MyPhoneExplorer and it's 3 malware applications

Anmeldedatum: 30.05.2006 Beiträge: 6

Why not disable the networkcard/or removing the network cable during the installation. Works great for me.
I do this with all programs I install. If a certain program wants to download stuff I won't install it.

And I also have Malwarebytes and Avast installed, when you dont have internet the installer wont download those candywares/adwares. And neither gives a warning during the installation. Or when I use mpe.

Verfasst am: Fr Sep 05, 2014 22:10

I did not answer because i do answer all threads every 3-4 weeks. Its not possible for me to answer the threads daily, i have alot of other jobs related to MyPhoneExplorer. As the screenshot of Shohreh does show - the ad screens are clear and especially the opt-out possibility is (in opposite to other advertising screens of freeware) not hidden in any case. Just click on "Decline" - is it so hard ?

MyPhoneExplorer is ad-supported since beginning about 6 years ago. So its nothing new. I understand that there are maybe alot of users which would prefer to pay a normal license for the usage and i know that i would earn much more money by selling software licenses. But i have my reasons for this model and to say it clear - its my own decision.

@modiX: Contact me via email and tell me when and with which email you made the donation. I can refuse your donation, no problem at all.

@fjsuser14: If installed accidentially a ad-ware should be removable completly, I will contact Systweak to fix this issue.

Anmeldedatum: 11.07.2012 Beiträge: 57

Super disappointing that FJ has included malware in the installation. I did catch one of the apps but missed one. The options, if provided to not install the malware were not clear at all. VERY disappointing that it includes such. Based on this I will seek another solution for syncing my android to outlook. Evil or Very Mad

Verfasst am: Mo Sep 08, 2014 17:15

jgt1942 hat Folgendes geschrieben:

Super disappointing that FJ has included malware in the installation. I did catch one of the apps but missed one. The options, if provided to not install the malware were not clear at all. VERY disappointing that it includes such. Based on this I will seek another solution for syncing my android to outlook. Evil or Very Mad

Again, there is a malware free solution if you install the Ecco Edition of MyPhoneExplorer which also handles Outlook and all other options. Our world-wide EccoPro community of lawyers, architects, engineers, IT professionals, writers and many other entrepreneurs who use EccoPro to manage their daily information and time management needs requested MyPhoneExplorer to be "Malware Free". For more information about EccoPro and the malware free version of MyPhoneExplorer visit http://eccopro.com/about/

Anmeldedatum: 08.09.2014 Beiträge: 1

English version below.

Einem geschenkten Gaul schaut man nicht ins Maul.

Aber hier liegt die Sache meiner Meinung nach schon ein wenig anders. Der Mensch ist ein Gewohnheitstier. Seit Jahren ist man es gewöhnt, dass Freeware eventuell unerwünschte Add-Ons enthalten kann. Alle mir bekannten Installer zeigen derartiges recht deutlich mit Optionsfeldern an.
Beim MPE-Installer dagegen wird der Anwender optisch im Stile eines typischen EULA-Screens dazu verleitet, die unerwünschten Komponenten versehentlich mit zu installieren - wer liest schon EULAs? Das ist dreiste Bauernfängerei, nichts anderes.

Darüber hinaus wird hier nicht eine "harmlose" Ask-Toolbar o.ä. installiert, sondern offensichtlich mehr oder weniger zufällig ausgewählte Malware. Malware deshalb, weil es diverse Virenscanner (F-Secure, Bitdefender etc.) als solche erkennen und weil saubere Deinstallationsroutinen fehlen. Allein die Tatsache, dass unterschiedliche Malware installiert wird (s. diverse Foreneinträge) macht deutlich, dass der Entwickler gar nicht beurteilen kann, welcher Mist letztendlich beim vielleicht etwas gutgläubigen Anwender landet.

Natürlich möchte der Entwickler einen Lohn für seine Arbeit haben, aber das rechtfertig keine solch halbseidenen Maßnahmen. Das Vertrauen ist schnell verspielt. Heute rechtfertigt er (abwählbare) Malware in der Desktop-Software, morgen ist es dann eine Komponente, die alle meine Kontaktdaten weiter gibt.

Möge jeder seine eigenen Schlüsse daraus ziehen.

---

Never look a gift horse in the mouth.

But in this case I think it´s different. Old habits die hard. For years you are used that freeware might include unwanted add-ons. All installers known to me show such with relatively clear option fields.
In contrast the MPE installer tries to tempt the user with an visually EULA-like screen to accidentally install unwanted components - who ever reads EULAs? This is a bold confidence trick, nothing else.

Furthermore no "harmless" Ask-toolbar or the like is installed, but obviously more or less ramdomly chosen malware. Malware because several AV software (F-Secure, Bitdefender etc.) recognize it as such and there are no clear uninstall routines. Simply the fact that various malware gets installed (see several panel entries) shows cleary, that the developer can´t know which crap ends up on the probably naive user´s computer.

Of course the developer wants to get something for his work, but this doesn´t justify such shady measures. Credit is lost all to easily. Today he justifies (selectable) malware in the Desktop software, tomorrow it might be a component that forwards all my contact data.

May everyone draw his own conclusions.

Anmeldedatum: 11.07.2012 Beiträge: 57

FDO - Thanks for the info. Just to ensure I'm on the same page I can join the Ecco community for $20/year and get a malware free version of MyPhoneExplorer. Also if desired I can use EccoProX (several great videos at YouTube, just search for EccoPro) for no additional fee. EccoProX looks to be VERY powerful and I need to take more time to study it.

Much thanks for the info!

Anmeldedatum: 27.10.2010 Beiträge: 134

As a long time user of MPE and also a donator I've come to the conclusion that this mature app should be charagable. A free limited feature version would be a good way for new users to try the app. Maybe the next upgrade should be chargeable. The issue of malware definitely needs addressing though.

Verfasst am: Di Sep 16, 2014 18:01

Hmmm. I've used MPE for 4 years or so and never seen any "malware", in fact I've seen nothing except MPE installed. Maybe it's something to do with having installed the original version before any "malware" was added? Don't know.

Anyhow, I had occasion to install it on another machine today, a laptop running Windows 8.1 (my PC runs the 'venerable' XP Pro ...). I downloaded it from this website and, mindful of all the warnings on here, I checked each and every screen before going on. I saw nothing that mentioned installing/not installing anything apart from MPE. Was I lucky or what?

The laptp only runs Microsoft Security Essentials and has a hosts file from MVPS at ... http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm ... Maybe that helps?

Verfasst am: Mi Sep 17, 2014 00:28

dvhttn hat Folgendes geschrieben:

Was I lucky or what?

No, you were just smart enough to install the MPE and skip the adware.
Something that appears to be not so easy for some people here.

Anmeldedatum: 09.06.2011 Beiträge: 143

Actually, he mentions not seeing anything not related to the installation of MPE. So...lucky, not smart.

Myself, I take the precaution of disabling network access while installing new versions of MPE. That seems to stop any adware installation attempts.

Verfasst am: Mi Sep 17, 2014 09:19

TheLandYacht hat Folgendes geschrieben:

... Myself, I take the precaution of disabling network access while installing new versions of MPE. That seems to stop any adware installation attempts.

I'm wondering if this is it? Not that I disabled network access, just that the hosts file I've got may well have, effectively, disabled the malware urls included with the download. Anyway, it that's the case it's an effective way to get around the problem.

Anmeldedatum: 30.05.2006 Beiträge: 6

dvhttn hat Folgendes geschrieben:

TheLandYacht hat Folgendes geschrieben:

... Myself, I take the precaution of disabling network access while installing new versions of MPE. That seems to stop any adware installation attempts.

I'm wondering if this is it? Not that I disabled network access, just that the hosts file I've got may well have, effectively, disabled the malware urls included with the download. Anyway, it that's the case it's an effective way to get around the problem.

It is. I do it myself for all programs I install Razz

Easiest solution I know of. Also easier to explain this type of solution rather then telling about switching the hosts file, try to explain it to a person who almost never uses computers about changing stuff in the operatingsystem. Not easy Wink

Anmeldedatum: 10.10.2014 Beiträge: 1

I find it outrageous that the 1.8.6. update of MyPhoneExplorer was bundled with unwanted programs and malware. Upon starting the installation, the update disabled my Windows Defender, installed "Search Protect" and changed my search engine and start page in my browser. It was a real pain to get rid of all of these. The installer warns of one such program but, deselecting that still did not prevent all the other programs from being installed and the changes from being made. While I have found MyPhoneExplorer to be a good program, I have now lost all respect for the the people who are promoting it in this way and I am now looking for an alternative program written and promoted by respectable people.

Anmeldedatum: 10.10.2014 Beiträge: 1

While updating to 1.8.6 I received the trojan Aretemis!C2F5BDD26BA4 .
Mc Afee Antivirus recognised it and isolated it. So, all went well.
It is the first time I used this program, so I am very surprised of this result.

Is it the normal case during SW distribution¨?
Adel42

Anmeldedatum: 21.10.2014 Beiträge: 1

I found Fosshub download had problems with Revision 1.8.6. Techspot website did not have an issue.

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