Arrogant Software
The Rabid Paladin just posted an article entitled "Arrogant Software," about software (well, software DEVELOPERS, really) who assume that because you are installing their software, they have the right to treat your computer as their bitch. Crude analogy, but too apropos.

Real Networks is one such software developer. I used to be a big fan (back in the 90's), but I have refused to install their software on any of my new machines because of the problems mentioned in RP's article. After one incident where I lost an entire day trying to recover my machine after two pieces of spyware / adware decided to use my machine as a battlefield (catching me in the crossfire), I became really paranoid about any processes running that I didn't recognize. I remember having to check on Realsched.exe a couple of times AFTER I thought I had disabled Real from running on startup. If I'm not running the program, why should it have a process always checking for updates? Can't it wait until I try to start the program, like MOST good software?

I was even more amused (but not in a good way) when I took a job in the digital security business. How much was this behavior similar to that of a Trojan? A theoretically benevolent Trojan, but still - it was running stuff without my knowledge or approval. And since automatic updates CAN be vectors for worms, there always exists the possibility of it turning malignant.

(No, this thought doesn't keep me up at night - the one thing I really carried with me from my work in that industry was just how impossible security really was, and that the only way to truly eliminate risk was to unplug your computer from the Internet completely, and write your own software. Otherwise, you just learn how to minimize risk and live with it).

Anyway, it's a good rant. And I always like a good rant.
- posted by The Rampant Coyote @ 8:10 AM (Permalink)