[Full-Disclosure] Origin of the term "driveby download"

From: Richard M. Smith (rms@computerbytesman.com)
Date: 01/31/03

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    From: "Richard M. Smith" <rms@computerbytesman.com>
To: <full-disclosure@lists.netsys.com>
Date: Fri, 31 Jan 2003 07:49:59 -0500

    Hi Thor,

    Actually the term "drive-by download" is a marketing term invented by
    Alexa Internet according to this old posting on Fucked Company:

       downloads - you click you get it 1/31/2001 01:58 PM EST

       no, there was a time (and how they got the majority
       of their users) that it was a driveby download, meaning
       you click on the banner you got it! it was only towards
       the end that the proceedure was changed because of
       all the complaints. the big guys debated back and forth
       (when they were speaking) about the instant download
       process vs. permission based.

    Yes, there is ActiveX warning message for a driveby download, but I
    think it is classic "blaming the victim" to call users who click the yes
    button as "stupid". Most computer users today just see a computer as a
    tool and they are not programmers. Vendors like Xupiter and Gator are
    working the percentages by relying on users to not read the warning
    boxes carefully enough and hope they hit "Yes" button to make the boxes
    go away as quick as possible.

    If an ActiveX control auto-installs without a security warning, then
    most likely security settings must be messed up.

    Richard

    -----Original Message-----
    From: Thor Larholm [mailto:lists.netsys.com@jscript.dk]
    Sent: Friday, January 31, 2003 2:53 AM
    To: Richard M. Smith; full-disclosure@lists.netsys.com
    Subject: Re: [Full-Disclosure] Question about the new Xupiter toolbar

    From: "Richard M. Smith" <rms@computerbytesman.com>
    > Has anyone looked into this new Xupiter toolbar to see how it is being
    > installed on people's computer? In particular is it using some IE
    > security hole for the install or does it just use the standard ActiveX
    > drive-by download mechanism?

    It is a standard signed ActiveX component, you have to EXPLICITLY accept
    installation. It is not using any security holes for installation, and
    it
    will only auto-install if you have set your security settings to the
    absolute MINIMUM. The only culprit here is user stupidity.

    There is no such thing as a "standard ActiveX drive-by download
    mechanism",
    that term is utterly FUD.

    Regards
    Thor Larholm

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