From: "Rich" 

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

------=_NextPart_000_0327_01C34084.96AE1E40
Content-Type: text/plain;
        charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

   Unless you deleted it this key and the subkey for the show related =
menu item would be present prior to installing SP4.  The show related =
menu item is part of Windows 2000.  As he mentioned, the alexa toolbar = is
something else entirely.

Rich

  "Geo."  wrote in message =
news:3f030d98$1{at}w3.nls.net...
  fwiw, I don't agree with his assesment, I don't use MSN, I don't have =
an
  account, the components were not on my computer prior to SP4, the =
registry
  entry was not on my computer prior to SP4, Alexa is not part of NT so =
it
  shouldn't be there afterwards.

  Geo.

  --------------
  I have received a number of reports from individuals who have =
"discovered"
  Alexa Adware in W2K SP4 installations. They've discovered this via a =
variety
  of programs such as PestPatrol and Ad-ware.
  From what I've been able to determine, the reason for the detection is =
that
  the Alexa object GUID is placed in the registry under;

  HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Extensions\

  The reason for this is, according to reports I have read, because MSN =
uses
  Alexa as an assistant to their search engine. The "Show Related Links"
  option in MSN search comes via Alexa. However, if you view the details
  associated with that option, you will see that Alexa Toolbar itself is =
not
  installed (and this is the object which some have labeled adware.) The
  toolbar is offered via a link in text describing the service, but =
users are
  not prompted to install it.

  Ergo, the assertion that the Alexa object is present or installed is,
  IMNSHO, a false detection for systems which have simply installed IE =
6.0
  (when this option was first added) or W2K SP4.

  If anyone has proof to the contrary, please advise.

  Cheers,
  Russ - NTBugtraq Editor


------=_NextPart_000_0327_01C34084.96AE1E40
Content-Type: text/html;
        charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable








   Unless
you deleted it this =
key and the=20
subkey for the show related menu item would be present prior to = installing=20
SP4.  The show related menu item is part of Windows
2000.  As = he=20
mentioned, the alexa toolbar is something else entirely.
 
Rich
 

  "Geo." <georger{at}nls.net>">mailto:georger{at}nls.net">georger{at}nls.net>
wrote=20
  in message news:3f030d98$1{at}w3.nls.net...fwiw,=20
  I don't agree with his assesment, I don't use MSN, I don't have =
anaccount,=20
  the components were not on my computer prior to SP4, the =
registryentry was=20
  not on my computer prior to SP4, Alexa is not part of NT so =
itshouldn't be=20
  there
afterwards.Geo.--------------I
have received =
a=20
  number of reports from individuals who have "discovered"Alexa =
Adware in=20
  W2K SP4 installations. They've discovered this via a varietyof =
programs=20
  such as PestPatrol and Ad-ware.From what I've been able to =
determine, the=20
  reason for the detection is thatthe Alexa object GUID is placed in =
the=20
  registry under;HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet=20
  Explorer\Extensions\The reason for this is, according to =
reports I=20
  have read, because MSN usesAlexa as an assistant to their search =
engine.=20
  The "Show Related Links"option in MSN search comes via Alexa. =
However, if=20
  you view the detailsassociated with that option, you will see that =
Alexa=20
  Toolbar itself is notinstalled (and this is the object which some =
have=20
  labeled adware.) Thetoolbar is offered via a link in text =
describing the=20
  service, but users arenot prompted to install
it.Ergo, the =

  assertion that the Alexa object is present or installed is,IMNSHO, =
a false=20
  detection for systems which have simply installed IE 6.0(when this =
option=20
  was first added) or W2K SP4.If anyone has proof to the =
contrary,=20
  please advise.Cheers,Russ - NTBugtraq=20
Editor

------=_NextPart_000_0327_01C34084.96AE1E40--

--- BBBS/NT v4.01 Flag-4