CoolWebSearch - Hackers, where are you when we need you?

[zff4]

How the hell I got my browser highjacked by CoolWebSearch is still a mystery. Used to be that porn sites that were the thin ice of viruses and spyware. Now it's anywhere. I'm a pro and it still took me too damn long to get rid of the thing. CWShredder took it off for me, but I was mildly irritated.

I know zip about hacking but wouldn't it be delightful if the hacking community attacked these bastids at the source? I'd buy that for a dollar.

[polymorphic]

You said a mouthfull, bro. Where the heck is all the h4x0r1n6 for these spyware/malware sites??? I too had a run in with the vile smegma that is CoolWebSearch and was none too happy about having to roll back XP to get rid of it.

If they are legally able to put this crap on our computers, shouldn't we be legally able to put spy cams and microphones on their kids and in their homes to see where THEY shop and what THEY use to pay for those things they buy? Where they drive, their personal habbits, etc??? I think it's only fair.

[VSEKH]

I came home from work today and saw like 15 popup windows on my machine.
I have never seen this many popup windows on my home system since I have Zone Alarm Pro installed. I had to run spybot to get rid a lot of spyware. Coolwebsearch was one of them.

[zff4]

I was so ****** I actually thought about getting a lawyer. But I was reading on WebCops or some such site that the CoolWebSearch guys are located in Tortuga or some other dumb island that makes it pointless to throw lawyers at. But damn if some smart 14 year old could fry their network, I swear I'd get religion...

[KingTermite]

If there isn't one already, somebody should start a website to post all their names publically so the crackers have a nice easy list to go and follow.

[zff4]

Be an news worthy ABXZone project - sticking it somehow to those guys. I'd even turn my box over to a DOS attack bot if I thought it would do any good. Let them take me to court for that those evil tards.

[KingTermite]

Originally Posted by zff4

Be an news worthy ABXZone project - sticking it somehow to those guys. I'd even turn my box over to a DOS attack bot if I thought it would do any good. Let them take me to court for that those evil tards.

I don't think ABX would want to get involved, per se. That's why I suggested a simple website that just posted it. For legal reasons I would not even "recommend" crackers do anything....just list them and what they are "known for". Let the crackers figure it out on their own. Especially if you named the website something like www.crackthesebastards.com or some such name.

[zff4]

Jesus. You shouldn't have posted that great name for a site. Now somebody is going to steal it!

[Wingit]

This is something I don't get either....you cannot convince me that the people with the skill and inclination to hack have never been inconvenienced by CWS or any of the other hijacker/malware lowlife crap out there. By this logic, if people with the aforementioned "skilz", had been affected or infected by this stuff, the home sites of these perps should never see the light of day....yet they are still with us. The Half-life source code thieves can be tracked down by the gaming community in what was declared to be a speedy manner.....surely one would imagine that these blights on the internet would be an obvious target even more appealing than the RIAA!

[zff4]

Of course. You said it better than I could have done. Hackers are mostly bored kids looking for a cheap thrill and bragging rights. And they are not particularly popular. If they directed their energy productively they could be the new heroes of the web. Talk about bragging rights. Hell, I'd even donate money to the cause - there's a get rich scheme for you. And you're right. If the gaming community was able to track down the Valve hackers, hackers could surely be a productive irritant to these guys who shouldn't be that much of a trouble to locate. I wouldn't mind seeing a little social action directed at these scourge of the net CoolWebSearch jerks.

[KingTermite]

I wish you guys would get the terminology right....most of "US" are hackers.

People that break into other people's computer systems are crackers. Hackers are just people who try to get into the nitty gritty of a computer system.


Don't want you giving us "hackers" a bad name.

[Howard Stern_abx]

I would like to see all the crackers from the US attack all of the ANTI AMERICAN SITES, they are popping up everywhere like AL geezer.

[Wingit]

Originally Posted by KingTermite

I wish you guys would get the terminology right....most of "US" are hackers.

People that break into other people's computer systems are crackers. Hackers are just people who try to get into the nitty gritty of a computer system.


Don't want you giving us "hackers" a bad name.

No......THIS is a cracker

[zff4]

Ah Termite you hair splitting monster mega poster you. You know what we mean. But I respectfully disagree. By hacking I mean penetrating a secure area by subverting its security measures. Like I used to do in high school in the backseat of my Rambler. Or used to try to do.

[KingTermite]

Originally Posted by zff4

Ah Termite you hair splitting monster mega poster you. You know what we mean. But I respectfully disagree. By hacking I mean penetrating a secure area by subverting its security measures. Like I used to do in high school in the backseat of my Rambler. Or used to try to do.

There was actually big "discussion" about this at one time. But the "community" at large decided to make that distinction....at least I saw it posted in article form in some big name magazines and such.

It's not that I don't know what you mean...but we "hackers" will never lose that "computer system cracking" stigma if we keep using the term "hacker".