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Filed under: Internet, Social Software, Microblogging

Digsby improves Facebook support, goes on crapware diet

Digsby took a lot of heat recently after Lifehacker slammed them for "joining the dark side" -- something a commenter pointed out back in November 2008 when I vented about the adware-packed new installer.

Over on the Digsby blog today, they're trumpeting a new version - one which adds of new Facebook features (things like commenting, liking, and photos), Myspace IM support (stop chuckling), and achievements. Yes, at long last you can taunt your friends with your awesome Digsbying prowess!

As for ditching the adware, here's what the Digsby blog states about the new installer:
"..it will show one ad for the Digsby Ask Toolbar, which brings news, weather, sports, maps, and more right to you fingertips! We will work to improve the toolbar over time, adding some of the social network functionality you already love in Digsby.

The new installer also asks users explicitly during installation if they'd like to contribute their unused CPU power to sponsored grid computing projects."

Read more →

Filed under: Security, Windows, Commercial, Freeware

PCLive: free security suite for Windows

PCLive Security
PCLive Security is a full featured security suite for Windows. It helps protect you from viruses, spyware, rootkits, keyloggers, and adware. Oh yeah, and it happens to be free. While there are several other free security applications out there, none come with quite so many features in one package.

PCLive Security includes the ClamAV antivirus engine, a bi-directional firewall, and a pop-up and adware blocker.

There's also a paid version that includes technical support, hard drive maintenance, and file optimization features for $4.95 per month.

PCLive Security runs on Windows 2000/XP/Vista machines. On the downside, the installation process takes forever, and once PCLive Security is up and running it seems to be a bit of a resource hog. Oh yeah, and it will try to uninstall any other anti-virus software on your PC when you run the installer.

[via WebWare]

Filed under: Business, Internet, Microsoft, Social Software

Truly targeted advertising - coming to a desktop near your soon?

For the Windows users out there who've been affected by adware, this might be salt to the wounds: ArsTechnica is reporting that Microsoft of all firms has patented the "mother of all adware systems" - an advertising framework that allows adverts to be matched to data you search, and potentially data on your hard drive as well.

There are, of course, huge privacy concerns that we'll be watching, and seeing whether Microsoft can address these whilst providing more relevant adverts (something we'd love, if we really have to have adverts). The patent application lists "user document files, user e-mail files, user music files, downloaded podcasts, computer settings, computer status messages (e.g., a low memory status or low printer ink)" as examples of the technology potentially coming to a system near you soon.

Filed under: Security, Utilities, Windows

Assassinate in-use programs with Killbox

Killbox
Ever have a virus or other program that you can't get rid of because it won't die long enough for you to delete it? When Spybot, Ad-Aware, and others fail, turn to Killbox. This handy-dandy download will kill anything currently running on your PC, so you can remove it. Simply enter the path of the offending guest, and Killbox will go to town on it. Think of it like the in-memory mafia. Killbox doesn't care, it will take out pretty much anything. From time to time those of us less technologically savvy (relatives, family, friends) need help with renegade programs too, so if they ever have this problem, at least now you know a guy. Sort of. No problem, he take care of it. Don't worry about it.

Filed under: Audio, Fun, Utilities, Windows, Podcasting, Freeware

Change your voice with MorphVOX Junior

morph vox juniorNaturally there's a paid version you can upgrade to, but the free one, MorphVOX Junior is pretty fun itself. It's a voice changer application for Windows from Screaming Bee. No, you can't change your voice to a screaming bee, whatever that would sound like. Your choices are Tiny man (like helium), Man, or Woman. While this app is free of spyware and such, it does run little banner ads at the top of the application itself. Not a bad price to pay for a fun little gizmo like this...

Filed under: Security, News, Web services, Google

Stopbadware.org tries to stop "badware"

stop badware siteWhat a noble goal: a community watch online for spyware, malware, and adware (the really insidious kind anyway). The stated mission of Stopbadware.org is this: "We will seek to provide reliable, objective information about downloadable applications in order to help consumers to make better choices about what they download on to their computers. We aim to become a central clearinghouse for research on badware and the bad actors who spread it, and to become a focal point for developing collaborative, community-minded approaches to stopping badware."

Sounds good, doesn't it? The organizers behind this include the Berkman Center for Internet and Society, the Oxford Internet Institute, and Consumer Reports WebWatch. There are some corporate sponsors too: Google, Lenovo, and Sun. Hopefully more will jump on board (ahem, Microsoft?) and lend even more power to this movement. Quite frankly, how this got out of hand so quickly is a testament to the power of the internet, and the uneducated masses using said technology. Now that people have been stung though, it's good to give 'em a place to complain. I'm just hoping the complaints turn into real action on the part of netizens. Next time you or someone you know gets hit with badware send them to the site and have them tell their story.

Featured Time Waster

Graveyard Shift - zombie-busting Time Waster

With Halloween fast approaching, it's a great time to get in some practice defending your territory against zombies. In Graveyard Shift, you take aim at zombies and other creepy-crawlies, blasting them into splatters of cartoony green guts. It's a casual first-person shooter, and it's very easy to get the hang of - use the mouse to aim, click to fire. Graveyard Shift has at least 15 levels, and it might even have some secret stages I haven't unlocked yet. They key to getting good at Graveyard Shift is learning to use ...

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