Is this considered spyware?

[spywarehater]

While browsing my system, I noticed that my occache folder had an ActiveX control for "Register" and the URL listed in the properties was from http://content.hiwirenetworks.net - I did some searching and one site had it listed in an excluded hosts file as spyware.

I have been unable to find out anything else about this file or what it does. I have run BHODemon, Spybot Search and Destroy, and AdAware (all with the latest updates), but none of these programs shows anything abnormal.

I uninstalled the control, but RegCleaner still shows registry information for hiwire (I have not deleted the registry information as of yet). A search of windows files through Start/Find shows nothing related to hiwire, although it may be hidden within a program somewhere.

How did I get it, and where should I go from here? Do I have something else lurking on my system somewhere that the above-mentioned programs have missed? Maybe I am just one of those paranoid people who really does not like my privacy intruded upon, but I feel that if it was really a legitimate program then I would be able to find more than just a few hits through the major search engines.

 

[Rollin' Rog]

There is some info about the site here, I don't know how trustworthy it is or why activex control was considered spyware by others. It certainly won't hurt to delete it and you should get a prompt to reinstall it if is related to something you are using.

http://www.hiwire.com/tech_support/

 

[spywarehater]

Thanks for finding that article for me! I admit I was a little hesitant to go to the site when I found it during an internet search.....always afraid of having my browser hijacked (BAD experience with Xupiter a month or so ago *SHUDDER*). Since I already got rid of the ActiveX control, I will just delete the registry entries now (and keep a vigilant eye out for other weird stuff).

By the way....this forum is AMAZING!!! I have learned so much by just reading the posts, and the advice given is always so thorough. As a matter of fact, I zapped Xupiter through the advice I read in the previous posts in less time than it took me to find the forum in the first place!

Thanks again!

 

[Rollin' Rog]

You're most welcome, it's nice to know the forum is meeting your needs