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[[Image:My Search Bar 3 uninstall screen small 556x360.jpg|thumb|right|160px|MyWay Searchbar's uninstaller.]]
I have had the tool bar for almost 10 yrs and had no problems with it. So it tracks things, doesn't every site do that.

'''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?", SpywareInfo, www.spywareinfoforum.info/newsletter/archives/april-2003/24.php, 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.

== Design ==
[[Image:Spybotmyway.jpg|thumb|[[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 -- as of 3/1/2009 This page is not accessible</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"/>

==Removal==
The MyWay (or MyWebSearch) software does not actively fight removal from a computer, unlike some products that re-add startup hooks within seconds of their deletion. However, because it alters computer settings, it tries to restart when a computer is rebooted. The software is notable for installing over two hundred computer settings, such as over 210 [[MS Windows]] [[registry key]]s/values.<ref name="ExI">
"MyWebSearch Removal Tool", Exterminate-it.com, 2009,
[http://www.exterminate-it.com/malpedia/<!--
-->remove-mywebsearch Ext-it-mywebs]: lists the folders,
files and 210 [[registry key]]s/values to be deleted.
</ref><ref name="RemMyW">
"Removing My Web Search Bar and Error Message",
''What the Tech'', Geeks to Go, Inc., 2009, webpage:
[http://www.whatthetech.com/2009/04/21/removing-my-web-<!--
-->search-bar-and-error-message-on-start-up/ WhatTheTech-MyWeb].
</ref> Beyond the browser plugin, it has numerous settings to affect Outlook, email, HTML, XML, etc. Although tools exist to remove MyWay (or MyWebSearch),<small><ref name=ExI/></small> it can be hand-deleted by users familiar with using [[Regedit]] to quickly find and delete keys/values (named with "MyWebSearch"). After reboot, the browser will return to the prior display appearance.

==Aliases==
*Smiley Central
*Cursor Mania
*Popular Screensavers
*Zwinky
*Webfetti

==See also==
*[[Zwinky]], an avatar program that is part of MyWay Searchbar.
*[[My Way (web portal)|MyWay]], a web portal.

== 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]]
[[Category:Adware]]

Revision as of 05:46, 18 June 2009

File:My Search Bar 3 uninstall screen small 556x360.jpg
MyWay Searchbar's uninstaller.

MyWay Searchbar, also known as MyWay Speedbar,[1], MyWay Search Assistant, MyWebSearch or MyWeb Searchbar, is a spyware and search toolbar program that allows the user to query Google, Ask Jeeves, Yahoo!, and LookSmart search engines. HP and Dell[2][3] pre-install this software on some of their commercially sold PCs[4]. It is also bundled with some versions of Kazaa.[5] 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,[1][6][7][8] though Kirk Lawrence, former IAC Search & Media's Director of Internet Security and Privacy, denied it.

Design

File:Spybotmyway.jpg
Spybot warning on MyWay Searchbar

MyWay Searchbar attaches itself to the Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, Opera[9] and Mozilla Firefox[10] browsers, adding search functions and 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.[5] 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.[11]

As a Browser Helper Object, MyWay shares the memory that the browser uses and detects certain events, such as a new browser window. When a new browser window is opened, MyWay sends a 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.[2]

Removal

The MyWay (or MyWebSearch) software does not actively fight removal from a computer, unlike some products that re-add startup hooks within seconds of their deletion. However, because it alters computer settings, it tries to restart when a computer is rebooted. The software is notable for installing over two hundred computer settings, such as over 210 MS Windows registry keys/values.[12][13] Beyond the browser plugin, it has numerous settings to affect Outlook, email, HTML, XML, etc. Although tools exist to remove MyWay (or MyWebSearch),[12] it can be hand-deleted by users familiar with using Regedit to quickly find and delete keys/values (named with "MyWebSearch"). After reboot, the browser will return to the prior display appearance.

Aliases

  • Smiley Central
  • Cursor Mania
  • Popular Screensavers
  • Zwinky
  • Webfetti

See also

  • Zwinky, an avatar program that is part of MyWay Searchbar.
  • MyWay, a web portal.

References

  1. ^ a b "MyWay Searchbar", Gooroo, Inc., http://www.adwarereport.com/mt/archives/000062.html, 2004
  2. ^ a b Righi, Michael, "Dell Charges $49 to Remove Their Own Spyware", http://www.michaelrighi.com/2005/07/21/dell-spyware-my-way, July 21, 2005
  3. ^ Dotson, Anthony, "Ethics and "Spyware", Sandusky Computers, http://sanduskycomputers.com/editorials/spywareethics.php, June 28, 2006
  4. ^ 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
  5. ^ a b 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 -- as of 3/1/2009 This page is not accessible
  6. ^ "MyWay? Or TheirWay?", SpywareInfo, www.spywareinfoforum.info/newsletter/archives/april-2003/24.php, April 24, 2003
  7. ^ "Fun Web Products "My Web Search" Removal Intructions and Help", PCHell, http://www.pchell.com/support/mywebsearch.shtml
  8. ^ "Chapter 6: TOP SPYWARE THREATS", PC Security News, http://www.pcsecuritynews.com/spyware_top_threats.html, 2003-2005
  9. ^ "Browser Support", My Way - Browser Support, http://info.myway.com/index/id/browser.html
  10. ^ Gray bar below status bar - MozillaZine Knowledge Base
  11. ^ 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
  12. ^ a b "MyWebSearch Removal Tool", Exterminate-it.com, 2009, Ext-it-mywebs: lists the folders, files and 210 registry keys/values to be deleted.
  13. ^ "Removing My Web Search Bar and Error Message", What the Tech, Geeks to Go, Inc., 2009, webpage: WhatTheTech-MyWeb.
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