P2P Programs That Contain Adware

January 02, 2008 by sharky

P2P programs that contain adware/spyware. (and worse)

This is a list of some of the P2P programs that contain adware - and there are others - especially newer P2P programs with flashy names. Note that some of these P2P applications contain adware/spyware that cannot be de-selected during the installation (i.e. ‘opted out of’) and some can be. Both types are categorized in this list. Read the description of each for more information.

We include the version of the infracting software, but don’t assume all other versions of the same software are safe. Usually when a company decides to place adware/spyware in software - they’ll do it for all versions. It is the program itself that should be avoided, not a specific version of it.

The methods used to install the adware/spyware vary from one program to the next. Some are quite obvious by showing a splash screen of the adware, and with some it’s just a tiny ‘checkmark’ box during the installation. Although we don’t recommend any program listed on this page at all, pay special attention if you do decide to install any of these P2P programs.

Filesharefreak sacrificed one of our secondary computers for these tests. And with good reason: we did irreparable damage to WinXP by installing these and had to uninstall both our antivirus and antispyware programs plus do two different system restore points. To conclude, there is much more at stake than just trivial adware/spyware annoyances.

The Adware/Malware P2P List

Addax P2P v2.3

Addax P2P is a Limewire Pro clone - except Addax is freeware. It is an awesome alternative for users who want to use a “Pro”- like version of Limewire, but can’t find a free version or don’t want to pay for the upgrade. Has a neat “What’s New?” section. Like Limewire, it has great search results and excellent speeds. Connects to the Gnutella network. NOTE: The latest version of Addax contains adware that can be de-selected during installation, but we still generated ‘warnings’ from our Antispyware program, regardless.

Anubis v1.9

We’re gonna sound like a broken record if we include each and every single eMule clone that’s been slightly modified and re-branded with some form of additional adware. This is the latest trend in P2P applications - the combination of eMule’s success and the fact that it’s open-source software means it’s an easy target for stealth companies to snag the source code, make a quick buck by throwing in a little adware and change the name. While completely legal, the P2P community doesn’t need any more eMule clones - especially ones with pointless adware and the exact same features. eMule: often imitated, never duplicated. Shame on you all! Looking for other adware-free eMule options? There’s a plethora of modified eMule clients on the SourceForge website.

Artemis v2.5.7 (BitTorrent)

It’s always a bad sign when you visit a software developer’s main product-promoting homepage only to find cheap Google ads on it. This can never be good. Anyways, Artemis is a theft from the Azureus BitTorrent program, but this version comes bundled with adware, no extra charge. More troubling is this fact that it removes great features found in Azureus, such as the ability to add plugins. NOTE to all developers who borrow source code from other programs: If you’re going to use the source code for something - then improve on it, don’t take away key features! Here’s the two screenshots that show the missing ‘plugins’ menu item:

Fake MP3 Detector 2.0

Comes bundled with spyware, which you won’t find out about until after installation (if you even do). It will even add things to your quicklaunch icons in your Start Menu, and five new items to the ‘Favorites’ list in your browser. Avoid.

FrostWire v4.13.4

Ho-hum…yet another LimeWire clone, except this one tries to: 1. Install third-party adware (which you can de-select during the installation). 2. It prompts you to uninstall LimeWire, if you have it installed. Naturally, we circumvented these two options, and after installation, FrostWire wouldn’t connect to the network. Seems like FrostWire doesn’t want to play fair when you take away the ads and leave in the program it stole its source code from.

Hermes P2P v1.6.0 (BitTorrent client)

Hermes is brought to us by the same group behind MP3 Torpedo, except this is a BitTorrent client with adware. Why would anyone in their right mind use Hermes when the best BitTorrent clients are free? Use µTorrent, Azureus or BitComet instead (among others).

Kiwi Alpha (any version)

Kiwi Alpha is a bundled software, it comes with third-party AdvantageSetup and Relevent Knowledge (2 types of adware). Amid the latest tests (Nov. 18/07) there is no mention about these two adwares during installation. It’s safe to conclude that users cannot ‘opt out’ of adware when it’s not posed as an option - it’s installed automatically. Recently it has been reported that Kiwi Alpha throws out a “clean” version now and again on www.download.com to become relisted on their site. Presently Kiwi Alpha is not listed. And if download.com removes your software, there’s definitely something wrong with it. Further proof not required.

LPhant v3.50

The new and improved LPhant v3.50 still makes our naughty list. While the installation seems clean - it didn’t ruffle the feathers of our two running antivirus/antispyware programs - users can ‘opt out’ of the advertising package included in the installation. Even so, pop-up advertising still occurred during regular operation. Since LPhant is not much more than an eMule clone - stick with the real eMule or aMule instead.

Manolito v1.1.8

We could have shoved Manolito into the PAY category, but since it’s not a re-brand (it runs on its own MP2P network) we’ll let it slide and let YOU decide if you want to shell out the $20 for the ‘Super Manolito’ upgrade. But it does contain 2 different brands of adware, which can be opted out of during the install - follow the install carefully. Choosing not to install these ‘ads’ didn’t affect the performance of Manolito at all.

Mp3 Torrent Downloader v2.2.8 (or any)

We can’t even find the homepage for this one, but the file can be found on many popular software websites. Not that you should be looking for it, anyways - this one comes with adware (that you can de-select during installation) plus it nags you to upgrade it to the Pro version (which then makes you “take a survey” and launches to lottery sites and the ilk). However, we blatantly refused to go that far with it. The search actually worked, believe it or not, but didn’t generate very good results. Selected files went into a “queue” situation; which we cannot figure out since this program is supposed to be about torrents. Downloads were so slow; by the time you get your movie - they’ll have invented a whole new media format for it.

Movie Torrent v1.6.0 (or any version)

Contains two different types of adware (or, at least we know that it tries to install it in two different instances during the installation). First, you can de-select it in one of the option screens - this is quite obvious. But the second one is trickier - it looks like part of the normal installation - see below. Also note that the uninstall doesn’t work if Movie Torrent is running (in the background or otherwise). Not that you should be installing it anyways!

MP3 Search Premium v3.18 (released Jan. 8/2008)

Newly-released MP3 Search Premium not only offers adware, which they pleasantly admonish us about in their product description, but they fail to mention that it contains a virus. Yet another reason that not all software should be assumed to be safe, even when acquired from reputable software-peddling sites like www.download.com. The company responsible for MP3 Search is called, believe it or not, 01Smith, who came out with the spyware-laden program called - you guessed it - 01Smith v1.31 back in 2004. We even dare you to try to find their website.

MP3 Torpedo v5.4.5

MP3 Torpedo is a fork of the Limewire P2P program (in other words, a clone) - the difference being is this one includes adware, although it can be de-selected during the install. If you want the same type of clone (without any adware whatsoever) then go for Addax P2P instead.

OneMX

Contains insidious “MySearch Toolbar” addon software - which, at last check - could not be ‘opted out of’ during installation.

Piolet v1.9.9

Piolet is bundled with adware (2 different types) but it gives you the option to ‘DENY’ these installations. However, after opting out of the 3rd party software, installation “Could not connect to the network server” and we were forced to cancel the installation. We then tried to delete the “PioletSetup.exe” install file, but it wouldn’t delete because there was a hidden file still running in the Task Manager called GBLxx. Seems like some type of adware was still running after all…

PKTorrents v0.1 Beta

PKTorrents comes with malicious code - a backdoor/trojan. You’ll want to be avoiding this download at all costs! This was confirmed through two different downloads of the software, and detected through two separate anti-virus programs.

Speedy P2P Movie Finder v1.8

Contains adware that can be opted out of during the install. However, we still ran into some problems with our antispyware - whether or not it was just a ‘false alarm’ is not known. A full system scan yielded inconclusive results.

Tesla P2P

We truly don’t know if the Telsa P2P program contains adware, but we do know you’ll get adware/spyware from their website when you click the “Download” link. Avoid it.

Torrent Search Bar v4.5+

Torrent Search Bar is brought to you by the same group that gave us eXeem. They’ve ditched the cash-for-bittorrent approach on this one, and traded it for adware in the free search bar instead.

Trilix P2P v3.2.9

Trilix is a Shareaza clone with a lot less features (it removed the eDonkey network support). Contains adware that can be opted out of during installation. NOTE: If Shareaza v2.3.1 ever stops working, Trilix is a viable alternative to connecting to the Gnutella 2 network.

Twister MP3 Search

Twister is a free internet program to find and download MP3 and other music files. The keyword being free, they’ve bundled this with ‘NPS Software’ adware that is required by the installation. Users cannot opt out of this addon; however, users can opt not to install the entire program, which is recommended.

Warez P2P/WarezClient (any version)

With a name like “Warez P2P”, what kind of clientele are they trying to attract? Newbies? We don’t know. But we do know what comes with Warez P2P - and that’s adware. Check out what the McAfee SiteAdvisor says about it here. NOTE: Warez P2P used to be a program for connecting to the Ares network, but apparently they’ve removed the adware from their latest release, Warez Client v3.2 (a BitTorrent client). Either way, Warez is redundant to the adware free P2P software that connects to the same networks/P2P protocols.

2Findmp3 (latest version - Nov. 2007)

This program comes in only one flavor - install with adware or don’t install at all. We chose not to install it. Nothing good ever comes out of a P2P program with an obvious name like this.

Others that contain adware - not listed above (most are classified as discontinued and harder to find):

Bearshare (some older versions)
eDonkey2000 (the eDonkey2000 client program)
Grokster
iMesh (some older versions)
KaZaA (a variety of versions)
Morpheus (older versions)
URLBlaze
XoloX

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