Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

wataru · Jan 5, 2004, 04:32 AM

I installed the latest LimeWire the other day, and didn't notice until just now that it also installs something called LimeShop.

I couldn't find details on it, but it's some sort of process that runs in the background, somewhat controllable through a provided prefpane, that somehow gets LimeWire money from your online purchases. It's installed and run completely without user knowledge (two associated files are silently added to your login items list).

If you have already installed LimeWire with LimeShop and want to stop LimeShop, kill the java process that should be running it. Then I suggest you get LimeWire and all associated files off your machine.

Moonray · Jan 5, 2004, 05:09 AM

That sucks. We have ****ware now on Macs.
There is some information to find with Google though.

-

kovacs · Jan 5, 2004, 09:45 AM

Wow never thought this was possible, is this even legal ? It seems like this company can do wathever it wants...

Moose · Jan 5, 2004, 10:02 AM

Originally posted by kovacs:
Wow never thought this was possible, is this even legal ? It seems like this company can do wathever it wants...

Pretty sure you agreed to it when you accepted the EULA.

addiecool · Jan 5, 2004, 10:03 AM

WTF...?

OwlBoy · Jan 5, 2004, 12:36 PM

wow, your right, this is the macs first spyware...

way to go limewire!!!

NOW GET RID OF IT!

-Owl

wataru · Jan 5, 2004, 02:58 PM

Here is the best info I could find on LimeShop:

http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/3390.cfm

How this piece of evil works? Whenever you decide to purchase something from the Net, the stealware that is installed on your computer -- and it is running even when your P2P software is not running! -- kicks in and checks if the store you're buying from, has an affiliate system that the P2P software vendor is using. If so, software simply replaces the existing affiliate cookie on your browser with its own cookie. This means that if you want to support AfterDawn.com and purchase books, software, etc using the Amazon.com links or other similiar links on our site, the small commission money actually goes to Kazaa, Morpheus, BearShare or LimeWire instead of our site. Same applies to all sites in the world -- charities, who try to raise money by affiliate programs, etc.

kovacs · Jan 5, 2004, 03:46 PM

That's criminal

Arkham_c · Jan 5, 2004, 04:29 PM

Limewire is open-source. I have wondered why nobody has made a clean version of it without ads, without the nag screens, without the crappy "media player", and without this LimeShop trash. Maybe I should sit down and do that. It's just java -- couldn't be too tough. Could call it "Limelite"

Ratm · Jan 5, 2004, 04:34 PM

Apple has arrived...WooHoo!

. I gave up on LW years ago. I feel bad for the people who are unaware of the spyware that comes along when you install. I'm certain that this spells the end for LW on the Mac.

absmiths · Jan 5, 2004, 05:18 PM

They probably figure that this software is on the fringe of what is legal anyway, so why not outright cheat.

zachs · Jan 5, 2004, 05:31 PM

I stopped using LimeWire long ago.

Use Acquisition.

Disgruntled Head of C-3PO · Jan 5, 2004, 09:10 PM

Hey, you use LimeWire, you deserve it.

SupahCoolX · Jan 5, 2004, 09:26 PM

Poisoned > Acquisition > LimeWire

fat mac moron · Jan 6, 2004, 09:04 AM

Originally posted by SupahCoolX:
Poisoned > Acquisition > LimeWire

I agree, poisoned is one of the best p2p apps out there.

P · Jan 6, 2004, 01:17 PM

Originally posted by fat mac moron:
I agree, poisoned is one of the best p2p apps out there.

Personally, I still prefer mldonkey, or mlnet as it is now.

smitty825 · Jan 6, 2004, 01:43 PM

I too have given up on Limewire. I now use acqLite It seems to be a Cocoa app, and without spyware :-)

mh0ffmann · Jan 6, 2004, 03:58 PM

And how does one uninstall this wicked ware? I've erased all traces of LimeWire from my HD, but cannot find "LimeShop" or "Lime Shop" anywhere.

Clues?

wataru · Jan 6, 2004, 07:39 PM

Originally posted by mh0ffmann:
And how does one uninstall this wicked ware? I've erased all traces of LimeWire from my HD, but cannot find "LimeShop" or "Lime Shop" anywhere.

Clues?

Read the first post again.

mh0ffmann · Jan 6, 2004, 07:47 PM

Again, there is no mention of LimeShop *anywhere*, not even in the process lists. My question was about the specifics (i.e. more than "the Java process") on how to kill it.

LimeWire is now, and will remain, off my system.

kovacs · Jan 7, 2004, 04:15 AM

If you didn't have the latest version you don't have LimeShop because it's only in the very latest versions of Limewire, I guess that if you don't see it you're safe...

mh0ffmann · Jan 7, 2004, 10:23 AM

Guess that's the case. Thanks for the reply.

wataru · Jan 7, 2004, 02:09 PM

Originally posted by mh0ffmann:
Again, there is no mention of LimeShop *anywhere*, not even in the process lists. My question was about the specifics (i.e. more than "the Java process") on how to kill it.

LimeWire is now, and will remain, off my system.

Oops sorry, I should have been more clear: The process is just "java." It's not called "LimeShop."

If you didn't install LimeWire from a .pkg, then you never had these items to begin with.

Wiskedjak · Jan 7, 2004, 02:40 PM

Now we need AdAware for Mac ...

aharris · Jan 14, 2004, 12:00 PM

Limeshop is an experimental bundled software package that we are considering to include with LimeWire once the bugs have been worked out.

LimeShop is not spyware and it is not stealware. It does not do what many people in this forum claim like steal affiliate links from other sites, as an example.

We are removing LimeShop from our beta releases for the time being. We are also interested in our users' opinions, so please let us know what you think.

Thanks,
Adam Harris
Business Developer
Lime Wire, LLC.

wataru · Jan 14, 2004, 12:05 PM

Could you please tell us exactly what it does do, then?

What I'd like from your software is this:

Drag and drop installation (no .pkg's)
To be ASKED or at least NOTIFIED about additional software/background processes/changes to my settings (like things added to my login items)

That said, I don't think I'll be bothering to download LimeWire in the future.

[APi]TheMan · Jan 14, 2004, 01:10 PM

Originally posted by wataru:
Could you please tell us exactly what it does do, then?

What I'd like from your software is this:

Drag and drop installation (no .pkg's)
To be ASKED or at least NOTIFIED about additional software/background processes/changes to my settings (like things added to my login items)

That said, I don't think I'll be bothering to download LimeWire in the future.

I second that. We're mac users. I stopped using LimeWire at least a year ago, as it's been a joke ever since the focus was changed from a working p2p client to a bloated, slow, non-functional pile of code.

Here on the mac developers can't get away with dropping "shortcuts" on my desktop or in my dock, or installing "helper" programs that "deliver interest-based advertisements and deals", or running shiesty programs in the background. Screw that.

So what does LimeShop do? Do you honestly think users are interested in purchasing music-related products through a medium built into their p2p application? I know I wouldn't touch it.

aharris · Jan 14, 2004, 01:19 PM

All that LimeShop does is try to encourage users to donate to LimeWire when they purchase from our branded affiliate websites. The program does not redirect from an affiliate link that you click on at another site.

We also offer a Pro Version of our software with Turbo Charged performance and no bundled software of any kind for $18.88 in electronic download or $37.50 on CD.

Thanks,
Adam Harris
Business Developer
Lime Wire, LLC.

mh0ffmann · Jan 14, 2004, 01:21 PM

mlMac!

RevEvs · Jan 14, 2004, 01:25 PM

Originally posted by mh0ffmann:
mlMac!

mlMac is definately best. BUT, if you have an Airport Connection or a router then you probably cant use it as it will kill ypur connection.

revs

rjc3 · Jan 14, 2004, 01:38 PM

does mlmac kill routers and base stations dead? or are they repairable? maybe through reset?

curious...

mh0ffmann · Jan 14, 2004, 01:54 PM

If that's the reason my Airport died (apparently permanently), PLEASE let me know how to fix it!

[APi]TheMan · 04:00 PM

Permanantely? Heh. 3rd party software that doesn't really do anything more advanced that a web browser physically killing an Airport router? That seems hard to believe.

I think what people are referring to by Airport connections being "killed" is that mlMac takes up so much constant bandwidth that the connection gets choked and they lose wireless connectivity. I'd imagine that installing some sort of bandwidth throttling would help counter that.

Try installing throttled to keep outgoing traffic a few kilobytes less than your connection's max speed to help combat this: http://www.intrarts.com/throttled.html

pcd2k · Dec 15, 2004, 10:01 AM

Is it possible to completely uninstall limewire ?

If so, then how ?

Arkham_c · Dec 15, 2004, 01:53 PM

Originally posted by pcd2k:
Is it possible to completely uninstall limewire ?

If so, then how ?

Just delete the folder containing it.

Zimphire · Dec 15, 2004, 02:10 PM

Originally posted by SupahCoolX:
Xfactor > Poisoned > Acquisition > LimeWire

Fixed.

theJoKell · Dec 15, 2004, 06:06 PM

Originally posted by Wiskedjak:
Now we need AdAware for Mac ...

No, we just need people to not use Limewire. It tries to warn you with its horrible horrible interface, so it shouldn't be too hard to not use it anyway.

pcd2k · Dec 15, 2004, 08:45 PM

Just removing the Limewire Folder would be good if it made invisible files redundant, but hey Who can guarantee that ?

If you get a copy of EasyFind and type in Limewire you'll see an incredibly high number of invisible files which means those files stay in the system.

From memory Limewire use to (circa late 90's) include an uninstaller which rooted everything out.

In fact Easy Find shows me an incredibly high number of useless files from apps I no longer use. Surely there is a program about that could SWEEP thru ones system and root out all those useless files no longer required.

Probably the only sure thing to do, is do a completely new System Install ?

What a hassle !

Chuckit · Dec 16, 2004, 12:47 AM

I believe that's what Aladdin Spring Cleaning is for. Though in general, I'd think deleting those files would be a wash at best.

Thain Esh Kelch · Dec 17, 2004, 09:19 AM

Originally posted by Zimphire:
Fixed.

'Damn, you beat me to it. hehe.