Adware Cookies

wphuang · Post by **wphuang** » July 15th, 2005, 8:50 pm

I was accused of surfing the internet at work during work hours, but the truth is I havn't. My boss claimed to have facts and proof that I did - a cookies log. It showed that there were 4 cookies created or modified during work hours (ad.yieldmanager, trafficmp, vzwmail.vzwshop, ibm). I objected by saying that I have not been using the internet during work hours, and if adware were already on the computer, they will work in the background and possibly create these cookies. My boss called up the head of the tech department and he replied, "that's not possible, these will only be created if the user launched Internet Explorer or surfed online." My boss did not believe anything I said after that, but I do have one final chance at rebuttal by gathering up info and send an email to my boss. So my question is: Is it possible for adware cookies to be created or modified without an Internet Explorer being launched, if adware, spyware, or adware cookies already exist on the computer?

richh0323 · Post by **richh0323** » July 16th, 2005, 6:56 am

vzwmail.= verizon mail vzwshop= verizon shop trafficmp = tracking cookie ad.yieldmanager = adaware see link , This one can can come on you're computer even if you are not on the network. http://www.pcreview.co.uk/forums/thread-1738207.php If you where surfing the network, you would generate more than 4 cookies, some adaware can generate cookies just tracking the normal computer use. I would suggest that you make sure the computer is password protected and secured if you are away from you're station. If internet access is a problem, ask that IT just make it so the workstation doesn't have access.

Xitech · Post by **Xitech** » July 19th, 2005, 3:30 am

Since it is well known to me that verizon uses spyware, I would assume that someone else on the network is checking their mail and its tagging every computer on the network. If you haven't been working online at all, the tracking cookie is probably the result of a trojan on your machine or somewhere else on the network. Also, you cant get an accurate surfing log from cookies because of spyware and viruses, you have to watch temporary internet files, history, and if your tech guy knew anything about networking he would put a packet sniffer or a network activity watcher on the network. Someday, someone like richh will take his job. I guarantee it.