Request for Question Clarification by
tisme-ga
on
08 Dec 2002 21:57 PST
This is a relisting of a question already answered here:
https://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=threadview&id=121641
Here is some additional information for you phil23-ga:
The company you are looking for can be found at http://www.bonzi.com
and the software on your computer is probably the Bonzi Buddy
software:
http://www.bonzi.com/bonzibuddy/bonzibuddyfreehom.asp
You can contact the company about this software here:
http://www.bonzi.com/support/bdymenu.htm
You can file a technical support issue with them here:
http://www.bonzi.com/support/techform.htm
If all you want to do is remove the software, you can find the
instructions here: http://www.pchell.com/support/bonzibuddy.shtml You
might find that the software you installed to protect your computer
has already removed the BonziBuddy software.
The program is seen to be a pest by some: "Unconfirmed, but it is
reported that the Bonzi software will change your homepage,(back to
Bonzi's)". Whether you select yes or no, your homepage gets changed."
The same page also lists it as "Advertising Spyware" saying
"BonziBuddy - A talking gorilla/parrot/etc. "software companion"
targeting children. Silently Installed with some other software, and
difficult to remove."
Source: Adware, Spyware and Advertising Trojans
http://www.cexx.org/adware.htm
The program probably got installed when someone downloaded it onto
your computer, or it was silently installed when you downloaded
another program and it was packaged with it. If it was packaged with
another program, most likely there was a sentence or two hidden
somewhere during the installation process that said the software would
be installed.
According to ZDNet News there is a new lawsuit filed against Bonzi
software. "The lawsuit, filed Nov. 25 in the Superior Court of
Washington State, is one of the first to bring public discontent over
some type of Internet advertising to the courtroom. It charges San
Luis Obispo, Calif.-based Bonzi Software with hoodwinking millions of
Internet users into clicking to its Web site via the ads. (by Stefanie
Olsen)
"Security Alert" Ads Pop Up in Court
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1106-976090.html
An excerpt from a PCWorld.com article: "Similar browser settings may
enable some of Bonzi Software's pop-up ads to create a directory on
your hard drive and download the company's marketing mascot, an
animated purple gorilla that pitches to you whether you are online or
off."
Web Ad Explosion
http://www.pcworld.com/resource/printable/article/0,aid,101916,00.asp
A good program that can be used to scan for and remove spyware is:
Ad-Aware
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/aaw.html
To sum up this answer, I don't think you have much to worry about,
especially after you remove the software. It is basically an
advertising program that finds it's way onto people's computers,
sometimes without them knowing about it. If you do not want it on your
computer, you should be able to remove it using the program you
purchased, or by following the instructions above. It is important to
make sure that the programs being downloaded are from trusted sources,
some freeware, shareware and even commercial software products bundle
in advertising software. The program you have purchased is a step in
the right direction, but it is also important to be careful about what
is downloaded from the internet.
I hope this is the answer you were looking for. Let me know if you
need any clarifications regarding this answer, and I will do my best
to further assist you.
tisme-ga
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