Re: WINSERVS.EXE [Purity Scan]

From: Matt Scarborough (vexversa@verizon.net)
Date: 09/18/02 

From: Matt Scarborough <vexversa@verizon.net>
Date: Wed, 18 Sep 2002 19:59:54 +0000

The file WINSERVS.EXE results from running a "Purity Scan" on your hard drive. Purity
Scan offers to scan your hard drive for offensive words. According to Purity Scan's
website
http://www.purityscan.com/

"It's a fact - inappropriate files can make their way onto your computer when you surf
the Internet." PurityScan proves this assertion.

Inside Purity Scans EULA is a condition for the end-user to accept "interstitial
advertising" with an opt-out privilege.
http://www.clickspring.net/cs/pop4/agreement.html

WINSERVS.EXE provides this advertising by contacting, for example
http://www.clickspring.net/cs/pop4/popmain.php4
It is possible you chose to run a PurityScan by visiting PurityScan's site, or by
running a different executable packaged with other software. Did you install this from
a Sim City CD?

To remove the software, i.e., to opt-out, you must run another executable available
from Purity Scan. Currently this is linked off of the EULA page here
http://www.clickspring.net/cs/pop4/frame.html

Be careful out there,

Matt Scarborough 2002-09-18

On Tue, 10 Sep 2002 03:51:57 -0700, Frank Remington Robinson wrote
<f62401c258b8$157633d0$a5e62ecf@tkmsftngxa07>
> I'm a little nervous this morning...
>
> I discovered a file on my computer that wasn't there
> before, with a large black P in a square, (under
> properties, after right clicking on this logo).
>
> in the general tab, it said WINSERVS,
> type: application
> description: sear1
> location: documents & settings\frank remington
> robi\programs\start menu...
>
> in the version section, ....
> file version: 1.0.0.1
> description: sear1 MFC Application
> copyright 2002
>
> company name: none
> internal name: sear1
> language: US
> legal trademarks: none
> original file name: sear1.exe
> product name: sear1 application
>
>
> When I went to shut off my computer, I got this dialogue
> box titled "PurityScan"
>
> It gave you the option of hitting any key or letting you
> wait, but in both cases, the computer would not shut off.
>
> I had a hell of a time deleting it from my system, and not
> until I had completely removed it did my system start
> working properly.
>
> Please help! I'm afraid .... or do I just not know much
> about computers... I'm thinking sear1 means Sears, like in
> Chigago... I know what today means to me as well as
> millions of other Americans around this country!
>
> I hope this file is just someting I don't understand, but
> would appreciate it if you could tell me what it's about!
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Frank R. Robinson
> Architect
> (440) 247-5018