Curious problem

Mary · SearchIRC Admin Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 692

Several people have emailed us about a curious problem, and I thought one of our users may be able to help.

They are getting a popup that says "P2Pnetwork" and "cannot find server".

Apparently this popup is popping up a LOT, because they are really furious when they email us demanding we make it stop. They are emailing SearchIRC, because when they go to Google and look up "p2pnetwork", SearchIRC is the top result, with a listing of a defunct IRC network by that name.

Of course, SearchIRC has nothing to do with the popup, and we have no idea what is causing it. I suspect it may be spyware, or some sort of filesharing program.... but a Google search of my own doesn't turn up anything that sounds likely.

Any ideas?

Wiggle · Newbie Joined: 01 Nov 2003 Posts: 81

I'm not getting any popups :>. Just wanted to let you know Razz

Mary · SearchIRC Admin Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 692

Thanks, Wiggle... but, the people who are getting these popups never visited our site. :p

anifinder · none Joined: 14 Oct 2003 Posts: 28

I tried navigating to SearchIRC through p2pnetwork's Google search result, but Firebird recorded no popup attempts, even after clicking through a few times. While it could be spyware of some kind (this being indicative of the type of network p2pnetwork appeared to be), if a number of users are complaining about it, then it's possible it may just be some runaway Javascript that is being triggered intentionally or accidentally. If someone figures out how to consisently trigger the popup, it'd be worth the time to capture the HTTP packets and see exactly what's causing it.

roro · Guest

it could be because all of them have some version of Kazaa installed on their machines...that sort of software is known to cause such probs...

Jay · none Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 43

Using firebird at work, never had a popup, opera at home, never got a popup.

I'll try with IE Smile

anyway it can be some malicious javascript thingie or kazaa with spyware.
sucks anyway ... good luck finding it Wink

Mary · SearchIRC Admin Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 692

When I hear from a user with this problem, I recommend they use a spyware detection program... and I suspect that may be it, because I haven't heard back from a single one of them.

Plasma · Newbie Joined: 10 Dec 2003 Posts: 63

Im pretty sure this is adware that is bundled with either Kazaa (full, not lite) or iMesh...

Jedi · none Joined: 07 Jul 2003 Posts: 26

p2pnetwork is a trojan and it has come from people that have kazaa installed on there computers. we had to help one with the same problem and they had to un-install kazaa and install a spyware detection and it found p2pnetwork as a spyware from kazaa.

Mary · SearchIRC Admin Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 692

Ah, there's the answer. Thanks Jedi!

U · Eleet Joined: 18 Jun 2003 Posts: 521 Location: IRC

Its like gator though-and its in the install documentation, so when you install it you AGREE to use it-so its installed knowingly. If you don't install it, Kazaa won't install. I don't think its a trojan in the sense that someone installs it without them knowing.

But at least now you know why its happening.

ed · Posted: Feb 28, 2004 2:32pm Post subject:

But the developers make it decieving. Gator, as I remember, put a notice at the very bottom of their EULA. Yes, I know it is the users own fault for not reading it, but I still count that as deceptive.

U · Eleet Joined: 18 Jun 2003 Posts: 521 Location: IRC

Deceptive yes, but at least its not attached to a file unknowingly.

Zee · none Joined: 08 Apr 2004 Posts: 1

Try this link about the p2p. This explains alot of the fuctions and tells you how to configure the p2p. Good luck

http://www.onjava.com/pub/a/onjava/2003/12/03/p2psockets.html

uchat · Idler Joined: 17 Mar 2004 Posts: 335

I use Ad-Aware 6 ... tis free for personal use:

http://www.lavasoft.de