MyWay Searchbar 989631 220901056 2008-06-22T03:44:48Z 69.212.30.177 /* See also */ [[Image:My Search Bar 3 uninstall screen small 556x360.jpg|thumb|right|160px|MyWay Searchbar's uninstaller.]] '''MyWay Searchbar''', also known as '''MyWay Speedbar''',<ref name="adwarereport"/>, '''MyWay Search Assistant''', '''MyWebSearch''' or '''MyWeb Searchbar''', is a [[spyware]] and [[search]] [[toolbar]] program that allows the user to query [[Google search|Google]], [[Ask.com|Ask Jeeves]], [[Yahoo!]], and [[LookSmart]] search engines. [[Hewlett-Packard|HP]] and [[Dell]]<ref name="Righi 2005">Righi, Michael, "Dell Charges $49 to Remove Their Own Spyware", http://www.michaelrighi.com/2005/07/21/dell-spyware-my-way, July 21, 2005</ref><ref>Dotson, Anthony, "Ethics and "Spyware", Sandusky Computers, http://sanduskycomputers.com/editorials/spywareethics.php, June 28, 2006</ref> pre-install this software on some of their commercially sold PCs<ref>LS CalamityJane, "HELP! My computer is infected! What should I do?", Lavasoft Support Forums, http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/lofiversion/index.php/t3403.html, September 20, 2006, 02:57 PM</ref>. It is also bundled with some versions of [[Kazaa]].<ref name="Martin 2003"/> It is also a part of the FunWebProducts suite of utilities such as Smiley Central, Webfetti, Cursor Mania, My Mail Stationary, My Mail Signature, My Mail Stamps, FunBuddyIcons, PopSwatter, and Popular Screensavers. Because it tracks browsing habits, the MyWay Searchbar is classified as spyware and/or [[adware]],<ref name="adwarereport">"MyWay Searchbar", Gooroo, Inc., http://www.adwarereport.com/mt/archives/000062.html, 2004</ref><ref>"MyWay? Or TheirWay?", Spyware Info, http://www.spywareinfo.com/newsletter/archives/april-2003/24.php#myway, April 24, 2003></ref><ref>"Fun Web Products "My Web Search" Removal Intructions and Help", PCHell, http://www.pchell.com/support/mywebsearch.shtml</ref><ref>"Chapter 6: TOP SPYWARE THREATS", PC Security News, http://www.pcsecuritynews.com/spyware_top_threats.html, 2003-2005</ref> though Kirk Lawrence, former IAC Search & Media's Director of Internet Security and Privacy, denied it. [[Image:MyWebSearch in avast! Virus Chest.jpg|thumb|right|160px|MyWeb Searchbar in [[avast!]] Virus Chest.]] [[Image:Spybotmyway.jpg|thumb|right|160px|[[Spybot]] warning on MyWay Searchbar]] MyWay Searchbar attaches itself to the [[Internet Explorer]], [[Netscape Navigator]], [[Opera (web browser)|Opera]]<ref>"Browser Support", My Way - Browser Support, http://info.myway.com/index/id/browser.html</ref> and [[Mozilla Firefox]]<ref>[http://kb.mozillazine.org/Gray_bar_below_status_bar Gray bar below status bar - MozillaZine Knowledge Base<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> browsers, adding search functions and [[pop-up ad|pop-up]] blocking. MyWay also collects data about the user's surfing habits and sends it back to the MyWay server to tailor ads toward the user's interests.<ref name="Martin 2003">Martin, Melissa, "MyWay Speedbar", Scumware, http://www.scumware.com/apps/scumware.php/action::view_article/article_id::1063294991/topic::Scumware,-Spyware,-Adware-&-Malware-Applications, September 11, 2003</ref> MyWay is owned by [[IAC Search & Media]] (formerly Ask Jeeves) and was one of many properties purchased as a part of their acquisition of Interactive Search Holdings in 2004.<ref>IAC Search & Media, "Ask Jeeves Closes Acquisition of Interactive Search Holdings", http://www.irconnect.com/askj/pages/news_releases.html?d=57155, May 6, 2004</ref> As a [[Browser Helper Object]], MyWay shares the [[Computer storage|memory]] that the browser uses and detects certain events, such as a new browser window. When a new [[Web browser|browser]] window is opened, MyWay sends a [[computer configuration|configuration]] request that prepares ads according to visited sites. Browsing habits data are collected and sent to a central server, enabling MyWay to tailor advertisements based on the user's browsing habits.<ref name="Righi 2005"/> ==See also== *[[Zwinky]], an avatar program that is part of MyWay Searchbar. *[[My Way (web portal)|MyWay]], a web portal. *[[Spyware]] ==Aliases== *Smiley Central *Cursor Mania *Popular Screensavers *Zwinky == References == {{reflist}} == External links == *[http://www.pchell.com/support/mywebsearch.shtml MyWay Speedbar Description] - description of MyWay Search Bar with removal instructions. *[http://www.myway.com/index1.html MyWay.com] - makers of MyWay Speedbar *[http://help.myway.com/features/speedbar.html#q8 MyWay Speedbar Privacy Information] *[http://info.myway.com/index/id/privacy.html MyWay Privacy Policy] *[http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/07/15/dell_my_way_controversy Dell rejects spyware charge] - article describing controversy generated when Dell began including MyWay with new computers [[Category:Spyware]] [[Category:IAC/InterActiveCorp]]