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January 31, 2008 11:16 AM PST

RealPlayer named by StopBadware.org

Posted by Robert Vamosi

StopBadware.org said Tuesday it has labeled two versions of the RealPlayer media player as "badware," or spyware.

RealPlayer 10.5, it claims, "fails to accurately and completely disclose the fact that it installs advertising software on the user's computer." And RealPlayer 11, it claims, "does not disclose the fact that it installs Rhapsody Player Engine software, and fails to remove this software when RealPlayer is uninstalled." Ryan Lukin, PR manager for RealNetworks, disputed some of the claims.

Lukin said the Message Center in 10.5 feeds only news and information, product updates, movies, video clips, and is clearly identified during installation. He said the change was that the check boxes in 10.5 were prefilled (requiring you to opt out), whereas in version 11 they were blank (requiring you to opt in). Lukin disagrees that the content served through the Message Center qualified as advertising.

As for version 11, Lukin said that by virtue of being a full-service media player, RealPlayer needs the Rhapsody ActiveX component because people may want to hear Rhapsody-encoded music clips. He agrees that once RealPlayer is uninstalled, the Rhapsody software should also be uninstalled. Lukin said RealNetworks was looking into making this change in a future release.

In the meantime, StopBadware recommends that users do not install either versions of RealPlayer, "unless the user is comfortable with the software behaviors we identify or until the application is updated to be consistent with the recommendations in this report."

Full details of the StopBadware.org alert about RealPlayer can be found on the organization's site.

Topics:: Spyware,; Security

Tags:: security,; RealNetworks,; StopBadware.org,; Rhapsody,; RealPlayer

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Add a Comment (Log in or register) 13 comments (Page 1 of 1)

What a surprise
by MadLyb January 31, 2008 12:09 PM PST: I stopped using RealPlayer years ago because of their intrusive software and policies. I'm surpised it took this long for someone to ding them.; Reply to this comment

RealPlayer Named In StopBadware.org
by nighttracker January 31, 2008 12:53 PM PST: I have used both Media-Player's 10 & 11 and have never had a problem with RealPlayer Trying to "Tie-The-Knot"..,If one will go into thier c-Files and do a little investigative work You,will either find the RealPlayer Files or,You will not.RealPlayer Does offer the user options to either opt-in or opt-out as does MediaPlayer also.If...There was or..Is a spyware associated problem? or,whatever one would want to label the associated problem,Then it would seem to have been the "Creation" of the choices made by the computent or...The incompetent user themselves and not from a legitimate program (Trying) to get established.as statistics do imply,Most users of the internet today are incompetent when it comes to understanding the Real-Threst associated with the internet today and 87% of users are prone to selecting programs (Downloadable) that infact contain some type of (Adware,Trogan,or numerous other Spyware)That is out-there just waiting to take control and/or disrupt your PC at any time.Sure Realplayer dubs Adware...You tell me what Program out there on the market today is not available without some advertising that is associated with it.That is called $SALES$ or...What (GOOD) Program(s) can you get for Free???????; Reply to this comment View all 3 replies
Processing

Use Media Player Classic instead
by the_ricochet January 31, 2008 2:19 PM PST: Why would anyone in their right mind use RealPlayer? This isn't 1996 where it's the only player available for streaming antiquated .ram files (thankfully those days are over). Google the K-Lite codec pack or just Media Player Classic instead.; Reply to this comment

REALPLAYER NAMED BY STOPBADWARE.ORG
by Melekai January 31, 2008 2:42 PM PST: You tell me what Program out there on the market today is not available without some advertising that is associated with it.That is called $SALES$ or...What (GOOD) Program(s) can you get for Free?? ????? iTunes.; Reply to this comment

RealPlayer named by StopBadware.org
by John R. Dye January 31, 2008 3:59 PM PST: I used this article as my excuse to uninstall RealPlayer. I hadn't realized how much crud it had fed into my computer until I ran RegCure after Real was gone. RegCure detected 470 errors, most of which were triggered by Real residues left in my register. Thanks.; Reply to this comment

realplayer sucks
by GermanVermin February 1, 2008 7:01 AM PST: Yeah. I have always hated realplayer. its chock full of advertisements, a pain to install, and runs background and startup services that slow down your computer. For an official client of a common propreitary video codec, RealPlayer should be more professional. Use RealAlternative instead, it allows you to play realplayer videos inside of windows media player.; Reply to this comment

Real Player
by Electric.81 February 2, 2008 5:03 AM PST: Real Player is a piece of 'crapolla' and always has been since day one....now they've been caught with thier hand in the 'cookie jar' ;>); Reply to this comment

Never could understand RealPlayer
by wango2007 February 4, 2008 3:56 PM PST: RealPlayer could be a vaulable player... but for some reason their management markets it like Sleeze-ware. I don't understand that. They should market RealPlayer on it's many advantages, not as a product that tries to take over your computer and force things on you that you don't want. RealPlayer deserved this StopBadware listing, IMO. They can redeem themselves, however, by changing their tactics.; Reply to this comment

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With over eight years at CNET covering computer viruses and computer crime, Robert Vamosi goes beyond the hype to provide you with expert interviews with the top security researchers making the news as well as offering the hands-on, non-technical advice you'll need to stay safe online.

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