Spyware - Surf Speak...!?

[Aneesh]

Ace Utilities does not come with any bundled spywares. It is very well possible that your PC got infected with a spyware or virus and hence the issue.

[Aneesh]

I just scanned Ace Utilties with the Spyware doctor and I couldn't find any spyware modules. As I said in my earlier post, you should scan your PC for any kind of infection which inturn may have infected some of your files including Ace Utilities.

[jazzbodepew]

Greetings Co***x

Surf Speak seems to be an Adware which may or may not be script-loaded to do other than display ads..
A Program which "REDIRECTS" URL information could ,conceivably be easily altered for a variety of malicious endeavors..

As far as I know -and from Aneeshs' comments- I doubt that Acelogix uses this Advertising tool...

The presence of this ,on your computers may be associated with a website or software which you use or have visited..
The fact that it reveals as ACe Uninatall.exe may be a coincidence
(caused by the ACE Update process(eg))
or may indicate an attempt-by the spyware- to discredit,misdirect or invalidate program(s) which might expose SurfSpeaks' presence...

Following is a page to find out a little more..

http://www.spywareguide.com/product_show.php?id=2619

A couple of removal tools are mentioned but always beware that the "CURE" may be equal or worse than the problem - In the case of Adwares..


----------------------------"Excerpt from Page"--------------------------
Full Name: Surf Speak Websearch
Type: Adware
Also Known as: SurfSpeak
SG Index: 2 [Explain]
Removal tools: List of products that detect/remove/protect against Surf Speak:

X-Cleaner
RTGuardian

Category Description: Program that delivers advertisments on your PC.

Note that many websites have their own advertising, unrelated to adware.

Adware is any software application in which advertising is displayed while the program is running. The authors of these applications include additional code that delivers the ads, which can be viewed through pop-up windows or through a bar that appears on a computer screen and sometimes through text links or in integrated search results. Adware may or may not track personal information. It may also gather information anonymously or in aggregate only. Users should check the EULA and Privacy policy to ensure if the adware on their machines conforms to their standards.
Comment: Surf Speak passes each keyword typed on Browser window through this url "http://<Something>:7777/SearchKeyword.dll?".


Properties: Redirects Searches
Logs URLs of webpages
-----------------------------------END Page--------------------------------------
You might try :
1. Uninstall Ace Utilities
2.Use one of the removal tools.
3. Verify the Spyware Doctor doesnt find SurfSpeak anymore..
4.Reinstall Ace Utilities and do a thourough Ace Cleanup including Index Data Files...
5. If your computers are networked it is wise to do the clean process on all of them before allowing connectivity..

Good Luck and let us know how it turns out for future reference..

jazzbo........................

[YanksPhish]

Although you state your system is clean of adaware there is the possibility of hidden rogue spyware. There are few programs that can see the hidden files which can devestate your system. In my case I had one which incidentally seemed to attach itself to file and named itself ACE.... in my case it needed a fix tool called aproposfix to rid this particular hidden mining software and subsequently speed up the whole system.
The best way to find out if you have a problem is to download a reveal program such as F-Secure BackLight which is in beta at the moment and free download. Their web site explains all about this type of spyware.
It takes about 5 minutes to run and reports any problems. The cure to problems may be more difficult once identified a google search may offer removal help.
This may help or at least enable you to be sure you have no hidden spyware.

[Aneesh]

Ace Utilities uses NSIS installer which is a popular Windows installer program and is used many sofwares like Winamp, etc.

The spyware entry you have found could very well be a false positive.

[jazzbodepew]

Graham and Aneesh

Thank you for the tips on this..

Lot of local folks,around here, been getting some insidious browser hijacker type thing-computer wingy-dhingy malicious polyp-ridden re-director parasitic humpty-doo of a watch-a-ma-hootchit/thin-a-ma-bob..
It's messes things up OK?

Sorry is that's too technical..
jazz.........................

[Aneesh]

The version of NSIS installer that we had used for packaging Ace Utilities *may* have had something in it which triggered the flag for Spyware Doctor. Download Ace Utilities once again from the above link, install it and then check if the issue persists.