Is this true about MediaPortal incorporating spyware?

sirquack · 2006-08-12, 05:39

I have been a long time user of mediaportal, and overall very happy with the product. I'm concerned about a few posts referenced on a recent threat started on AVSforum and HTPCforum. These individuals appear to be starting rumors about how there is spyware incorporated into the MediaPortal product? I have had some strange occurences of spyware related problems off/on with my pc in the past, hope they are not related to me using this product?

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=709926

http://www.htpcforums.com/index.php?showtopic=560

Marcusb · 2006-08-12, 06:18

I wouldn't worry too much.
Those sites just flame and don't give any real evidence.
I followed their instructions and googled ""Media Portal" Spyware" and all I got were a lot of sites recommending Mediaportal that also contained banner adds for spy ware removal (which makes up most of the internet nowadays). Major Geeks and Softpedia are a couple of reputable examples that were praising MP.

Looks like sour grapes if you ask me. ll the other HTPC apps are being eaten up by corporations nowadays.

mPod · 2006-08-12, 06:50

Be asured that this is just flaming, MediaPortal's sources are available to everyone to check if some spyware is hidden somewhere. We are using Microsoft's VS installer engine for the release packages, the setup project is also available to the public. Some people just don't like MP's success story while other HTPC apps are going down the drain (as you can read between the lines in those posts). :wink:

Don't let some people with some weird minds confuse you. In doubt, download the sources and have a look at them.

jawbroken · 2006-08-12, 08:16

I don't understand why people feel the need to spread misinformation like this.

samuel337 · 2006-08-12, 08:40

Well it may not be 'mis-information' as such. It could well be the case that someone, with servers in Russia & China, is using the mediaportal name to spread their spyware/adware (because it obviously gets hits from search engines). This guy at HTPCForums, obviously worried and not really thinking straight, thought it came from the legit MediaPortal and hence is on the offensive, as he calls it.

Its a problem that you can't really avoid - guess the only way to reassure users is to let them know the real situation - therefore I think someone with access should post something reconfirming what was said in this thread on the main news page.

Sam

jawbroken · 2006-08-12, 08:44

Well, he is providing information that is incorrect and, on top of that, encouraging people to spread it throughout the internet. This definitely falls under misinformation in my mind, whether he is aware that it is false or not. I am not sure whether a main page post is a good idea or not, or whether it should just be ignored. I don't know how widely this post has spread. It might be best just to ignore him rather than give him attention.

samuel337 · 2006-08-12, 08:48

Sorry....by 'misinformation' I was referring to the fact that I don't think he just made it up because he's a disgruntled HTPC user. He could well have I guess.

I didn't mean to correct your post or anything.

Fair enough point about the posting on main page idea - I guess we'll just let it run its course for the time being and see how far it goes.

Sam

frodo · 2006-08-12, 09:22

On the internet some rumors are floating around that MediaPortal contains spyware

Please note that this is simply not true. MediaPortal does not contain any spyware or viruses. All our sources are free for downloading and anybody can check its spyware free. Also we received recommendations from sites like softpedia that MP is spyware free.

But if people download MediaPortal from some other server , bittorrent or emule link then offcourse we can not guarantee this. As always on the internet be carefull with the things you download & install on your pc. If you download MediaPortal from http://www.team-mediaportal.com then you are safe. If you decide to use a copy you got from somebody or downloaded somewhere else then be aware it might contain viruses or spyware.

McChots · 2006-08-12, 11:32

Since MP source is available easily, it's possible that someone has compiled a version with spyware in it.

We should advise people to donload MP from this site or official mirrors only.

Oops. Frodo already said this.
My Intenet connection failed as I was typing this and I submitted the reply when I reconnected without checking the thread first. Sorry!!

2006-08-12, 05:39	#1 (permalink)
sirquack Portal Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Iowa Posts: 24 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Is this true about MediaPortal incorporating spyware? I have been a long time user of mediaportal, and overall very happy with the product. I'm concerned about a few posts referenced on a recent threat started on AVSforum and HTPCforum. These individuals appear to be starting rumors about how there is spyware incorporated into the MediaPortal product? I have had some strange occurences of spyware related problems off/on with my pc in the past, hope they are not related to me using this product? http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=709926 http://www.htpcforums.com/index.php?showtopic=560

2006-08-12, 06:50	#3 (permalink)
mPod Retired Team Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Berlin Age: 34 Posts: 2,086 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Country: My System	Be asured that this is just flaming, MediaPortal's sources are available to everyone to check if some spyware is hidden somewhere. We are using Microsoft's VS installer engine for the release packages, the setup project is also available to the public. Some people just don't like MP's success story while other HTPC apps are going down the drain (as you can read between the lines in those posts). :wink: Don't let some people with some weird minds confuse you. In doubt, download the sources and have a look at them. __________________ Bad news from the stars... We cannot give any support without a properly filled support template and a full mediaportal.log pasted here. Before you ask...

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2006-08-12, 06:18	#2 (permalink)
Marcusb Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Melbourne Posts: 1,957 Thanks: 71 Thanked 28 Times in 28 Posts Country: My System	I wouldn't worry too much. Those sites just flame and don't give any real evidence. I followed their instructions and googled ""Media Portal" Spyware" and all I got were a lot of sites recommending Mediaportal that also contained banner adds for spy ware removal (which makes up most of the internet nowadays). Major Geeks and Softpedia are a couple of reputable examples that were praising MP. Looks like sour grapes if you ask me. ll the other HTPC apps are being eaten up by corporations nowadays.

2006-08-12, 08:16	#4 (permalink)
jawbroken Portal Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 23 Posts: 707 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My System	I don't understand why people feel the need to spread misinformation like this.

2006-08-12, 08:40	#5 (permalink)
samuel337 Portal Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 773 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Well it may not be 'mis-information' as such. It could well be the case that someone, with servers in Russia & China, is using the mediaportal name to spread their spyware/adware (because it obviously gets hits from search engines). This guy at HTPCForums, obviously worried and not really thinking straight, thought it came from the legit MediaPortal and hence is on the offensive, as he calls it. Its a problem that you can't really avoid - guess the only way to reassure users is to let them know the real situation - therefore I think someone with access should post something reconfirming what was said in this thread on the main news page. Sam

2006-08-12, 08:44	#6 (permalink)
jawbroken Portal Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 23 Posts: 707 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My System	Well, he is providing information that is incorrect and, on top of that, encouraging people to spread it throughout the internet. This definitely falls under misinformation in my mind, whether he is aware that it is false or not. I am not sure whether a main page post is a good idea or not, or whether it should just be ignored. I don't know how widely this post has spread. It might be best just to ignore him rather than give him attention.

2006-08-12, 08:48	#7 (permalink)
samuel337 Portal Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 773 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Sorry....by 'misinformation' I was referring to the fact that I don't think he just made it up because he's a disgruntled HTPC user. He could well have I guess. I didn't mean to correct your post or anything. Fair enough point about the posting on main page idea - I guess we'll just let it run its course for the time being and see how far it goes. Sam

2006-08-12, 09:22	#8 (permalink)
frodo Portal Developer Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: The Netherlands Age: 37 Posts: 1,516 Thanks: 3 Thanked 119 Times in 44 Posts Country: My System	On the internet some rumors are floating around that MediaPortal contains spyware Please note that this is simply not true. MediaPortal does not contain any spyware or viruses. All our sources are free for downloading and anybody can check its spyware free. Also we received recommendations from sites like softpedia that MP is spyware free. But if people download MediaPortal from some other server , bittorrent or emule link then offcourse we can not guarantee this. As always on the internet be carefull with the things you download & install on your pc. If you download MediaPortal from http://www.team-mediaportal.com then you are safe. If you decide to use a copy you got from somebody or downloaded somewhere else then be aware it might contain viruses or spyware.

2006-08-12, 11:32	#9 (permalink)
McChots Portal Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Johannesburg Age: 27 Posts: 95 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Country: My System	Since MP source is available easily, it's possible that someone has compiled a version with spyware in it. We should advise people to donload MP from this site or official mirrors only. Oops. Frodo already said this. My Intenet connection failed as I was typing this and I submitted the reply when I reconnected without checking the thread first. Sorry!!