Some questions

[BobSmith]

First off, bravo for setting up this site, haven't found much help on the MBS software on the net, then stumble across this site and it answers heaps of my questions.

Had a PC get the MBS software installed, and managed to remove it last night using SpyBot.  Was shocked to see Avast didn't pick it up, but as i've found on a post on here, MBS seem to be attempting to "sue" some Av companies over blocking their software.

If FireFox is used on the laptop, is this software less likely to get installed?  Or is it not a fact that IE sux (which it does by the way) but the fact the software gets installed by user consent by the person click "yes, i agree a few times" etc.

Do we have any idea of the consequences of removing this s/w, then not paying the bill?  Do they attempt to chase up the money, or are they simply HOPING you'll pay up to get rid of the software?

I still love the fact the net is un-monitored, and stuff like this can occur.  Simply because if u start monitoring the net, then it becomes "controlled" and it should NEVER become that, the net has always had this "dark side" and people have always been able to survive, it's just a matter of learning to know the dangers.   Speaking of "dark side" it's nasty what this MBS is doing, and looking at their website, it looks like they either have a 2year old making it, or they really don't know much......so......in this dark side of the net, it'd be a real shame if their website gets attacked in some way wouldn't it? But hopefully this'll all be eventually resolved if they get screwed by Trading Standards once they get enough complaints about them (fingers crossed)


Cheers



EDIT:-    Also, surely it could be easily said that "I'm new to the net, and left my PC on with no firewall on, no updates yada yada yada. And someone "remote controled" to my PC, and went to this website and caused this software to be installed"   So in theory YOU GOT HACKED, and YOU never went to the site.   But would MBS just want to show proof that you were hacked?

man, the more i investigate this, the more i can see how DODGY as hell they are, and might be just on the legal line, but think/hope they'll get busted eventually, and the owners get to spend some quality time with someone called Bubba!

[ForumFriend]

Thanks for your kind words, Bob.  The website was kindly set up by Andy at my request (I don't have the facilities to do this) as it was clear this problem was affecting a lot of people.

I'll try to answer some of your questions, from what I've seen/heard over the six months I've been monitoring the MBS problem.  I'll also contact others who may be able to answer the other questions.

re Firefox - possibly.  I have read that Macs appear to be immune, so presumably the software is written with Bill Gates in mind.  To date, there has been no clear evidence of anyone getting the software other than by agreeing to Ts and Cs, but there are a number of cases where this seems unlikely, though the evidence is lacking to back it up.  Because no personal information is required, anyone who happens to play on your pc could potentially sign your pc up to the websites served by MBS, and *apparently* that makes YOU liable!

"Do we have any idea of the consequences of removing this s/w, then not paying the bill?  Do they attempt to chase up the money, or are they simply HOPING you'll pay up to get rid of the software?"  All I can answer here is that I've been aware of many people who have done this and not suffered any repercussions.  Provided you haven't supplied any personal information, all they have is your IP address and they would have great difficulty in persuading your IP provider to release further information.  Their hope and your fear appear to be what they are relying upon.

I hope you've added your own complaint to Trading Standards.  I'm also pursuing other ways of raising the profile of the problem.  With a bit of luck, some unsuspecting high ranking politician will find it on their pc and then it will suddenly shoot to the top of the agenda!

Good to see you on the forum! 

[helpplz]

one thing: if they say they will 'sue' all of these av companies wont that take their software to court ?

[ForumFriend]

Yes,  it would obviously involve that - and the word on the block is that they are highly unlikely to actually pursue anyone to Court for the very reason that this would lay them open to a judgement on the legality of their software. 

(Correction, 12.03 18.th Oct:  I should, of course, have addressed this to helpplz)

[Andy M]

I believe that for the MBS software to work correctly (and hence allow access to the members area of whatever web site is using their system) that a PC has to be running a fairly up-to-date version of Internet Explorer.

I think that this is something to do with "ActiveX" code (basically, a special kind of code invented by Microsoft, and hence only generally found in Internet Explorer)

The MBS software that is installed on the PC then interacts, via the browser, with both the MBS and 'membership' web sites, in order to grant access.

Hence, it would probably not be impossible to download the software using Firefox on a PC (in fact, it's possible to download the software on a Mac, but it won't work because the standard operating systems are totally different*) but users wouldn't be able to access the site they'd (allegedly) signed up for, using anything but IE.

Anyone with more knowledge feel free to correct me, but this is how I believe it works.

*It will be interesting to see whether newer Intel-based Macs, now able to run Windows XP and Vista, could now become infected with MBS software. My guess is "Yes".

[jonlewi5]

i will be more than willing to test this firefox theory later today when i can find my xp disk lol,
(just got back from trip and have forgotten where i keep a lot of stuff lol, i am tired, thats my excuse lol)

as for the newer macs, id put money on it being POSSIBLE for this "software" to be installed on it.

these new intel-macs are basicly non-legacy pc's (the hardware cant really be upgraded)(as far as i know)
from what i can see, any pc running windows can be attacked.

[ForumFriend]

Thanks, Jon, we'll look forward to hearing the outcome.  Hope you had a good break away.