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Popcorn.net

 

What is Popcorn.net?

Popcorn.net identifies the software to be "a critical component of the popcorn.net download manager." The particular file downloaded was produced by Binary Source, Inc., which does business as Moviepass.tv. The other corporation responsible for this software and website is Triumphant Videos, Inc., which does business as Popcorn.net. Popcorn.net's Download Manager is essentially a repackaging of Movieland's Mediapipe software.

What makes Popcorn.net a badware?

The software exhibits the following badware attributes:

1. Deceives users into downloading components
If the user attempts to access the "members entrance" on Popcorn.net's website -- either after purchasing the Popcorn.net service or not -- a dialog box appears, informing the user that they do not have access to the member area as they are missing a critical component of the Popcorn.net download manager and must reinstall the missing component.  These additional components that were deemed "critical" by Popcorn.net are actually badware. They are deemed badware for even after installing these components, the attempts to access the member's area were unsuccessful. Deceiving the user into installing badware by implying that they need to reinstall critical components is unacceptable behavior.

2. Installs Trojan horse
After installing Popcorn.net's executable file, components that behave as a Trojan horse were detected. This particular Trojan horse may allow a third party to have unrestricted access to the host computer while the user is online, thereby compromising the user's privacy and sensitive data such as passwords and credit card information. This Trojan horse is not disclosed to the user during installation, and anyway a disclosure would be inadequate, as there is no legitimate reason exists for a movie player to have unrestricted access to a user's machine.

3. Installs adware
After installing Popcorn.net's executable file, components that behave as adware were also detected which appear as unwanted pop-ups during web browsing. The presence of such components might result in a slowdown of the user's browser and overall system performance. The installation of this adware too, is not disclosed to the user during installation.

4. Application cannot be uninstalled
This application is impossible to uninstall by conventional means. No entry appears for Popcorn.net, the Download Manager, or its components in Add/Remove Programs. Instead, the application adds a dll system component in the System folder and several registry key entries. Each of these components must be manually removed

How does it affect your PC?

Badware can cause computers to become slow, unresponsive, or even unusable. Personal information gathered by spyware can be abused, and financial or other personal data that falls into the wrong hands can lead to identity theft. Some forms of badware steal resources instead of information, perhaps by adding your computer to a network of hijacked machines called a botnet, that can then use your computer to send spam and phishing emails or even to help distribute more badware.

Badware producers are constantly developing new, creative ways to install badware onto your computer. Badware distribution has been expanded beyond traditional channels like email viruses to harder-to-avoid methods like automated “drive-by downloads” that are launched by compromised web pages.

Popcorn.net qualifies with respect to all the attributes of badware mentioned above. It allows third party access to the user’s computer thereby compromising the users privacy and security.  Secondly the undisclosed installation of adware unnecessarily slows down and affects the performance of the user’s system.

 

How to remove / fix the badware if installed?

Many badware applications are specifically designed to be extremely difficult to remove. The use of normal removal procedures, such as “Add/Remove Programs,” is often ineffective. Even if you believe that you’ve successfully removed an unwanted software application, there may still be remnants that can continue to wreak havoc on your computer without your knowledge.

This application is impossible to uninstall by conventional means. No entry appears for Popcorn.net, the Download Manager, or its components in Add/Remove Programs. Instead, the application adds a .dll system component in the System folder and several registry key entries. Each of these components must be manually removed.

Recommendations to the users/ customers

It is recommended that users do not install Popcorn.net unless the user is comfortable with the software behaviors identified above or the application is updated and modified so as to correct its inconsistencies as suggested below:

• Do not use deceive users into installing badware components.
• Do not install components that are known to behave as a system-compromising Trojan horse.
• Do not install adware without informing the user and seeking their consent.
• Provide the user with simple, effective uninstallation of the software.

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