The State Of Grayware On the PC

Checkers and Pogo writes "Grayware inhabits a murky area between pure malware and useful apps, and it's a growing problem. 38.1% of all malicious PC software falls into the grayware category, and so-called 'grayware 2.0' is targeting social-networking sites. Ars Technica's Jeremy Reimer notes, 'The "threat" of rogue applications like SuperWall wasn't immediately obvious: they seemed more like annoyances than real security risks. But as users entered more and more personal information into their Facebook accounts, it became clear that the possibilities for abuse were rampant. For example, because Facebook allows users to "tag" photos with the names of friends, it is possible for third-party apps to distribute photos that a user might only want to be seen by their inner circle of friends.'"

Goddamn BonziBUDDY

[eldavojohn]

Yeah, WinAmp was bad. But I'll never forget the day in college when my roommate downloaded and installed BonziBUDDY [wikipedia.org] on my computer!

That goddamn ad injecting mal-ware sporting purple gorilla that was based on the dead soul of Clippy can rot in hell for eternity!

There's "free" as in gratis and libre and then there's a third kind of "free" as in wake-up-in-a-bathtub-packed-with-ice-minus-one-kidney free.

OH MY GOD !!

[OrangeTide]

For example, because Facebook allows users to "tag" photos with the names of friends, it is possible for third-party apps to distribute photos that a user might only want to be seen by their inner circle of friends.

I can't even conceive of a threat to national security larger than this!

Re:Goddamn BonziBUDDY

[Sciros]

NOOOO stop bringing up BONZI BUDDY! What we thought would be an amusing evening of getting a purple gorilla to say things like "punch me in the testicles" and various "yo momma" jokes turned into a nightmare that can only be compared to when all the people in the beginning of Ghost Ship get cut in half by a cable and it looks really fake and lame but still gross. Only intead of a ship it was my computer, and instead of a cable, it was Bonzi. After much kung fu, I banished him from our dorm room, but he still haunts me in my dreams.

Shades of Gray

[suck_burners_rice]

If we're going to start using the term "grayware" to describe software that falls somewhere between a useful application and a piece of malware, then we need to start using the term "blackware" to refer to malware, and "whiteware" to refer to useful software. By the same token, some software could be "light gray ware," other could be "dark gray ware," et cetera. Whiteware that contains exploitable bugs should be termed "off-white ware" and security software which would otherwise be termed whiteware but could be used by a malcontent for evil purposes should be termed "whiteware with black polka dots." We could further extend this concept to include whiteware that could be dangerous if misused, such as software that controls a nuclear rocket; such software would be termed "redware." Software that helps the environment would be called "greenware." Now all we need is something for "blueware" and we can use the entire color space to describe a computer program.

Re:Goddamn BonziBUDDY

[AioKits]

Arrgh, Gator... Don't get me started. One place I worked (not gonna name it, could get in trouble), all the secretaries had that damned thing on their systems cause of the cute kitten cursors they offered. We'd have to take the machine and most the times just restage it to clean it and hand it back. A few days later, gator was back. They wanted their cute kitten cursors. Eventually the net admin for that facility just blocked the gator site outright. He was forced to unblock it when a score of unhappy secretaries descended upon administration wanting their 'harmless kitty icons'. "But they're kittens! Who doesn't love kittens?!" *sigh*

Re:OH MY GOD !!

[spun]

I know! I mean, it's not like Nazi/Adult Baby BDSM parties are actually illegal. What do I care if my personal pictures of myself dressed as Hitler in diaper getting spanked by a fat cross dressing Eva Braun get distributed over the web? Sheesh, some people are SO whiney!

Re:OH MY GOD !!

[QuantumRiff]

Stop posting on slashdot, and go back to running your campaign for election please!

"Greyware"? So let me get this straight . . .

[mmell]

If I rob a bank, I'm a felon.

If I'm hired to analyze security for a bank and use the knowledge I acquired during my analysis to rob the bank, I'm only guilty of a misdemeanor?

Re:Shades of Gray

[RobertB-DC]

If we're going to start using the term "grayware" to describe software that falls somewhere between a useful application and a piece of malware, then we need to start using the term "blackware" to refer to malware, and "whiteware" to refer to useful software [...] We could further extend this concept to include whiteware that could be dangerous if misused, such as software that controls a nuclear rocket; such software would be termed "redware." Software that helps the environment would be called "greenware." Now all we need is something for "blueware" and we can use the entire color space to describe a computer program.

Don't be silly. This is a highly technical forum.

You have to include hex codes.

blackware = 0x000000
grayware = 0x808080
light gray ware = 0xC0C0C0
off-white ware = 0xE0E0E0
whiteware w/black polka dots = 0xFFFFFF + (0x000000 * $chance_of_exploit)
whiteware = 0xFFFFFF

redware = 0xFF0000
greenware = 0x00FF00
blueware = 0x0000FF

And of course:

tupperware = Varies by kitchen [tupperwareindia.com]
underware = 0xyoudontwannaknow

Re:"Greyware"? So let me get this straight . . .

[morgan_greywolf]

If I'm hired to analyze security for a bank and use the knowledge I acquired during my analysis to rob the bank, I'm only guilty of a misdemeanor?

That depends. Was she over or under 18?

Re:Goddamn BonziBUDDY

[Anonymous Coward]

Don't forget my favorite kind of free, which I must attribute to the unknown Slashdot poster:

Free as in (lowlife British accent) Free Hundred Quid.

Re:Goddamn BonziBUDDY

[crispin_bollocks]

My daughter, then 13, was a big fan of the purple gorilla, and had so many damn toolbars there was hardly any room for content in the browser. And let's not forget Gator!! "Dad, just click 'Allow' - that's what I do, it's quicker."

Re:"Greyware"? So let me get this straight . . .

[geekoid]

Guilty? you weren't very good, were you?

Re:Goddamn BonziBUDDY

[nexex]

Like this [ytmnd.com]?

Re:Goddamn BonziBUDDY

[vimh42]

Wow, you just coined a great new term. 'Free as in kidney.' I must go use this wonderful gem.

Re:OH MY GOD !!

[RichardX]

>It's about damn time we made a law about people mentioning Godwin's Law.

And it shall be named... Hitler's Law.
Infinite recursion for great justice!

Re:Mod parent up

[OMNIpotusCOM]

That's simple, he was modded down because he spoke ill of Apple (iTunes). He may as well have called Ron Paul malware, said an "in soviet russia", or said that Microsoft had a good idea, because the same thing would have happened. I like to get those all out of the way in the same post when I know I have to violate a Slashdot bi-law.