Published September 8th, 2003 by Jim O'Halloran
X1 Search contains spyware?
While browsing John Robb’s weblog this morning I noticed a mention of X1…
Bill Gross has finally launched X1, his fast search tool on the desktop (Web, e-mail, files, and attachments). There is a full-featured, no time limit, free version available. This is a good replacement for the hideous search feature in Outlook.
I’ve struggled with the search feature in Outlook, and was inspired to give X1 a try… A quick skim of the licence agreement though sugests that “adware” or “spyware” might be insalled along with X1… The relevant section of the licence agreement…
4. Third Party Content. Your use of the Software may take you to web sites operated by third parties. We do not endorse (and those third party sites do not endorse us or the Software) nor are we affiliated with these third party web sites and we are not responsible for any content that appears on these sites.
… additional popups and redirections to third party web sites are classic symptoms of a machine with adware or spyware type programms installed. Later, the following appears in the licence…
YOU UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT YOU DOWNLOAD AND/OR USE THE SOFTWARE AND ALL THIRD PARTY SOFTWARE MADE AVAILABLE IN CONJUNCTION WITH OR THROUGH THE SOFTWARE AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION AND RISK
Which suggests that third party software will be installed along with X1.
I don’t know for sure whether spyware is packaged with X1 or not because I didn’t install it, but the fact that the licence allows for it is enough to stop me from trying it out.
Of course most people don’t read the licence, so they get away with it, but its amazing how many programs actually disclose the fact that they’re installing spyware on your machine in the licence agreement.
Which leads to another question… Does anyone know of a search feature for Exchange email which is actually usable, and doesn’t contain spyware?
Infowar Now! (David) Says
Came accross your site while searching for the same info. FYI from their webpage:
Information Collected from Use of the Software Products
X1™ Search
When you download and use X1™ Search, we will collect general usage information from you in connection with your use of X1™ Search. Each time you use X1™ Search, certain information will be collected, including the types of searches (e.g. web search, search on your hard drive for a particular type of file (.doc)), the date your searches are performed and the number of searches you make. However, specific web sites and personally identifying details regarding your searches will not be transmitted to us. Your use of X1™ Search will remain anonymous and will not be tied to the e-mail address you provide us. This information will help us better understand how X1™ Search is being used and will assist us in continuing to improve our products. For further information, please see our FAQ section.
Sep 23rd, 2003 at 3:16 am
speeder Says
Hi guys,
I think the passages that Jim refers to cover relatively innocent situations. For example:
“4. Third Party Content. Your use of the Software may take you to web sites operated by third parties. We do not endorse (and those third party sites do not endorse us or the Software) nor are we affiliated with these third party web sites and we are not responsible for any content that appears on these sites.”
This means that if you do a web search in X1 and open pages in a search result you may see popups associated with them. This also happens with a yahoo search or a google search, and has nothing to do with spyware. As for the following part:
YOU UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT YOU DOWNLOAD AND/OR USE THE SOFTWARE AND ALL THIRD PARTY SOFTWARE MADE AVAILABLE IN CONJUNCTION WITH OR THROUGH THE SOFTWARE AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION AND RISK
This I think refers to the file viewer associated with X1, which they are licensed to use, but do not take responsibility for.
Speeder
Nov 22nd, 2003 at 3:23 am
Wag Says
The fact that I got an X1 Search for free in snail mail today tells me that there is very likely Adware or Spyware or both included with the product. Who spends money on a mass-mailing of their product without getting compensated in some way by somebody? Absurd to think that just out of the goodness of their heart they will just give you their product. Great as it may be, and there are good reviews of it out there, I’m instantly suspicious of “free” software.
Not the least of which includes the 100 or so “free” AOL disks I’ve gotten over the years. Wish I’d kept all of those. I’d have quite the collection by now. I just use them as coasters and the X1 disk will have the same fate.
–Wag–
Jun 8th, 2004 at 6:52 am
Snort Says
I tried this out on an absolutely clean machine with Service packs, Norton, adaware and spybot. I left it to index over the weekend.
COme monday, 18 IE windows popped up and 108 new critical objects from adaware. We don’t use IE to browse here, its too full of holes. It annoys me greatly to have a nice tool really screw with my desktops.
Aug 30th, 2004 at 11:31 pm
Hassan Says
salam
Oct 15th, 2004 at 2:23 pm
lander Says
I tried out and had to uninstall, because the program want to use the msn messenger protocol to connect to a third party.
Nov 9th, 2004 at 6:51 am
X1 Skeptic Says
We have examined the latest version of X1. According to our firewall records it constantly attempts to connect to external websites, including Idealab and others.
We disabled internet access for the application without any detrimental effect on performance.
X1 ® Enterprise Client Version 5.6
(Build 3377) (Created: Mon Nov 6 15:18:48 PST 2006)
Mar 21st, 2007 at 7:55 pm