Below is a list of programs, etc., along with company name surrounded in parentheses. Each program is linked to their respective data sheets providing details on each program. For an overview on ThiefWare, see the Overview section below.

Protect against automatic installations of ThiefWare (a.k.a. drive-by downloads):

1. Microsoft Internet Explorer Settings & Smart Tags (Microsoft)*

* Microsoft's Internet Explorer is not considered ThiefWare. It's included with this knowledge base due to it's involvement with the installation of ThiefWare. Instructions are provided to help you make MSIE resistant to auto installation of ThiefWare. Read about it by following the link.

Top Predatory ThiefWare Perveyors:

1. Save or SaveNow (WhenU)
2. TopText (eZula)

Former Predatory ThiefWare Perveyors (ceased spyware / ThiefWare practices; business still operational in another capacity):

1. Gator eWallet (Claria, formerly known as Gator / GAIN)

Predatory ThiefWare Perveyors that went extinct:

1. EasyLink (Surf+)
2. FlySwat (FlySwat)

Misleadingly Called Spyware or ThiefWare:

1. Cookies (used by most browsers)

Programs That Protect You from Spyware and ThiefWare:

1. ZoneAlarm (ZoneLabs)
2. SpyZooka (SpyZooka)

Overview: About ThiefWare
There are lots of programs in circulation with each having their own peculiarities. Despite some people calling them viruses, ThiefWare is technically not a collection of viruses, but are still problematic programs for both the Web surfer and Web site owners. They are generally not used to maliciously infect computers, destroy hard drives, act as worms or trojan viruses. They may be a bit difficult (or extremely difficult) to uninstall but that in itself does not qualify them as being true viruses. Stability of these programs has been questionable, causing various computer problems.

Some ThiefWare is very hazardous as it conducts spying as a keylogger, logging every keystroke and recording sensitive information you type into your computer such as credit card numbers and social security numbers. Such dangerous ThiefWare's sole purpose is to gather information on the user and send it back to the originator. It remains totally hidden, giving no indication that it is running. It generally doesn't even display ads or interact with the user in any way. The most hazardous ThiefWare is illegal while the mainstream ThiefWare at this moment is still legal. Thankfully the very hazardous ThiefWare has low circulation, but the legal type has high circulation. The legal type is generally more of a nuisance than a danger to the end user.

However, when it comes to being hazardous to business on the Web, the legal ThiefWare is much more dangerous while the illegal ThiefWare poses a lower threat to businesses as a whole. Of course that could change too if illegal ThiefWare is prolific enough.

The mainstream ThiefWare is distributed as adware programs usually bundled with other free and desirable software applications such as KaZaA, or other mainstream P2P programs. Mainstream ThiefWare is created with the purpose of commercial profit through unacceptable / disagreeable means. We will focus on the big ThiefWare players right now, but do plan to include commentary on the illegal type in the future—stay tuned.

Distribution Success:
The distribution success of ThiefWare cannot be attributed to the need of such ThiefWare adware since the adware has virtually no value to people. The ThiefWare adware is bundled with sought after software that is usually provided Freely provided you run this ThiefWare adware on your machine.

Value Added?
You might use the programs free, but at what cost? Is it worth the cost of having ads pushed into your face in addition to the ads on existing sites? Is it worth having your Web surfing slowed to a crawl? Is it worth it to have a questionable ThiefWare company watching your surfing habits and collecting data to send it back to the ThiefWare company's servers? We think not. It also endangers your favorite Web resource's ability to earn financial income via their own ads. Those ads keep your favorite resources operational. Don't trade all this for a so-called free application you can use that might provide some limited use. The cost is too great in the long run. If you want software to do file sharing or some other function on your computer, find software that does not include ThiefWare adware. Value added? Definitely not for users and not for Web site owners who fall victim to these programs' ThiefWare ads.