If you use TurboTax and Bearshare, consider this fair warning

[reanjr]

I use limewire and all it's set up to do is use the "my shared files" folder.

This is correct behavior, unlike Bearshare. Seeing as they are both the same protocol, I'd say that's a real good reason for Bearshare users to switch. Not just this issue, but it's indicitive that Bearshare's designers don't care about the user's security. And spyware is not necessarily (or even normally) giving away financial information as someone suggested. Usually it only keeps track of websites visited, etc. for marketing purposes.

 

[Munin]

Windows does not allow other users on the machine to view anything in your My Documents folder.

Actually, anyone with administrative rights (and with Windows XP, who doesn't?) can access your My Documents folder. If you want to secure it, go into the folders properties and remove access rights to everyone except yourself. Even then, if someone else has admin rights they can just go right back into it and add themselves back.

You can disable the spyware Bearshare comes with by installing a firewall like Sygate personal Firewall. Any program that wishes to access the internet from your computer has to go through the firewall.

The spyware that comes with Bearshare will access the internet via the port that Bearshare opens. The only way to get rid yourself of the pests is to remove Bearshare and the spyware and then get yourself a filesharing app that doesn't come bundled with spyware.
That goes for Limewire, Morpheus, Kazaa, and all their red-headed stepchildren.
Try WinMX, or Soulseek, if you want malware-free filesharing.

 

[mojo1701]

That goes for Limewire, Morpheus, Kazaa, and all their red-headed stepchildren.
Try WinMX, or Soulseek, if you want malware-free filesharing.

What about Kazaa Lite K++?

 

[MaxKaladin]

Why on Earth would someone want to share his entire My Documents folder? That's called My Documents for a reason!

Because information wants to be FREE!

 

[Munin]

What about Kazaa Lite K++?

According to oldversion.com it doesn't, but I'd do some research before I installed it just to be safe.

 

[reveal]

According to oldversion.com it doesn't, but I'd do some research before I installed it just to be safe.

I've installed, and used, Kazaa Lite K++ in the past and it was, indeed, spyware free.

 

[der_kluge]

Nah, the spyware packaged with Bearshare runs separately. I've got all that stuff blocked through the firewall.

 

[Darth K'Trava]

This is correct behavior, unlike Bearshare. Seeing as they are both the same protocol, I'd say that's a real good reason for Bearshare users to switch. Not just this issue, but it's indicitive that Bearshare's designers don't care about the user's security. And spyware is not necessarily (or even normally) giving away financial information as someone suggested. Usually it only keeps track of websites visited, etc. for marketing purposes.

It came up with several folders that it asked if it could "share" and I deleted the others. No need to let it have more access than "necessary". It doesn't access my big "Music" folder, my "Cartoon videos" folder, my "DnD Books" folder or other stuff. And I usually move stuff out the "shared" folder to their right spots...

If I could get rid of the &#(@&!! spyware I'd be MUCH happier..... even finding out the site for it and barring it hasn't done much that I've seen. I just keep siccing Ad-Aware on it on a regular basis.