New.net
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Newdotnet.jpg
New.net is a company that sells domains in alternate top-level domains not supported in the official DNS system, and publishes NewDotNet, an application that makes use of these domains. The top-level domains New.net provides include: .shop, .xxx, .club, .ltd, .inc, .travel, .tech, .sport, .family, .law, .med, and .mp3. Of these, .travel and .xxx are in conflict with official TLDs later authorized by ICANN to be implemented by other registries.
Software
New.net distributes NewDotNet, an Internet Explorer plug-in for Windows that enables the browser to access sites that use these unofficial domain names. Although it is commonly considered spyware, it does not secretly collect information, and the latest versions no longer activated unrequested pop-up ads. It can be installed by users intentionally, but is also quietly bundled in a number of apparently harmless programs, including Audiogalaxy, Babylon, BearShare, Grokster, iMesh, and KaZaA. Recent versions of NewDotNet redirect search queries to the New.net search engine, and it is classified as a security risk because the update component downloads arbitrary code from the New.net server.
Several different versions of NewDotNet exist. Early versions installed themselves into the Windows directory as a DLL named "newdotnet" followed by a version number, and had no uninstall option. More recent versions create a folder in "c:\Program Files". A version introduced in 2002 (since discontinued) included a pop-up advertising component.
The program functions by inserting itself into the Winsock system, which can in some situations disrupt network connectivity. A typical symptom for dial-up systems is that the user is able to dial out normally but cannot access the Internet.
Well-known and generally trusted anti-spyware programs like Ad-Aware and Spybot are usually effective at removing this software. More recent versions can be uninstalled using the standard Windows "Add/Remove Programs" control panel or an uninstaller in "c:\Program Files\New.net". Manual removal, if performed incorrectly, can completely disrupt the computer's ability to access the internet.
External links
- Factual information about NewDotNet software (http://www.doxdesk.com/parasite/NewDotNet.html)
- Detailed criticism of New.net and its plug-in (http://www.cexx.org/newnet.htm)