If you've bought a Dell computer recently, you might have that noticed a program called "My Way" comes pre-installed on your computer and helpfully installs itself on your web browser, giving you an extra toolbar. If you're one of those people who immediately installs spyware and adware protection and removal programs, this "My Way" program gets detected and removed as potential spyware that can slow down your computer.
Dell says this is just silly, and that everyone is overreacting to this "harmless" little program.
Anti-spyware firm Sunbelt Software defines My Way components as a "potential privacy risk" that pose a moderate threat to users.
"MyWay Speedbar is a search toolbar that installs into Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator, adding search functions and popup blocking. MyWay Search Bar is a toolbar that is added to the major web browsers. While it has some desired features, it does anonymously report your surfing activity when on a Myway or Myway affiliated site, helping their product serve you targeted advertising based on surfing habits of its users. Based on their End User License Agreement, they may also choose to correlate the anonymous surfing habits with your personal profile if you sign up for anything while on their sites," it said.
Dell says the anti-spyware companies are just plain silly, and that if you don't like the toolbar, just don't use it.
"My Way is not a spyware product and it does not monitor user's behaviour. It's a toolbar that displays relevant search results in response to search queries," she said. "You can disable the product using the options menu."
Or, you could uninstall it completely, just to make sure...
196 Comments
phineas
Bozeman, MT
August 2003
JUL 16, 2005 02:34 PM
trocc
Chicago, IL
March 2003
JUL 16, 2005 03:32 PM
akl
Sacramento, CA
February 2004
JUL 16, 2005 05:05 PM