Greg sent over these definitions during the course of our show:
Adware Networks: Programs that communicate to ad-serving networks. This software is typically embedded in freeware, shareware and demoware games, utilities, and music and video players. These programs are secretly installed when you install another program. Gator's GAIN, WhenU.com's SaveNow, Radiate's Aureate, and Web3000 Ad Network fall into this category.
Stalking Horses: A number of programs that enable the adware networks to function on desktops are bundled in many popular programs and often presented in installation disclosure screens as desirable add-ons to their Trojan-horse hosts. All collect some form of information. EZula's TopText, Cydoor, OnFlow, Medialoads, Delfin Media Viewer, Web Shots, and New.Net fall into this category.
Trojan Horses: These are typically defined as programs that carry programs that quietly damage hard drives, but many Web users and privacy experts also use Trojan Horse to describe any program that includes another. KaZaA Media Desktop, SaveNow, Medialoads, Brilliant Digital's b3d Projector, Delfin Media Viewer, Grokster, FreePeers' free version of Bearshare, Morpheus, Limewire, AudioGalaxy, iMesh, and Video player DivX Video Bundle fall into this category.
Backdoor Santas: Stand-alone programs that incorporate similar approaches to Trojan Horses but have no links to adware networks or no ad-serving. They nonetheless collect information from users. : Floating Web search toolbars, such as Alexa and Hotbar, Comet Cursor, Gator's Gator eWallet, Precision Time, and Date Manager fall into this category.
High-risk Spyware: Software experts have criticized a few programs for being particularly intractable, because they either pose security risks, execute elaborate stealth routines on PCs with no disclosure whatsoever or are just plain difficult for even experts to remove. Clicktilluwin, Net2Phone, older versions of file-sharers Limewire and Grokster, VX2's Sputnik, FlashTrack, and C2Media fall into this category.