MySpace users may be tempted to use free tracking tools in order to track who is viewing their profile pages; however, new warnings regarding these free tracking tools have a number of users concerned about the legitimacy of such tools.
While these tools can look quite appealing at first, users who have used them in the past quickly found out that when they clicked on the tool what they were actually doing was downloading adware that would track where they were going on the web instead of tracking who was viewing their MySpace profiles. One of the most popular of these sites parading around in sheep’s clothing is MyFriendSpay.com. It looks innocuous enough. Once you arrive at the site you are directed to click on an iron that will then instruct you on how to download the software required to track who is viewing your MySpace profiles. With one click a bulletin will then be sent to all your friends from MySpace instructing them on how they can do the same thing.
A message will then appear informing you that the tracking software is not available yet. A Zango installation agreement will then pop up while you’re waiting. This is where one of the real problems comes up. So many of us are so accustomed to zooming and zipping around on the Web we quite frequently have become so blinded to online agreements that we tend to hit the Agree button without fully reading the terms and disclosures. Many companies count on that and Zango, apparently, is one of them.
When you click on the Agree button without reading the terms you won’t know that Zango actually produces adware known as 180Solutions that will monitor where you go online and what you’re searching for online.
While Zango and MyFriendSpy.com may be one of the most popular combinations of MySpace trackers out there they are certainly not the only ones available. There are quite a number operating on the net at the current time. You may be wondering what the big deal about that could possibly be. Not only is it an invasion of your privacy but this type of adware also contains the ability to slow your computer down and possibly even infect it with potential viruses. In addition, you could be highly at risk for identity fraud through the installation of this type of software on your computer. Even after you realize it is on your computer it can prove to be extremely difficult to remove. For many such types of adware and spyware the simple program removal function won’t do the job and it may require an expert to remove it.
Fake tracking sites to avoid include:SpySpace
ViewTracker
WhosOnMyProfile
The best rule of thumb, of course, is to simply not download or install software from sources you do not trust, even if they come highly recommended by your friends. Take the time to read all of the terms and make sure you understand them before you click that Agree button. If you’re not sure about something simply don’t agree to it.
A few sites that seem to be trustworthy to accomplish the goal of tracking who is viewing your MySpace pages include:
TrackSpace.net No scams attacked, good clean simple interface. Allows you to identify non-members of the site and also provides information such as location, web browser version, IP Address, etc.
TheSpaceTracker-Provides a comprehensive listing of vistior tracking as well as traffic statistics. Keep in mind that it won’t tell you very single person who visits your site but it does provide consistent information regarding time and geographic location. A free service that does not install adware or spyware on your system nor does it spam or snatch your MySpace info as other fake tracking tools are prone to do.
