uTorrent teams up with PeerFactor
Remember PeerFactor? The French-based failed attempt to bribe P2P users into poisoning file-sharing networks with malware? Well they have a new ally – the developer of the popular uTorrent BitTorrent client which for [until now?] unknown reasons has remained closed-source throughout. Luckily I uninstalled uTorrent not long after I downloaded it, because I just didn’t see any significant benefit. So here’s a suggestion if you want to avoid any PeerFactor-related nastiness:
- Uninstall uTorrent
- Check the uTorrent install folder for any remaining files – use your favourite file wiper/‘secure delete’ software (my favourite is DeepDelete, but that’s no longer available for download) to burn them with fire (or just delete them, which would also work :P)
- Check your registry for any remaining uTorrent keys. Remember to check both HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and HKEY_USERS – many programs place keys in both
- Install the alternative client of your choice – Azureus and BitComet are the two most popular, although BitComet is Windows only and incorporates the IE rendering engine, which might be a security concern
PS: I am aware that the name of the software begins with the scientific/mathematical symbol for the ‘micro’ prefix, but I am not opening character map for uTorrent’s benefit.
See Also:
March 11th, 2006 at 1:44 pm
Utorrent have added a notice about this :
http://www.utorrent.com/#notice
PeerFactor only distribute trials/Demos that replace pirated versions :
http://tinyurl.com/g3jwz
March 16th, 2006 at 5:22 pm
Actually, they distribute the DRM-crippled files you described masquerading as full versions - that is network poisoning.
And I call it ‘malware’ because the DRM causes your system to phone home to the RIAA (without your consent) every time you open the file.
PS: I changed the URL in the previous comment to a TinyURL redirect because the original URL’s length (121 characters) screwed the page theme