ve also personally seen exactly how inaccurate Alexa’s statistics actually are, that is, unless you’re in the top 500 (very difficult to reach that one).

]]> By: Paul http://www.blogopreneur.com/2007/03/23/adware-lexa-there-is-adware-in-the-alexa-toolbar/#comment-232277 Paul Wed, 23 Jan 2008 11:54:28 +0000 http://www.blogopreneur.com/2007/03/23/adware-lexa-there-is-adware-in-the-alexa-toolbar/#comment-232277 Thank you for the info sharing. I've read about this from other people's experience & personally have the same experience too. Its too common the toolbars actually bring out lot of problem to the users. Thank you for the info sharing. I’ve read about this from other people’s experience & personally have the same experience too. Its too common the toolbars actually bring out lot of problem to the users.

]]> By: Ian L. http://www.blogopreneur.com/2007/03/23/adware-lexa-there-is-adware-in-the-alexa-toolbar/#comment-201282 Ian L. Thu, 20 Dec 2007 07:02:11 +0000 http://www.blogopreneur.com/2007/03/23/adware-lexa-there-is-adware-in-the-alexa-toolbar/#comment-201282 I have the same anti-virus software you have (avast) I would believe them before any toolbar! I have google toolbar and it never had a problems with it so I think any toolbar I try to install and that warning pops up, its not going on my computer! Would rather be safe than sorry!!! I have the same anti-virus software you have (avast) I would believe them before any toolbar! I have google toolbar and it never had a problems with it so I think any toolbar I try to install and that warning pops up, its not going on my computer! Would rather be safe than sorry!!!

]]> By: SysOp http://www.blogopreneur.com/2007/03/23/adware-lexa-there-is-adware-in-the-alexa-toolbar/#comment-154695 SysOp Fri, 02 Nov 2007 07:13:14 +0000 http://www.blogopreneur.com/2007/03/23/adware-lexa-there-is-adware-in-the-alexa-toolbar/#comment-154695 The Alexa toolbar monitors browsing habits in order to compile the Alexa stats. This type of "snooping" behavior is consider to be a malware trait and has gotten the toolbar flagged by most antivirus system. Looking past a bit of spying, some frivolous network traffic, a few spare cpu cycles and a prime strip of browser real estate it's not all bad (or is it?). Typically each toolbar user's traffic is amplified by a very large factor to get a ballpark figure of traffic patterns, this presents the opportunity for a small group of users or a single user exploiting multiple accounts to significantly skewer the Alexa statistics. Another potential issue might be a malicious exploit that hooks into the relatively insecure local toolbar via javascript to elevate access permission beyond those normally granted to remote scripts. @ Kian Ann: AV scanners are a prime target for "smart" viruses trying to operate in stealth mode. Some taint the AV software while others have been known to disable and then mimic the user interface to provide a false sense of security. Rootkits take this a step further and go directly for the system kernel to hide their presence. Still, the most disturbing attack I've witnessed was an internet worm that gained entry to systems via Norton Anti-Virus's "LiveUpdate" service. Now there's irony for you. The Alexa toolbar monitors browsing habits in order to compile the Alexa stats. This type of “snooping” behavior is consider to be a malware trait and has gotten the toolbar flagged by most antivirus system.

Looking past a bit of spying, some frivolous network traffic, a few spare cpu cycles and a prime strip of browser real estate it’s not all bad (or is it?).

Typically each toolbar user’s traffic is amplified by a very large factor to get a ballpark figure of traffic patterns, this presents the opportunity for a small group of users or a single user exploiting multiple accounts to significantly skewer the Alexa statistics.

Another potential issue might be a malicious exploit that hooks into the relatively insecure local toolbar via javascript to elevate access permission beyond those normally granted to remote scripts.

@ Kian Ann: AV scanners are a prime target for “smart” viruses trying to operate in stealth mode. Some taint the AV software while others have been known to disable and then mimic the user interface to provide a false sense of security. Rootkits take this a step further and go directly for the system kernel to hide their presence. Still, the most disturbing attack I’ve witnessed was an internet worm that gained entry to systems via Norton Anti-Virus’s “LiveUpdate” service. Now there’s irony for you.

]]> By: Kian Ann http://www.blogopreneur.com/2007/03/23/adware-lexa-there-is-adware-in-the-alexa-toolbar/#comment-10731 Kian Ann Mon, 26 Mar 2007 15:13:54 +0000 http://www.blogopreneur.com/2007/03/23/adware-lexa-there-is-adware-in-the-alexa-toolbar/#comment-10731 Heh John, use Firefox! :P Heh John, use Firefox! :P

]]> By: john http://www.blogopreneur.com/2007/03/23/adware-lexa-there-is-adware-in-the-alexa-toolbar/#comment-10632 john Mon, 26 Mar 2007 01:01:22 +0000 http://www.blogopreneur.com/2007/03/23/adware-lexa-there-is-adware-in-the-alexa-toolbar/#comment-10632 Thank Kian Ann, Me better uninstall tonight. :) John Tan http://www.JohnTanBlog.com Thank Kian Ann,

Me better uninstall tonight. :)

John Tan
http://www.JohnTanBlog.com

]]> By: Kian Ann http://www.blogopreneur.com/2007/03/23/adware-lexa-there-is-adware-in-the-alexa-toolbar/#comment-10282 Kian Ann Sat, 24 Mar 2007 01:14:20 +0000 http://www.blogopreneur.com/2007/03/23/adware-lexa-there-is-adware-in-the-alexa-toolbar/#comment-10282 Walter, you got a point. Maybe its the anti-virus scanner is behaving erratically. So ironic. Actually last time I have thought about this - can anti virus programs be infected by viruses? :P Mark, thanks! In that case Alexa becomes pretty useless huh? The rankings are not really representative and the toolbar uses spyware! Walter, you got a point. Maybe its the anti-virus scanner is behaving erratically. So ironic. Actually last time I have thought about this - can anti virus programs be infected by viruses? :P

Mark, thanks! In that case Alexa becomes pretty useless huh? The rankings are not really representative and the toolbar uses spyware!

]]> By: Mike http://www.blogopreneur.com/2007/03/23/adware-lexa-there-is-adware-in-the-alexa-toolbar/#comment-10230 Mike Fri, 23 Mar 2007 17:10:14 +0000 http://www.blogopreneur.com/2007/03/23/adware-lexa-there-is-adware-in-the-alexa-toolbar/#comment-10230 thats alexa for you they've always used spyware why I never touch alexa. thats alexa for you they’ve always used spyware why I never touch alexa.

]]> By: Walter http://www.blogopreneur.com/2007/03/23/adware-lexa-there-is-adware-in-the-alexa-toolbar/#comment-10211 Walter Fri, 23 Mar 2007 15:06:02 +0000 http://www.blogopreneur.com/2007/03/23/adware-lexa-there-is-adware-in-the-alexa-toolbar/#comment-10211 Haha.... sometimes anti-virus scanners can behave like adware products themselves! Simply by popping up now and then with upgrades, reminders, and so on.... Haha…. sometimes anti-virus scanners can behave like adware products themselves! Simply by popping up now and then with upgrades, reminders, and so on….

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