RESOURCES

What Is Spyware?

In general, spyware is any technology that aids in gathering information about a person or organization without their knowledge. On the Internet, spyware is programming that is put in someone's computer to secretly gather information about the user and relay it to advertisers or other interested parties. Spyware can get in a computer as a software virus or as the result of installing a new program. Data collecting programs that are installed with the user's knowledge are not, properly speaking, are spyware, if the user fully understands what data is being collected and with whom it is being shared. Many free downloads on the net use this technology and among the most popular are Kazaa and Gator. Many of these same programs use a technology commonly referred to as Adware that will pop unsolicited ads on your computer.

The GPWA is against any company using this form of advertising and we do not endorse it's use by casinos or any other internet business. We respect your privacy.

Removal

Ad Aware is the best tool currently available for spyware removal and is a free download. A great replacement for Gator is the non-spyware form filling program Roboform

See Ya Later...

By running the uninstall program that is provided by Gator will get rid of the obvious parts of their program. You do that by accessing your system's "Start / Settings / Control Panel / Add/Remove Programs" to remove both Gator and it's add on OfferCompanion.

Also search for the Trickler files (fsg.exe, fsg-ag.exe, fsg*.exe) these insert a Run key in your Registry so that it is silently and automatically loaded every time you start your computer. Trickler runs hidden and very slowly downloads the rest of Gator/OfferCompanion onto your system. It is suggested that this "trickling" activity is intended to slip under the user's radar, the steady, low usage of bandwidth going unnoticed. While often named fsg.exe, Trickler can go under other similar names, such as fsg-ag.exe (installed with AudioGalaxy) or another name containing "fsg" or "trickler"

After uninstalling Gator, you will want to download and run the free program Ad-aware which will remove most, or all, of the harmful software remaining on your system as a result of your system's infection by Gator and other programs.

Ta Ta KaZaA!

Ad Aware does a great job of ridding your system of Cydoor, installed by KaZaA. Unfortunately in some cases when the program is run it will reinstall the spyware on your system necessitating the re-running of Ad Aware. You can circumvent this by using some dummy files. The files and full instructions are available here:
http://www.geocities.com/subdimember/Neuter_KaZaA.html

Diet Kaza....all the functionality of KaZaA without the spyware:
http://download.com.com/3000-2196-10175626.html?tag=lst-0-1

There are many types of spyware and adware and further information is available from Allentech

Hijack This! - excellent scanner for finding hijackers on your computer. Shows you what to delete. Pay a nominal fee to the developer for a license, and it'll automatically remove them for you.

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