Overview |
Vendor Notes: |
'The InContext software is a tool that combines provided user information to enable us to better understand our users' preferences and needs, and to help our partners deliver more pertinent content to our users. The software automatically logs certain anonymous information about any visitor to the user of the InContext program, including the following elements: The URL of any pages requested, time and date of the request; the Web browser and version number thereof being used, and the version and type of your operating system; InContext also logs the URL from where you activated the InContext software, or linked to the InContext homepage or related properties. Finally, InContext will log the IP address of the browser used to display InContext program results, called windows or other media. InContext uses this information tailor content to our users.' -- from the license agreement. |
Category: |
Browser Helper Object: (BHO). A component that Internet Explorer will load whenever it starts, shares IE's memory context, can perform any action on the available windows and modules. A BHO can detect events, create windows to display additional information on a viewed page, monitor messages and actions. Microsoft calls it "a spy we send to infiltrate the browser's land." BHOs are not stopped by personal firewalls, because they are seen by the firewall as your browser itself. Some exploits of this technology search all pages you view in IE and replace banner advertisements with other ads. Some monitor and report on your actions. Some change your home page.
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Similar Pests: |
Browser Helper Object |
Origins |
URL: |
http://www.adsincontext.com |
Date of Origin: |
June, 2003 |
Distribution |
Prevalence: |
AdsInContext: < 0.00005%
More Info |
Clot Factor: |
AdsInContext: 1
The "Clot Factor" is a measure of how much a pest "gums up" a machine by adding registry entries, files, and directories. As more objects are placed in a machine, manual removal becomes more difficult and more error-prone. |
Operation |
Browser Performance: |
Likely to slow performance of Internet Explorer. |
Risks |
Privacy Issues: |
'Each individual desktop is assigned an anonymous, unique ID. This ID is used to enable InContext, Inc. to count unique, active desktops that network. Occasionally, InContext may collect information about your interaction with InContext and/or its affiliates’ and partners’ software. This may include information such as how often users use the software, or whether users respond to advertisements or offers from InContext and its partners. This information may be shared with InContext's partners for the purpose of evaluating the success of their marketing programs. InContext uses summary information obtained by combining personal information from many individuals. Individual identity is not tracked nor it is coallated or measured against any exisiting database. InContext will no attempt to assign individual personal identity to any user of it’s software without the express consent of users.' |
Detection and Removal |
Automatic Removal: |
 PestPatrol detects this.
PestPatrol removes this.
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Manual Removal: |
'To uninstall inContext you may visit our remove page at http://www.adsincontext.com/remove' -- from the license agreement. |
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Stop Running Processes:
Kill these running processes with Task Manager:
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Unregister DLLs:
Unregister these DLLs with Regsvr32, then reboot:
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Clean Registry:
Remove these registry items (if present) with RegEdit:
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Remove Files:
Remove these files (if present) with Windows Explorer:
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Research |
More Info: |
AllTheWeb, AltaVista, AOL Search, Ask Jeeves, Google, HotBot, Lycos, LookSmart, MSN, Yahoo! |
Research By: |
PestPatrol's Pest Research Center |
Last Revised: |
April 14, 2005 |