Spyware Warrior

suzi · Posted: Thu May 12, 2005 8:18 am Post subject: drive by downloads

Does anyone know the origin of the phrase drive by downloads? I remember hearing it at least 3 years ago, referring to software that installs whether or not you want it to, usually by active x.

I'd be interested to know if anyone knows how and when that phrase got started.
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Former Microsoft MVP 2005-2009, Consumer Security
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'KotaGuy · Posted: Thu May 12, 2005 9:44 am Post subject:

Not sure if this helps....

Only thing I can find is an old post on Network Security. It references a post made Jan. 1, 2001 on the F****ed Company forums. Says the term was first used by Alexa Internet as a Marketing term.

Linky: http://www.networksecurityarchive.org/html/FullDisclosure/2003-01/msg00465.html

Have no idea if this is true or not... was the only thing I could find Googling though.

suzi · Posted: Fri May 13, 2005 8:59 pm Post subject:

Thanks for that link. It's a good one.
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Former Microsoft MVP 2005-2009, Consumer Security
Please do not PM or Email me for personal support. Post in the Forums instead and we will all learn. Smile

mikey · Posted: Fri May 20, 2005 7:40 am Post subject:

Hey Suzi,

I couldn't tell you exactly who or when but I do recall referring to DLs made via 'Install on Demand'(ActiveX) all thru 2000 @ Becky with that term. That was also about the same time I started warning the community about the upcomming onslaught of 'hit generators'(highjacks). No one paid much attention then tho. Smile

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suzi · Posted: Fri May 20, 2005 8:38 pm Post subject:

Thanks, Mikey. They should have listened to you then!! Internet life was so much easier then....
_________________
Former Microsoft MVP 2005-2009, Consumer Security
Please do not PM or Email me for personal support. Post in the Forums instead and we will all learn. Smile

mikey · Posted: Sat May 21, 2005 3:15 am Post subject:

Even with warning, there wasn't much anyone in sec could do to stop it. That was still the MS stage where they wanted to 'help' the ad boys...fortunately, MS seems to have changed their MO some in recent time(or I should say; been forced to change).

In the meantime, we now have such a wonderful industry of anti-malware formed up to make our lives so much easier. :sarcasm: Smile

_________________
-
W2K/2K3/XP/2K8/Vista/W7/RHE/DEBIAN/SUSE

Spyware/Adware is NOT freeware, it costs all of us dearly.

Mikey's Stuff

Fiddler and friends...essential web diagnostic, forensic, & development tools.
-