WARNING! DO NOT INSTALL ANYTHING FROM WILDTANGENT!
Sim Pilot
Sim Pilot
>Every single software by WildTangent reports back to them and worst
>thing is that there is no uninstall feature AT ALL. I had to poke around
>and delete the c:\windows\wt directory, every reference in the registry
>to "WildTangent" AND edit Control.ini to get rid of that POS. Not having
>an uninstall feature for such an intrusive software really stinks!
>
>
Big Daddy
Puts a icon in control panel, and the only way to uninstall is via registry.
"FIREWALL" <fire...@email.com> wrote in message
news:3a2c6589$1...@news.starhub.net.sg...
Jeff Jones
"Sim Pilot" <simp...@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:p3ro2t89gonmr1hp5...@4ax.com...
> What games does "WildTangent" make?
AFAIK, they don't make games, but rather multimedia and web stuff. I agree
with the original poster, their stuff is very invasive, aka 'spyware'.
FIREWALL
xxsa...@my-deja.com
You may remember I put this up about an ice age ago and people were
less than kind. Now that we know what these guys are up to lets start
a little e-mail campaign to shut them down. First, Daily Radar did a
review telling us how cool the games were. I immediatly e-mailed the
editor to explain its spyware. Gamers think it sucks and if u endorse
it u suck too!
Maybe a few of u could back me up and ask daily radar to look into this
crap.
By the way to be fair some of the games are amazing and thats how they
hook you.
Regards,
XxSATANxX
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Pluv...@home.com
I happened to notice that I'm 'effected' by this company as well. I have a
wildtangent icon in my system control folder!! How do I go about removing all
traces of this spyware? Which keys in the reg should I look under?
Pluvious
Peter Nilsson
wrote:
Is this software caught by OptOut?
http://grc.com/optout.htm
/petern
Bob Perez
"Quatoria" <quat...@NOSPAMbellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:D84tOj69FswAuz...@4ax.com...
> In the swirling mists of history, on Wed, 06 Dec 2000 04:00:17 GMT,
> "minor_wizard" <david...@SPAMSUCKShome.com> wrote:
>
> >Get OptOut and run it
> >regularly, like your AV.
>
> Damn fine program, like everything else Gibson cooks up. Anyone using
> the net would be well advised to go to grc.com frequently. Like the
> old Sierra savegame mantra - early and often.
>
Totally agree, Steve Gibson is a champ (never mind that he uses Ecco to
design all of his programs...). I visit his site regularly to check on the
health of my PC.
By the way, Wild Tangent is the company formed by Alex St. John, who will be
remembered as a regular columnist for one of the HW mags (I forget which...
Boot? Maximum PC?) and is the self-described inventor of DirectX while he
worked at MSFT. By coincidence I mentioned his name today to a friend of
mine who worked at MSFT at the same time and he asked "Isn't that the guy
who got fired"? Colorful character, Alex. I'm disappointed to hear that he's
making spy-ware.
- Bob Perez
Slash
>Congrats on your post!
>
>You may remember I put this up about an ice age ago and people were
>less than kind. Now that we know what these guys are up to lets start
>a little e-mail campaign to shut them down. First, Daily Radar did a
>review telling us how cool the games were. I immediatly e-mailed the
>editor to explain its spyware. Gamers think it sucks and if u endorse
>it u suck too!
>
>Maybe a few of u could back me up and ask daily radar to look into this
>crap.
>
>By the way to be fair some of the games are amazing and thats how they
>hook you.
Speaking of hook, that's apparently where Brian Hook (of 3Dfx, id and
Verant) has ended up at the moment. I'm sure that has some relevance
to someone, somewhere. Just thought I'd mention that.
>Regards,
>
>XxSATANxX
-Slash
-- -- -- --
"The people on the internet know more about what I am doing than I do.
Like, they will say that I am going to be in this mall on this day and
sure enough I am there."
- Tori Amos, Dew Drop Inn Tour, 17-June-1996
minor_wizard
Javascript control in Internet Options - General - Settings - View Objects
(C:\WINDOWS\Downloaded Program Files folder appears). Also check
autoexec.bat to see if it has appended to your CLASSPATH environment
variable. Nasty. Just because they put removal instructions on the web means
nothing, considering the lengths they go to hide what they are doing. How
could Paul Steed associate himself with these people?! Get OptOut and run it
regularly, like your AV.
d'tho
$.02USD
"FIREWALL" <fire...@email.com> wrote in message
news:3a2c6589$1...@news.starhub.net.sg...
Quatoria
"minor_wizard" <david...@SPAMSUCKShome.com> wrote:
>Get OptOut and run it
>regularly, like your AV.
Damn fine program, like everything else Gibson cooks up. Anyone using
the net would be well advised to go to grc.com frequently. Like the
old Sierra savegame mantra - early and often.
-Quatoria
--
A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows that
faith does not prove anything.
-- Friederich Nietzsche
Laner
"Slash" <sla...@geocities.com> wrote in message
news:gj6r2tgoehln4uqn8...@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 05 Dec 2000 15:29:34 GMT, xxsa...@my-deja.com scribbled:
>
> >Congrats on your post!
> >
> >You may remember I put this up about an ice age ago and people were
> >less than kind. Now that we know what these guys are up to lets start
> >a little e-mail campaign to shut them down. First, Daily Radar did a
> >review telling us how cool the games were. I immediatly e-mailed the
> >editor to explain its spyware. Gamers think it sucks and if u endorse
> >it u suck too!
> >
> >Maybe a few of u could back me up and ask daily radar to look into this
> >crap.
> >
> >By the way to be fair some of the games are amazing and thats how they
> >hook you.
>
> Speaking of hook, that's apparently where Brian Hook (of 3Dfx, id and
> Verant) has ended up at the moment. I'm sure that has some relevance
> to someone, somewhere. Just thought I'd mention that.
You're thinking of Paul Steed - id's modeler.
Pluv...@home.com
OK, I've done this:
"Uninstalling the Web Driver
There is currently no uninstaller for the Web Driver. To uninstall the Web
Driver, run the stopwcmdr.bat file in the wt directory under Windows. Then,
delete the wt directory."
And then went and did a find "wildtangent" key in RESEDIT.
I've found a folder and I'm not sure what to delete:
In my registry I have a folder called JAVA VM and in that folder is the
following:
Default ( value not set )
ClassBuild "1155"
ClassPath
"c:\windows\java\classes\classes.zip;C:\windows\java\classes;.;C:\windows\wt\wildtangent.jar"
LibsDirectory "C:\windows\java\lib"
TrustedClasspath ""
TrustedLibsDirectory "C:\windows\java\trustlib"
I'm not sure if I want to just delete that whole JAVA VM folder since it has
other folders within that one too.
RNIModuleFlags
Security
System Properties
Which have other enteries in those.
What to do folks?!?!
Pluvious
redTed
>
> And then went and did a find "wildtangent" key in RESEDIT.
>
> I've found a folder and I'm not sure what to delete:
>
> In my registry I have a folder called JAVA VM and in that folder is the
> following:
>
> Default ( value not set )
> ClassBuild "1155"
> ClassPath
>
"c:\windows\java\classes\classes.zip;C:\windows\java\classes;.;C:\windows\wt
\wildtangent.jar"
> LibsDirectory "C:\windows\java\lib"
> TrustedClasspath ""
> TrustedLibsDirectory "C:\windows\java\trustlib"
>
> I'm not sure if I want to just delete that whole JAVA VM folder since it
has
> other folders within that one too.
>
> RNIModuleFlags
> Security
> System Properties
>
> Which have other enteries in those.
> What to do folks?!?!
Don't delete the VM entry.
To be on the safe side, download RegCleaner
(http://www.vtoy.fi/jv16/RegCleaner.exe ) and find the Wild Tangent entries
with that. You can delete them pretty safely from there and then run the
registry cleanup function. It's a fine freeware program, as many here will
vouch for. http://www.vtoy.fi/jv16/index.shtml
Slash
Oh, sure. NOW the tidbit at VoodooExtreme says Paul Steed... Figures.
:) They even mentioned the same 'formerly of 3dfx, id & Verant,' which
is why I included that in my message. Doh!
Pluv...@home.com
Thanks redTed, I've run it and it can't find them. I did however find some other
stuff I needed to get rid off. (thx) Still don't know what to do about those
other entries that RegCleaner didn't find. Oh well.
Pluvious
minor_wizard
the appended wild tangent path. Then terminate with extreme predjudice the
wt folder and all therin, soldier!
<Pluv...@home.com> wrote in message news:3a2ef5af.7311595@news...
xxsa...@my-deja.com
community would pick up the fact that these guys are total posers and
bust them for screwing up peoples game boxes!
This just sucks!
Death to Wild Tangent!
tzir...@yahoo.com
> Here is how to get rid of Wild Tangent Web Driver
> (http://www.wildtangent.com/support/issues.html)
Well, at least someone had enough brains to do something beside panic.
Has anyone thought to learn what the Web Driver is and how it works?
Perhaps this might clear some things up...
http://www.wildtangent.com/candy/privacy.html
It's not hacking your system for passwords or credit cards. If any
of you had bothered to read during the install process, this shouldn't
be a surprise. Is it spyware if you are told up front what it does
and the web site has instructions for removal? Decide for yourself
because Chicken Little sure as hell didn't bother to do the research.
--
TAZ
tzir...@yahoo.com
> You know it sure would be nice if someone in the magazine
> community would pick up the fact that these guys are total
> posers and bust them for screwing up peoples game boxes!
>
> This just sucks!
>
> Death to Wild Tangent!
Well, that's a little extreme. But, you are the self proclaimed
Prince of Darkness. I doubt that you'll find any magazine that
will rag on them since they are not what you think they are.
I've seen the building they work in and even talked to some of
the staff. They are not a couple of snot nosed punks trying to
run a scam or screw up people's machines. WildTangent is a legit
business. If you don't like how they do business, you sure as
hell shouldn't have agreed to install their software. As a small
game developer, I'm very pleased with their product. It is
literally a joy to make 3D games and web pages with the web driver.
libby...@my-deja.com
We try our best to inform people about the
updater when they first install a WebDriver
application. During installation, you are
stepped through a screen with a note from the CEO
that outlines that the updater is used for
support purposes only. Because 3D hardware
drivers are notoriously unstable and because we
are a small company, we automated support for our
products. Additionally, we provide a privacy
statement which you can read on our website.
http://www.wildtangent.com/candy/privacy.html
If you would like to see exactly what is reported
back, take a look at the info.txt in your
Windows/WT directory. Note, there are no names,
addresses being reported. It is a list of
hardware, driver versions, OS and other
components we need to know about when trying to
diagnose and fix support issues.
You can turn the updater off through the control
panel. Start/Settings/Control Panel and then
find the WildTangent Control Panel. Find the
Updater Tab and then turn off the automated
update check box. We would suggest that if you
do experience problems with a game or WildTangent
application, you might consider turning the
updater on to see if new components to the
WebDriver fix your problems.
Regarding the Uninstaller. In the next release
of the WebDriver, we have included an
uninstaller. Until that version is released,
please find the steps to uninstall the webdriver
at the following URL
http://www.wildtangent.com/support/faq.html#uninst
all
If you still have concerns or questions, please
contact us at Dev...@wildtangent.com
Thanks,
Libby Dunkin
Director of Developer Relations
In article <3a2c6589$1...@news.starhub.net.sg>,
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
libby...@my-deja.com
install a WebDriver application. During installation, you are stepped
through a screen with a note from the CEO that outlines that the
updater is used for support purposes only. Because 3D hardware drivers
are notoriously unstable and because we are a small company, we
automated support for our products. Additionally, we provide a
privacy statement which you can read on our website.
http://www.wildtangent.com/candy/privacy.html
If you would like to see exactly what is reported back, take a look at
the info.txt in your Windows/WT directory. Note, there are no names or
addresses. It list the hardware, driver versions, OS and other
components we need to know about when trying to diagnose and fix
support issues.
You can turn the updater off through the control panel.
Start/Settings/Control Panel and then find the WildTangent Control
Panel. Find the Updater Tab and then turn off the automated update
check box. We would suggest that if you do experience problems with a
game or WildTangent application, you might consider turning the updater
on to see if new components to the WebDriver fix your problems.
Regarding the Uninstaller. In the next release of the WebDriver, we
have included an uninstaller. Until that version is released, please
find the steps to uninstall the webdriver at the following URL
http://www.wildtangent.com/support/faq.html#uninstall
If you still have concerns or questions, please contact us at
Dev...@wildtangent.com
Thanks,
Libby Dunkin
WildTangent
Director of Developer Relations
In article <3a2c6589$1...@news.starhub.net.sg>,
"FIREWALL" <fire...@email.com> wrote:
GameGuy
screen.
xxsa...@my-deja.com
> Well, that's a little extreme. But, you are the self proclaimed
> Prince of Darkness.
Not really and hey its not self proclaimed someone gave me this
handle!
I doubt that you'll find any magazine that
> will rag on them since they are not what you think they are.
Yes they are! Why not let the damn program uninstall then!
> I've seen the building they work in and even talked to some of
> the staff.
Poser one and two in the lobby right!
They are not a couple of snot nosed punks trying to
> run a scam or screw up people's machines. WildTangent is a legit
> business.
Good legit biz should include an uninstaller right?
If you don't like how they do business, you sure as
> hell shouldn't have agreed to install their software.
Oh yea thanks your the lawyer there right!
As a small game developer, Hey, nobody brought up your penis size?
I'm very pleased with their product. Spyware! It is
> literally a joy to make 3D games and web pages with the web driver.
Because we can track and spam all the suckers to death while their
playing some really stupid game.
Yea one more suit heard from!
WILD TANGENT SUCKS STAY AWAY!!!!!
Love ,
XxSATANxX
xxsa...@my-deja.com
First, let me say thanks for replying here. Most companies avoid the
usenet because of its rather unstructured nature. Next, let me explain
why.
BULLSHIT!
Your lying! You know it, and anyone who has fallen into the Wild
Tangent trap knows it. What a bunch of crap. A program without an
uninstaller? Come on what other purpose but to track the comings and
goings of users and then sell and spam the poor schmucks.
Oh the next version will uninstall? Oh I see, you can make Quake 3
play thru my browser but your company can't make an uninstaller?
BULLSHIT!
Your very response indicates that the last thing you guys want is any
attention on this subject. Gamers beware this is a bad company doing
bad things.
Not even the freaking Borg (Microsoft) would get caught doing this.
I did'nt start this thread but I can tell you this stuff screwed up my
registry and caused me to reinstall Windows.
Love and kisses,
XxSATANxX
zir...@my-deja.com
> Your lying! You know it, and anyone who has fallen into the Wild
> Tangent trap knows it. What a bunch of crap. A program without
> an uninstaller? Come on what other purpose but to track the
> comings and goings of users and then sell and spam the poor
> schmucks.
I've been using WildTangent stuff for about a year and have never
received any spam from them or their partners. If they are the
privacy mongers and spam freaks that you say they are, where's
the evidence?
> Oh the next version will uninstall? Oh I see, you can make Quake 3
> play thru my browser but your company can't make an uninstaller?
More like Quake2, but they may have curved surfaces licked in the
next release. But, you can fake that with patches by combining
version 1 and version 2 capabilities. It's really a matter of
priorities. Technically, while the driver is at 2.04.1, the SDK
is still at beta. So yes, they still have some catching up to
do.
> Your very response indicates that the last thing you guys want is
> any attention on this subject. Gamers beware this is a bad company
> doing bad things.
NewsWeek doesn't think so.
http://www.wildtangent.com/company/press/news_flash.html
Care to cough up some facts about 'bad things'?
> Not even the freaking Borg (Microsoft) would get caught doing
> this. I did'nt start this thread but I can tell you this stuff
> screwed up my registry and caused me to reinstall Windows.
I have no idea what your technical skills are, but I've frequently
installed, uninstalled (manually, of course), tweaked, and generally
kicked the web driver's tires on a variety of machines. I've NEVER
had the web driver trash my registry.
--
TAZ
xxheadh...@my-deja.com
TAZ... I think the point here is it's a pain in the ass at our expense.
Easy to install and a PAIN IN THE ASS TO UNINSTALL. I don't care how
cool the games are. It sounds like a bunch of HORSESHIT when Wild
Tagent says we have no uninstaller at this time. Sorry to get hot under
the collar but this sort of stuff is BS.
xxheadhunterxx
xxheadh...@my-deja.com
NewsWeek doesn't think so.
TAZ what are you thinking?
Huh?!? NewsWeek your source for all things technical or is it your
source for gaming info?? I think whatever NW had to say came from
press release from Wild Tangent. I've seen many quotes in NW from the
likes of John Romero, nuf said.
I have no idea what your technical skills are, but I've frequently
installed, uninstalled (manually, of course), tweaked, and generally
kicked the web driver's tires on a variety of machines. I've NEVER
had the web driver trash my registry.
So, If this product is for all of us gamers to check out how come it's
such a sloppy piece of shit that for all these months they can't put an
uninstaller on it?? I mean getting rid of it doesn't have to be a pain
in the ass does it. All you have to do is take an ID game demo and put
the folder in the trash (no uninstaller needed). Hey I guess the guy's
at Wild Tangent just aint that good. This product has been on the web
for awhile they must just want to get that uninstaller program working
perfect.
xxheadh...@my-deja.com
libby...@my-deja.com wrote:
Hey Libby,
This software has been out a long time. I would like to try it but
you make it to hard to get rid of. A little old uninstaller would make
it something I would try in a NY minute. Otherwise, forget it!
xxheadh...@my-deja.com
2 more quick point's.
1. satan's tech skills have been good enough to help me with
game,driver and os problems on these boards.
2. NewsWeek hasn't solved any tech problems for me :)
> http://www.deja.com/
zir...@my-deja.com
> TAZ... I think the point here is it's a pain in the ass at our
> expense. Easy to install and a PAIN IN THE ASS TO UNINSTALL. I
> don't care how cool the games are. It sounds like a bunch of
> HORSESHIT when Wild Tagent says we have no uninstaller at this
> time. Sorry to get hot under the collar but this sort of stuff
> is BS.
Yeah, the lack of an uninstaller is a thorny point. I guess I've
gotten over it and looked at all the damn nifty things that I
can do with the web driver. I just think that xxSatanxx's general
paranoia and bad mouthing of WT is going off on a tangent.
zir...@my-deja.com
> 1. satan's tech skills have been good enough to help me with
> game,driver and os problems on these boards.
Fair enough, I'll avoid any cheap shots in that department. :-)
> 2. NewsWeek hasn't solved any tech problems for me :)
If you follow the link that I posted, you'll find that the whole
point of mentioning NewsWeek is that it (and dozens of other
magazines and game review web sites) recognize that WildTangent
is a legit business with an interesting technology.
--
TAZ
Sent via Deja.com
http://www.deja.com/
xxsa...@my-deja.com
regarding WILDTANGENT Hmmmm?
Well make sure you show your task masters that you complied with their
wishes and posted on this forum.
I am really becoming very paranoid about this company now they are
sending trolls!
Love and kisses,
XxSATANxX
xxsa...@my-deja.com
> point of mentioning NewsWeek is that it (and dozens of other
> magazines and game review web sites) recognize that WildTangent
> is a legit business with an interesting technology.
TAZ:
I think your missing the point entirely. To be a Legit biz you
must include an uninstaller. Its the basic rule. If you put something
on someone's machine you should be able to remove it. No gamer with
any IQ is gonna put this crap on his box.
I spoke with Daily Radar and IGN about this company and they agree
something ain't right. They are now in the process of doing a very
intensive review of the wildtangent software and plan on publishing a
very interesting story about what they found. I think at that point
the "hidden agenda" of WildTangent will be made very clear.
This software is tracking you and reporting to someone. Why else
would you create this stuff?
Regards,
XxSATANxX
" Don't mean to paranoid, but the voices in my head have me very
concerned."
zir...@my-deja.com
> Lets see here TAZ you've posted exactly 3 times to this forum only
> regarding WILDTANGENT Hmmmm?
I'm normally a lurker on comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action and I check
it out every week or so for threads that interest me. Until now,
I've never had a need to post. [You'll find I'm more active on
alt.3d and alt.games.programming.]
> I am really becoming very paranoid about this company now they are
> sending trolls!
Now that's name calling. Nobody sent me and I would like to think
that I'm educating people and generally challenging you to prove
what I consider outlandish claims. So far you've generated a lot
of static but little information.
--
TAZ
Pingmeister
Bah! They don't need your info and that kind of invasive crap is
annoying. I applaud anyone's efforts to do away with this kind of
stuff.
Perhaps it borders on chicken-little syndrome but right now I'm
supporting that group of paranoid people who track this crap since I'm
far too lazy and content to bother with it.
--
Pingmeister
"Sleep,
Those little slices of Death
How I loathe them." Edgar Allen Poe
zir...@my-deja.com
> I spoke with Daily Radar and IGN about this company and they
> agree something ain't right. They are now in the process of
> doing a very intensive review of the wildtangent software and
> plan on publishing a very interesting story about what they
> found.
I look forward to reading that article. Hopefully, it will
clear things up.
> I think at that point the "hidden agenda" of WildTangent will
> be made very clear.
They're providing tools that can be used for e-commerce with the
focus on 3D graphics. What's hidden about that?
> This software is tracking you and reporting to someone. Why
> else would you create this stuff?
From what I know, most of the tech data that they collect goes into
a data base that their tech support guys use.
The bottom line is that WildTangent thinks there's money to be made
in compressed media rich content delivered via the web. If that is
sinister, you're probably living in the wrong country. These guys
are not fools, Alex St. John has been part of the Borg Collective
(Microsoft) for years. You can bet that they'll take steps to
avoid violating people's privacy. They're not going to sink
millions into a company that will fold under the first lawsuit that
pops up. They're very aware of privacy and security issues and I've
seen this in the design of their web driver API. [For example,
there are mandatory pop up windows for when the software wants to
go to full screen mode or when it requests certain debug data.]
BTW, if I thought that they were doing something evil with any data
that they collect, I wouldn't be sticking up for them.
> " Don't mean to paranoid, but the voices in my head have me very
> concerned."
LOL!
--
TAZ
xxsa...@my-deja.com
Installing software and making entrys onto your registry without
giving you the oppurtunity to remove it.
That information I gave is true and accurate. Several gaming sites are
now looking into the nature of the program and how it reports to Wild
Tangent. Some point after the first of the year we will have more
information on what these guys are up to.
Paranoid? Not really. I just think its so lame to not include an
uninstaller. The company should be boycotted for that alone. When it
fails and it will fail they will blame gamers blaa blaa blaa and all
that. The reason it will fail is because we got wise to the antics and
spread the word in forums like these.
Not a troll? Really? do you not work for these guys? Really?
Well just remember this gamers WILDTANGENT = Screwed up computer and
kiss your privacy good bye!
If it that is'nt true how come a bunch of gamers did'nt come running to
Wild Tangents defense?
Happy New Year,
XxSATANxX
zir...@my-deja.com
> Not a troll? Really? do you not work for these guys? Really?
Really. I work for an insurance company in Oklahoma City and I
program games and PBEM utilities as a hobby. It would be nice
to work for WildTangent, but then I probably wouldn't be as free
to talk to you as I have. For example, I do agree that a lack of
an uninstaller is hurting WT. I hope that 2.0.5.0 will fix that.
> If it that is'nt true how come a bunch of gamers did'nt come
> running to Wild Tangents defense?
WT's technology should be transparent to the user/gamer. I'm a
programmer and my knowledge of the web driver API gives me a
different perspective. [ie. You see a plugin that doesn't have
an uninstaller, like Flash/Shockwave and others.* I see a damn
cool way to make games, screen savers, and 3D web pages without
having to spend a lot of cash or investing a huge amount of time
learning DirectX.]
> Happy New Year,
Welcome to the new millenium.
--
TAZ
* Ever wonder what the others are going? Visiting a web page is
just as intrusive, if not more.
xxsa...@my-deja.com
> program games and PBEM utilities as a hobby. It would be nice
> to work for WildTangent, but then I probably wouldn't be as free
> to talk to you as I have. For example, I do agree that a lack of
> an uninstaller is hurting WT. I hope that 2.0.5.0 will fix that.
Please accept my apology! Sorry name calling sucks I should'nt have
done that. Sounds like if WT had you on board you would have made sure
they had an uninstaller. ;-)
> WT's technology should be transparent to the user/gamer. I'm a
> programmer and my knowledge of the web driver API gives me a
> different perspective. [ie. You see a plugin that doesn't have
> an uninstaller, like Flash/Shockwave and others.*
That is a great point. I had'nt considered plug ins. Maybe you
remember comet cursor? I think everyone admits that plug in was
spyware.
I see a damn cool way to make games, screen savers, and 3D web pages
without having to spend a lot of cash or investing a huge amount of time
learning DirectX.
You make another great point here. No doubt the WT games look amazing.
I call it the Ginger Bread House complex. You know, lure you inside
with treats then stick you in the oven.
Hey Taz you know your stuff don't be such a lurker and jump in on a few
of these.
As for Wild Tangent maybe they have an SDK they would let us download?
That would solve the question of spyware pretty fast.
Regards,
XxSATANxX
zir...@my-deja.com
> That is a great point. I had'nt considered plug ins. Maybe you
> remember comet cursor? I think everyone admits that plug in was
> spyware.
True.
>> I see a damn cool way to make games, screen savers, and 3D web
>> pages without having to spend a lot of cash or investing a huge
>> amount of time learning DirectX.
>
> You make another great point here. No doubt the WT games look
> amazing. I call it the Ginger Bread House complex. You know,
> lure you inside with treats then stick you in the oven.
It's conceivable. But, I haven't seen that. I was also fairly
active in the Eclipse/Genesis3D community, WT bought that technology
and incorporated it into the web driver. Some of the developers from
Eclipse went to work for WT, I know these guys fairly well and don't
think that they'd work for a fly-by-night outfit. In fact, if you're
a C++ programmer, you can use the Kernal API which is even lower than
the web driver API. I doubt that WT would allow programmers access
to the guts of their driver if there was something to hide.
> Hey Taz you know your stuff don't be such a lurker and jump in on
> a few of these.
Thanks, but I'm a little behind the action gaming curve. [My kids
do the high reflex games, I'm more of a turn based gamer. Odium,
Incubation, and X-Com, etc. I mainly keep an eye out for bugs,
patches, cheats, and the occasionally new game review from the
'trenches'.]
> As for Wild Tangent maybe they have an SDK they would let us
> download? That would solve the question of spyware pretty fast.
http://www.wildtangent.com/developer/download.html
To clear some terminology, the game driver and web driver v2.0 are
the same thing. If you have concerns over installing the SDK, you
can also download the API specification as a help file.
Have fun...
--
TAZ
ddnguyen
control mechansim. Can't they see that they are just shooting themselves in
the foot by having this backdoor update process. WT keeps checking
constantly for new updates which is anonying as zonealert keeps nagging me
about it, until i removed the WT folder under the windows directory. They
have a great technology but, without consumer confidence, its adoption will
be limited. Perhaps they will get wise and implement an on demand update
process which involves the user instead of bypassing them.
-ddn
xxsa...@my-deja.com
Thanks for the download. I don't program I'm a marketing type more on
the hardware side then anything else. Nonetheless I'll do this and let
u know what I find. The next post says that the software keeps polling
for updates? Hmmmmmmm? Could it just be that these guys are just well
how do I say this nice? A little slow as to the things that piss
computer users off!
If u have some type of influence over there I suggest they read this
thread. Until its fixed I suspect we'll see many more PO'd posts about
Wild Tangent.
Again thanks for your input ant intelligent comments I learned
something here.
Regards,
XxSATANxX
zir...@my-deja.com
> I dont know why WT uses such a pervasive and anonying installation
> and control mechansim. Can't they see that they are just shooting
> themselves in the foot by having this backdoor update process. WT
> keeps checking constantly for new updates which is anonying as
> zonealert keeps nagging me about it, until i removed the WT folder
> under the windows directory.
I think the whole idea is that they want to deploy a technology that
takes care of itself without bothering the user with new patches and
such. Unfortunately, if you use ZoneAlert, that kind of backfires.
Two thoughts, does ZoneAlert have an 'ignore this program' option?
And, you can go into the control panel and tell WildTangent how
often you want to check for updates. In the third tab of the WT
Control Panel, there is a check box to turn off update checking and
there is also a place where you can specifiy the interval. So,
you can check every minute, once a week, or manually.
> They have a great technology but, without consumer confidence, its
> adoption will be limited. Perhaps they will get wise and implement
> an on demand update process which involves the user instead of
> bypassing them.
As mention above, there is a way to do that manually. Perhaps WT
needs to add an obvious option up front that asks the user if they
want automatic update checking turned on or not.
zir...@my-deja.com
> The next post says that the software keeps polling for updates?
I think the default is once every 4400 minutes.
> Hmmmmmmm? Could it just be that these guys are just well how do I
> say this nice? A little slow as to the things that piss computer
> users off!
LOL. Perhaps they're underestimating the technical savvy of many
gamers. One problem when you aim for the lowest common denominator
is that you're going to shoot some folks in the foot.
> If u have some type of influence over there I suggest they read
> this thread. Until its fixed I suspect we'll see many more PO'd
> posts about Wild Tangent.
I'm sure Ms. Dunkin is following the thread and she's part of the
WT staff. If she doesn't post a reply here or via email (hint, hint),
I'll roll up the whole thread to date and forward it to her and/or
the WT forum for discussion. [My level of influence is only that of
a beta tester, but a number of the developers for WT are active in
the forum.]
> Again thanks for your input and intelligent comments I learned
> something here.
Glad to help.
--
TAZ
xxsa...@my-deja.com
called Gibson Research Corp. They have done a lot of work on spyware
and can explain how it works and what its doing.
I am sending my case file on Wild Tangent to them and have them take a
look.
My quess is that they'll find something or put this to rest once and
for all.
Thanks Taz and XxHeadHunterxX
Regards,
XxSATANxX
zir...@my-deja.com
> Well XxHeadHunterxX sent me lead on some tech people over at a
> place called Gibson Research Corp. They have done a lot of work
> on spyware and can explain how it works and what its doing.
Interesting, I think GRC find that the Web Driver is not spyware.
The first sentence of their definition gets WT 'off the hook'.
GRC: Spyware is ANY SOFTWARE which employs a user's Internet
connection in the background (the so-called "backchannel")
without their knowledge or explicit permission.
However, I do expect them to have issues with the lack uninstaller
and would probably like WT to change their verbage to make it
clearer as to what the web driver does. Of course, GRC's idea
of clarity might be WT's idea of disturbing and confusing to the
'average' user.
--
TAZ
xxsa...@my-deja.com
Well Taz,
The other tool I'm looking into is a type of Internet Map maker. It
takes your computer and traces all interaction of any program and then
creates a map listing out all connections and IP addresses. Its an
amazing weapon against spyware. I have to say I'm struggling with it
at present and its not the most stable thing I have ever used but my oh
my have I found some intresting connections out there!
To get an idea of what the hell I'm talking about go to
Again what good is my data? Its probably useless and guarding it is
well sort of a wasted effort. However let me point out just a few
things
1. Egghead had thousands of credit cards stolen
2. Hackers, Hackers, Hackers
3. Personal data SS#, Passwords, Phone numbers are worth $
4. Monitor your habits good and bad?
I would love to know what the biz model for WT is? I mean they want
to make money right? They want registered users right? They gotta be
paying that guy from id a bunch of dough? So what gives?
Well see what GRC finds as well as a few others in the meantime take
care and beware "Their out there"
Regards,
XxSATANxX
pbal...@my-deja.com
xxheadhunterxx
>
> -ddn