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    RealPlayer

    What is Real Player?

    RealPlayer is created by RealNetworks, Inc. and is distributed directly through Real.com and through affiliates like the BBC Radio Online and the 'Plugin Finder Service' used by Mozilla Firefox.

    What makes Real Player a badware?

    We find that RealPlayer 10.5 and 11.0 is badware because:

    • It fails to accurately and completely disclose that it installs advertising software on the user's computer.
    • The advertising software bundled with RealPlayer is misleadingly called a 'message center', and is described incompletely and inconspicuously in the EULA as software designed to provide useful software updates. However when RealPlayer 10.5 is installed, the advertising features of this 'message center' are enabled by default for users who choose not to register their personal information with RealNetworks after the software is installed.
    • It does not disclose the fact that it installs Rhapsody Player Engine software, and fails to remove this software when RealPlayer is uninstalled. Users are not informed by the installer or uninstaller of the connection between RealNetworks and Rhapsody Player Engine.

    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.

    All the effects mentioned above are the generally anticipated effects of badware.  Although Realplayer has not been identified to specifically cause any of these effects but when a software fails to accurately and completely disclose its features and activities such as loading of advertising material and software, then it falls under the eye of suspicion and is classified as badware.

    How to remove / fix Real Player 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.

    In order to effectively remove badware applications, we recommend the use of both anti-virus and anti-spyware applications. Most consumer computer users have some form of anti-virus protection already. Make sure yours is reputable and updated to best defend your machine against the latest threats.

    After you install your anti-virus and anti-spyware you will need to run them to scan for badware. Once the tools have completed their scans, follow the recommended instructions, which will usually include selecting malicious files for removal.

    Recommendations to the users / customers

    It is recommended that users do not install the versions of RealPlayer mentioned 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:

    It should makes it clear to users at the time of installation that advertising software is present, and that it will be enabled by default in RealPlayer 10.5 if the user decides to exit the program's registration screen without submitting their personal information.

    It should explain that Rhapsody Player Engine will also be installed with RealPlayer 11, and clearly describe the significant features and behaviors of this separate application. Along with informing users that the Rhapsody Player Engine software will have to be uninstalled separately, or add the option of uninstalling the Rhapsody Player Engine to the RealPlayer uninstaller.