Are you using VX2?
January 22, 2002 8:18 PM   Subscribe

Are you using VX2? If you are, you probably don't realise it. It's a piece of spyware hidden with Audiogalaxy that "collects some information from online forms that you fill out". Time to update the Adaware reference file again.
posted by Neale (14 comments total)
 
Assuming this is true (and I don't think it is), I'm glad that I'm on a Mac running Audiogalaxy.
posted by bloggboy at 8:33 PM on January 22, 2002


bloggboy, what app are you using for mac audiogalaxy? is it for 9 or x? i had macsattelite for 9 and now i have sputnix for x, but i prefer 9 (i do audio).
posted by nonreflectiveobject at 8:48 PM on January 22, 2002


Actually, I don't have adaware, but I'm getting the same symptoms that he was getting. I do have audiogalaxy. It just started recently, and I haven't installed anything new.
posted by SpecialK at 8:54 PM on January 22, 2002


more
posted by bargle at 11:42 PM on January 22, 2002


I've had problems for months with no pop-ups or additional windows opening when they should, IE not functioning when I click on the icon etc. I deleted this piece of shit vx2.dll thing, and everything works perfectly now... I don't think it was with Audiogalaxy though. It was when I installed Morpheus my problems began.
posted by boneybaloney at 11:53 PM on January 22, 2002


I have AudioGalaxy 0.608W installed [Windows 2000] and don't have any of the files [vx2.dll, iehelper.dll, domlst.cch] on my hard drive, nor any of the related registry entries.
posted by AdamJ at 12:28 AM on January 23, 2002


Audiogalaxy is one of the few filesharing clients who also offer an in-house Linux version. . .not a Linux clone.

I don't think it's audiogalaxy either. Though I am dying to find out what they're in business for though.
posted by crasspastor at 12:48 AM on January 23, 2002


More specifically, I don't not think it's audiogalaxy because I don't have the same symptoms on my Linux system. I just think if they were into propagating spyware they'd hardly release a Linux satellite.
posted by crasspastor at 12:53 AM on January 23, 2002


i've got the version of audiogalaxy that they're talking about and a fully updated adaware spotted nothing...
checking my winnt/system32 didn't show anything either
posted by juv3nal at 1:01 AM on January 23, 2002


Maybe it's the new breed of intelligent spyware that only installs onto computers that look interesting to it...

(It was on my machine and I have latest AudioGalaxy under WinME)
posted by ajbattrick at 1:40 AM on January 23, 2002


It's confirmed, folks. Audiogalaxy (for windows, at least) IS a carrier.

If anybody knows the domain that this baby reports back to, please post it here. I'd like to block it in my hosts file, just to be thorough.
posted by gd779 at 4:03 AM on January 23, 2002


nonreflectiveobject , you can still use Macsatellite for OS9. Just make sure you get latest version (1.5). Although it's been getting harder to connect, it's not buggy like previous versions.
posted by jeremias at 4:36 AM on January 23, 2002


When I installed the exact same version of Audiogalaxy on my machine I chose the installer options not to install any of the parasite software. I don't have the VX2 files anywhere on my machine so maybe it piggybacks on one of those, but not the main app.
posted by kerplunk at 10:13 AM on January 23, 2002


AudioGalaxy 0.608W was the most well-known vector of VX2 distribution, but as of some time in November AG no longer carries it. Also, the lastest (16-Jan) reflist for Ad-Aware is apparently capable of detecting/removing VX2.

I'll do an update on my VX2 page (that bargle linked to) later, as I've got hold of another new version of the parasite, along with the source code to the 'RespondMiter' version that came with AG.

Wired have done a follow-up on Chet's story; Michael's claim here not to have known about VX2 is complete bull, and his attempt to shift the blame onto Onflow pretty disingenuous.

Oh, and if you don't mind the self-link: this page will check you for some of the more common parasites, including VX2, if you go there with IE, JavaScript and ActiveX enabled. You can use the same script on your own sites if you like.
posted by BobInce at 12:12 PM on January 24, 2002


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