MyPhoneExplorer infected with malware / adware

[dinosnake]

@dinosnake:

Then I took the exact same installer and used it to install MPE on a brand new installation of Windows 7 Professional SP1 x64. WHAM! Automatic background installs of StrongVault and Football News. Twice! Ran installer, got the program plus the malware, uninstalled all [three] apps, ran installer again...got the malware again!

Are you sure it happened without any possibility to decline ? If yes then please could you make a video of it or could you describe at least every step so i have something to tell InstallMonetizer ?

Yes, absolutely 100% positive. I did yet another uninstall / reinstall to double-check my observations and did the install very slowly, very carefully. NO decline screens or warnings AT ALL - just a clean, completely invisible background installation.

Of *course* a friend just lost my camera this past Monday... so now making a (good) video will be difficult until I order a new one. If you desire a video, the best I will be able to do is a 720i webcam or a 8mp cell phone.

[Azol]

You can use CamStudio (camstudio.org) to record all screen activities during install process. It's free and simple to use.

[FJ]

@dinosnake: I really hope that you will record this issue so i can go to the promotion company with the video. Please launch the Taskmanager besides the stup so i am able to see which processes are running.

[sprungli]

After the third question about installing adware I chickened out and killed the installer.

According to CNET the Android software also wants a lot of permissions that shouldn't be necessary. They recommend avoiding MyPhoneExplorer.

http://download.cnet.com/MyPhoneExplorer-Client/3000-2094_4-75323238.html

[FJ]

There is not one permission which is not used for the functionality of MyPhoneExplorer and there is also not one byte of userdata transferred to any server, but sure - its your own decision to use it or not

[gquiring]

I also just installed it and I declined everything and it still installed some toolbar on my Chrome browser.

The link from fjsoft.at goes to http://fosshub.com/MyPhoneExplorer.html for the download.

[FossHub]

@gquiring and everyone else.

We (FossHub) don't modify the binaries (setup files) and the author, in this case for MyPhoneExplorer is responsible for its own software.

I repeat, we do not bundle/add installers/pop-ups or any other crap.

Many Open Source/Freeware projects seems to use bundles/installers so we're working at something that could warn the user about this.

I apologize but we're just a download website like many others.

Regards, Sam - FossHub

[FJ]

@gquiring: I just have tested again the installer (i do this every month) and in my case nothing was installed. Are you really sure that you clicked on "Decline" for every ad screen ?

[Jack_II]

Yes, MyPhoneExplorer was a good product.

The 1.8.5 server part is now durtyed by this "Win32/InstallMonetizer.AH" virus/malware alert (Eset Smart Security 6 uptodate) and I will NOT test to download this package without security tools.

Sorry; I'm leaving MyPhoneExplorer for another tool.
You've made a bad choice ...

[nitso]

I upgraded to 1.8.5 and during the install procedure, Norton Internet Security displayed a warning the installer was trying to access www.fjsoft.com and www.ntdlzone.com, which I declined. I wasn't prompted to install any third party toolbars and none were installed.

[titanm]

Hi!
I'm a happy user of MyPhoneExplorer, it's a very useful software. Today after starting it, it warned me about 1.8.5 version, so I downloaded and installed it. After xxx a next somewhere, the installer rapidly jumped two pages, on the next page, after xxx decline, it started to install, I couldn't go back to see what page was missed, and it installed Youtubeaccelerator without me knowing about it. It stopped Firefox (with a crash), didn't allow to uninstall, only after repeating the uninstallation procedure, and still it left a Chrome extension after uninstalling. I'm very very unhappy about it, because it seems to be a real malware (after this procedure). Now I lost my feeling about safeness of the MPE. Please check it!

[asdf1234]

I just spend an hour to deinstalling every malware i got from 1.8.5. I hope you get sued for this. I upgraded the version and there was no accept/decline for the malware/virus whatsoever. What a xxx of a company. I hope you end in jail. Make a paid product if you want money you criminals.

[Koelner]

you criminals.

First of all, be careful before you get in trouble yourself.

there was no accept/decline for the malware/virus whatsoever.

Second, there is no virus in the file.

there was no accept/decline for the malware/virus whatsoever.

And third, that´s simply not true. If you don´t use them, that does not mean their not there.

[I Got Lucky]

So, it would appear that this is an open issue.

To the developer: have the issues with your installer package been fixed? if not, is there a paid version that contains no bundled software except for the program itself? I'm happy to pay for malware free utilities.

Please advise.

[FJ]

There are two promotion screens so you have to click two times on "Decline" - wow, it seems to be impossible for some guys here. I did not notice problems about "Youtubeaccelerator", it must not happen that its impossible to uninstall any of those bundles. I will check this bundle and if its true then the advertiser gets blocked.

@I Got Lucky: There will be no paid version of MyPhoneExplorer but maybe you want to contact me directly via email.

[TheLandYacht]

So, it would appear that this is an open issue.

To the developer: have the issues with your installer package been fixed? if not, is there a paid version that contains no bundled software except for the program itself? I'm happy to pay for malware free utilities.

Please advise.

You know, FJ...I have to agree here. I myself (and probably many other long-time users) am perfectly willing to pay for the software I use. Make a paid version & guarantee no monetizing agents attached...and I'll pay for it...as will many others, I'd bet.

Make another (unpaid) version, again WITHOUT monetizing...but with a time-limit, so people can get a taste. It's the oldest trick in the book (for d rug dealers). If they want it, they'll pay for it. If they don't, you're not out anything.

Of course, the problem now is overcoming the stigma that's already happened...but with time & effort it can be done.

[Rhew]

After reading the complete thread above, I just downloaded (5 May 2014) v 1.8.5 from the links on the main download page (which led me to http://www.fosshub.com/MyPhoneExplorer.html) size 7,080,248 bytes and DISABLED my network connection while I ran the install on my PC (Windows 8.0). I downloaded the Client side software for my Samsung from the Google App Store.

I did not see any opt-in or opt-out screens, and I don't see any unwanted malware on my system afterwards (Babylon, StrongVault, Football News, Chrome browser add-ins, YouTubeAccelerator, etc). So perhaps disconnecting from the internet during installation is the appropriate step to take.

If TheLandYacht or anyone else is aware of any hidden registry entries etc I should check, please let me know.

FJ - Thanks for a great product!

[GtB]

My 1.8.5 installation suddenly decided to stop working, so I downloaded and re-installed. Thought I made sure to opt-out on every screen, but still had 'Search Protect' installed afterwards which hacks your browser.

The install screen for this hijacker is VERY unobtrusive. It seems like a part of the standard installation.

I think you should give a CLEAR warning before these installers start. But that's just me.

[user_deleted]

Here is a screenshot the "malware warning" on the download in my Google Chrome browser



Download chrome and then download the link and you will see for yourself. If you want the support of people then you will need to satisfy the Google Publishing standards. Many people trust Google more than anyone when it comes to their computer.

Oh yeah, Wine on linux sucks. Very likely if this program is programmed in C or C++ it can easily be converted by the developer to run under mono and then it would work on ANY mainstream operating system.

Nice software I remember using it years ago. I hope you can move on and get it updated & become more profitable.

[Koelner]

Download chrome and then download the link and you will see for yourself.

What link? The link to your dropbox?
Be more specific if you´re going to accuse someone.

If you want the support of people then you will need to satisfy the Google Publishing standards.

Such as? MPE is available on Googles Play Store for years now. So whats your point?

Many people trust Google more than anyone when it comes to their computer.

Many people write textmessages while driving a car and get killed. Use some common sense instead of throwing your own personal belives at us.

Oh yeah, Wine on linux sucks. Very likely if this program is programmed in C or C++ it can easily be converted by the developer to run under mono and then it would work on ANY mainstream operating system.

If you need a software that does what MPE does and you don´t like this one go ahead and write your own one. We´re all eager to see your result. Oh, by the way, do you know the history of the MPE from it´s first Beta until today? You´d be impressed.

Nice software I remember using it years ago. I hope you can move on and get it updated & become more profitable.

Oh sure, that´s what we want, be more profitable. Oh wait, we still wan´t to give it out for free. Mhhhh, that doesn´t work.

Honestly, you just don´t know what your talking about. And instead of reading the forum and especially FJ´s comments you prefer to spill out utterly nonsense.

- The MPE is not infected by any maleware if you download it from it´s original source.
- There are monetizers in the installer to keep the software free.
- The monetizers can easily be skiped in the installprocess.
- Google is simply technically not able to tell apart the difference between monetizers and maleware.