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F-Secure Spyware Information Pages: CommonName
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Summary
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| CommonName builds software that hijacks the Internet Explorer search feature. Searches are redirected to their site where results and usage are monitored. Search results displayed by CommonName are defined by a database of keywords. Keywords are sold for companies to direct traffic to their website. |
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Detailed Description
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CommonName is a company that sells search keywords utilized by their own software. The software hijacks the search feature in Internet Explorer and directs search queries to their site. While using the service, information about what is searched for and clicked are collected.
CommonName's search results are defined by a set list of rules. Other companies can purchase keywords to direct searches to their site.
The software comes with a EULA and a privacy policy clause. The privacy policy does not provide sufficient information. This is what is stated:
i. does not collect any personal information
ii. does not collect data by monitoring your behavior
iii. does not attempt to connect to the Internet if you are not connected
iv. does not bundle with any other software
v. does include an uninstaller
There is no information about what is collected and how it is treated.
CommonName has an additional service called Identity. To use Identity, the user must disclose their e-mail address to register. The username then functions as a keyword to simplify navigation to a personal webpage or as an alias for an e-mail address. A registered user can also store online bookmarks and other personal information. How such information is handled and used is unknown.
Each installation is associated with a unique id. The software runs in stealth from the user. |
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F-Secure Corporation |
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Last Modified: January 01, 2006
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