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#31
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What are these mToolkit programs on my Dell laptop (Can I just remove them?)?
On Sun, 08 Oct 2006 15:48:16 -0400, Lew wrote:
Java is a programming language. Javascript is a different programming language, despite the similarity of names. There is a vulnerability in the interaction between Java and Javascript within a browser that Sun patched in version 1.4.2_06 and later. It is not present in version 1.5+. If you aren't even using Java there is no risk from it. If you run Java but not Javascript there is no risk from it. The vulnerability only occurs when running mini-programs in Java called "applets" in combination with certain malicious Javascript scripts in the browser. Oh my. Thank you Lew. I do very much appreciate the advice as to what Java and Javascript are. I never knew. I just knew that I hate when my web browser does funky things like spin the icons and other silly browser tricks. I turn off all that flash, realmedia, java, javascript, etc. stuff the moment I install a browser. So, I guess I wasn't vulnerable in the first place. Still, it's nice to know I have the latest Java installed now (although that will have a vulnerability in a short while if history is any judge). That's why I prefer to have as few items running on my system as possible ... hence the desire to rid myself of these 'm' progams that everyone seems to have running, by default (if they use CCleaner to show the true list of running programs). Thanks, Lisa |
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#32
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What are these mToolkit programs on my Dell laptop (Can I just remove them?)?
From: "lisa harkema"
| On Sun, 08 Oct 2006 16:59:55 GMT, "David H. Lipman" | wrote: | | Do I really need this Java thing (especially since I have it turned | off in my browser)? | What is MORE important was did you remove all the older versions ? Is v5 update 9 the *ONLY* version now on your PC ? | | Yes. Thank you for asking. I followed your instructions which said to | remove the old Java before installing the new Java. | | Thank you for alerting me to the newer Java. I still don't know why I | need it in the first place but I'm glad to have the latest, I guess, | just in case the old one was compromised. | | Of course, the new one will be compromised soon ... (and to think, I | remember something about someone saying Java was secure a decade ago). | | Jeez. Whatever it is, it sure ain't secure! | Thanks for the advice, | Lisa It is NOT a case of the software being compromised. It is a case of a bug in older versions. That bug is considered a vulnerability because one can exploit the vulnerability to install software without your consent. There is NO evidence that the version 5 update 6 and above have this vulnerability. -- Dave http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm |
#33
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What are these mToolkit programs on my Dell laptop (Can I just remove them?)?
On Sun, 08 Oct 2006 20:10:35 GMT, "David H. Lipman"
wrote: I also find it interesting that while the OP did NOT know anything about Java, she decided to cross-post this to; comp.lang.java.programmer This is a vulnerability/security issue, not a programming issue. I removed the java programming group (it was a group I arbitrarily found with the word "java" in it) and substituted a Microsoft security group. I did not know about this Java vulnerability. If I had, I would have updated my java sooner even though I don't use it (on purpose, anyway). I do appreciate the warning as it seems I had the original Java installed on my Dell so it was vulnerable (and likely exploited already as I had to remove more than a few viruses and trojans (whatever they are) when I installed spywareblaster and mcafee. Lisa |
#34
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What are these mToolkit programs on my Dell laptop (Can I just remove them?)?
From: "lisa harkema"
| | I removed the java programming group (it was a group I arbitrarily | found with the word "java" in it) and substituted a Microsoft security | group. | | I did not know about this Java vulnerability. If I had, I would have | updated my java sooner even though I don't use it (on purpose, | anyway). | | I do appreciate the warning as it seems I had the original Java | installed on my Dell so it was vulnerable (and likely exploited | already as I had to remove more than a few viruses and trojans | (whatever they are) when I installed spywareblaster and mcafee. | | Lisa What blows my mind is that this vulnerability has been known about for almost 2 years by Sun and was first publicy noted by Sun on Feb 7, '06 but Dell still is shipping systems with this vulnerable version installed. -- Dave http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm |
#35
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What are these mToolkit programs on my Dell laptop (Can I justremove them?)?
lisa harkema wrote:
On Sun, 08 Oct 2006 15:48:16 -0400, Lew wrote: Java is a programming language. Javascript is a different programming language, despite the similarity of names. There is a vulnerability in the interaction between Java and Javascript within a browser that Sun patched in version 1.4.2_06 and later. It is not present in version 1.5+. If you aren't even using Java there is no risk from it. If you run Java but not Javascript there is no risk from it. The vulnerability only occurs when running mini-programs in Java called "applets" in combination with certain malicious Javascript scripts in the browser. Oh my. Thank you Lew. I do very much appreciate the advice as to what Java and Javascript are. I never knew. I just knew that I hate when my web browser does funky things like spin the icons and other silly browser tricks. I turn off all that flash, realmedia, java, javascript, etc. stuff the moment I install a browser. So, I guess I wasn't vulnerable in the first place. Still, it's nice to know I have the latest Java installed now (although that will have a vulnerability in a short while if history is any judge). That's why I prefer to have as few items running on my system as possible ... hence the desire to rid myself of these 'm' progams that everyone seems to have running, by default (if they use CCleaner to show the true list of running programs). Thanks, Lisa If you knew what you were doing and were really concerned you wouldn't keep anything on the laptop that came with it since companies like Dell think people need a bunch of useless programs pre-installed in order to take advantage of their computer. If you reinstalled and reformatted the drive then you would know exactly what is on the computer and you wouldn't have to worry about removing things but only adding them as you see fit. |
#36
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What are these mToolkit programs on my Dell laptop (Can I just remove them?)?
David H. Lipman wrote:
From: "lisa harkema" | | I removed the java programming group (it was a group I arbitrarily | found with the word "java" in it) and substituted a Microsoft | security group. | | I did not know about this Java vulnerability. If I had, I would have | updated my java sooner even though I don't use it (on purpose, | anyway). | | I do appreciate the warning as it seems I had the original Java | installed on my Dell so it was vulnerable (and likely exploited | already as I had to remove more than a few viruses and trojans | (whatever they are) when I installed spywareblaster and mcafee. | | Lisa What blows my mind is that this vulnerability has been known about for almost 2 years by Sun and was first publicy noted by Sun on Feb 7, '06 but Dell still is shipping systems with this vulnerable version installed. Not only that, David - I just ran into a client's box that is running an ancient version of Java within an HP Toolbox. I had uninstalled Java before cleaning it up so I was most surprised to see javaw.exe running. When I tracked it down, it came from this HP printer Toolbox running Java 1.3.something! No way to deal with that, so I left it. Sheesh. Malke -- Elephant Boy Computers www.elephantboycomputers.com "Don't Panic!" MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User |
#37
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What are these mToolkit programs on my Dell laptop (Can I just remove them?)?
Malke wrote:
David H. Lipman wrote: From: "lisa harkema" I removed the java programming group (it was a group I arbitrarily found with the word "java" in it) and substituted a Microsoft security group. I did not know about this Java vulnerability. If I had, I would have updated my java sooner even though I don't use it (on purpose, anyway). I do appreciate the warning as it seems I had the original Java installed on my Dell so it was vulnerable (and likely exploited already as I had to remove more than a few viruses and trojans (whatever they are) when I installed spywareblaster and mcafee. Lisa What blows my mind is that this vulnerability has been known about for almost 2 years by Sun and was first publicy noted by Sun on Feb 7, '06 but Dell still is shipping systems with this vulnerable version installed. Not only that, David - I just ran into a client's box that is running an ancient version of Java within an HP Toolbox. I had uninstalled Java before cleaning it up so I was most surprised to see javaw.exe running. When I tracked it down, it came from this HP printer Toolbox running Java 1.3.something! No way to deal with that, so I left it. Sheesh. Malke I have tracked down more weird, intermittent problems to HP software than any other manufacturer. It's gotten so bad that if a system is experiencing weird problems one of my first troubleshooting steps is to uninstall all HP devices and software. -- Kerry MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User http://www.vistahelp.ca |
#38
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What are these mToolkit programs on my Dell laptop (Can I just remove them?)?
"Kerry Brown" *a*m wrote in message
... Malke wrote: David H. Lipman wrote: From: "lisa harkema" I removed the java programming group (it was a group I arbitrarily found with the word "java" in it) and substituted a Microsoft security group. I did not know about this Java vulnerability. If I had, I would have updated my java sooner even though I don't use it (on purpose, anyway). I do appreciate the warning as it seems I had the original Java installed on my Dell so it was vulnerable (and likely exploited already as I had to remove more than a few viruses and trojans (whatever they are) when I installed spywareblaster and mcafee. Lisa What blows my mind is that this vulnerability has been known about for almost 2 years by Sun and was first publicy noted by Sun on Feb 7, '06 but Dell still is shipping systems with this vulnerable version installed. Not only that, David - I just ran into a client's box that is running an ancient version of Java within an HP Toolbox. I had uninstalled Java before cleaning it up so I was most surprised to see javaw.exe running. When I tracked it down, it came from this HP printer Toolbox running Java 1.3.something! No way to deal with that, so I left it. Sheesh. Malke I have tracked down more weird, intermittent problems to HP software than any other manufacturer. It's gotten so bad that if a system is experiencing weird problems one of my first troubleshooting steps is to uninstall all HP devices and software. -- Kerry MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User http://www.vistahelp.ca I have been running into the same thing, Kerry. I didn't see it so much with HP software (for printers etc) in the late 1990's, but since about 2000 it has gotten worse, IMHO. -- Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+ http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm |
#39
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What are these mToolkit programs on my Dell laptop (Can I just remove them?)?
Unfortunately, my Acer notebook uses a different wireless adapter and does not have
any of the items you see, either in ARP or in CCleaner's list. I still think asking Dell Support might eventually clear up the functions. It appears they are utilities rather than actual drivers so there may be no harm in deleting them......but with no personal contact with these apps, I can't say. -- Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+ http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm "lisa harkema" wrote in message ... On Sun, 8 Oct 2006 01:57:53 -0400, "glee" wrote: Hi Lisa, I think what you may be seeing are programs that were installed by the OEM (Dell, in this case) that they did not want the end user to remove, possibly because they are integral to certain features of the laptop, or to their support plan. Most if not all of the entries appear to be for troubleshooting and configuring an Intel wireless adapter and drivers (does the laptop have an integrated wireless adapter?). Removing the items may well be "shooting yourself in the foot" if the applications are needed for the functioning of your wireless adapter. I would *not* remove any of them for that reason. Have you asked Dell support personnel about them? The most likely reason they all have an "m" at the front of their names is that one method to hide an item in the Registry's uninstall keys is to use the "ApplicationDisplayName" string to identify the items to be hidden. The OEM may have used a script to hide all entries in the Uninstall key whose DisplayName began with "m" at the time the system was built (before you got it and installed more apps). I would be wary of the suggestion to wipe the system and install fresh from a Windows CD only because you may find items such as the integrated wireless adapter no longer work, unless you can download and install the drivers and configuration apps from Dell.....in which case you'd likely be back where you began, but with the items perhaps no longer hidden. That assumes that Dell has those apps available for download. Hope this helps. Oop. I already deleted some of them. And, YES, I DO have a wireless card installed by the manufacturer. I'd better hold off on deleting them I guess. I got rid of about half of them. I generally don't use the wireless card but I do use it when I travel. Lisa |
#40
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What are these mToolkit programs on my Dell laptop (Can I just remove them?)?
From: "Malke"
| Not only that, David - I just ran into a client's box that is running an | ancient version of Java within an HP Toolbox. I had uninstalled Java | before cleaning it up so I was most surprised to see javaw.exe running. | When I tracked it down, it came from this HP printer Toolbox running | Java 1.3.something! No way to deal with that, so I left it. Sheesh. | | Malke There is updated information on Sun Java vulnerabilities that could be the reason that JRE v5 updates 7 and 8 were pulled so quickly... http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/docum...=1-26-102648-1 -- Dave http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm |
#41
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What are these mToolkit programs on my Dell laptop (Can I just remove them?)?
On Sun, 8 Oct 2006 18:50:52 -0700, "Kerry Brown"
*a*m wrote: Not only that, David - I just ran into a client's box that is running an ancient version of Java within an HP Toolbox. I had uninstalled Java before cleaning it up so I was most surprised to see javaw.exe running. When I tracked it down, it came from this HP printer Toolbox running Java 1.3.something! No way to deal with that, so I left it. Sheesh. I have tracked down more weird, intermittent problems to HP software than any other manufacturer. It's gotten so bad that if a system is experiencing weird problems one of my first troubleshooting steps is to uninstall all HP devices and software. Oh no. I also have an HP printer and it took over twenty minutes yesterday for the HP software to install the little driver after I removed all the programs using CCLeaners Add/remove programs. I couldn't believe it took so long for the HP to load a simple driver! After a really long wait (maybe even more than twenty minutes), I findally had to reboot and there is now all sorts of unwanted HP stuff on my desktop and in my start menu. And, all I wanted to do was print. After all this work of cleaning my system of the old vulnerable Java, how can I tell if HP (re)installed the vulnerable Java (BACK) onto my WinXP home machine? Lisa |
#42
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What are these mToolkit programs on my Dell laptop (Can I just
When you inserted the installation CD for the printer you should
have selected the Custom install for just the drivers and a minimum of system files. Not the entire application. -- XP - WNP Today is the first day of the rest of your life. If you find this response helpful, rate it below. "lisa harkema" wrote: On Sun, 8 Oct 2006 18:50:52 -0700, "Kerry Brown" *a*m wrote: Not only that, David - I just ran into a client's box that is running an ancient version of Java within an HP Toolbox. I had uninstalled Java before cleaning it up so I was most surprised to see javaw.exe running. When I tracked it down, it came from this HP printer Toolbox running Java 1.3.something! No way to deal with that, so I left it. Sheesh. I have tracked down more weird, intermittent problems to HP software than any other manufacturer. It's gotten so bad that if a system is experiencing weird problems one of my first troubleshooting steps is to uninstall all HP devices and software. Oh no. I also have an HP printer and it took over twenty minutes yesterday for the HP software to install the little driver after I removed all the programs using CCLeaners Add/remove programs. I couldn't believe it took so long for the HP to load a simple driver! After a really long wait (maybe even more than twenty minutes), I findally had to reboot and there is now all sorts of unwanted HP stuff on my desktop and in my start menu. And, all I wanted to do was print. After all this work of cleaning my system of the old vulnerable Java, how can I tell if HP (re)installed the vulnerable Java (BACK) onto my WinXP home machine? Lisa |
#43
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What are these mToolkit programs on my Dell laptop (Can I just
This is not possible with some HP printers. Even if you try to add the
printer manually and point to the drivers during the driver install the HP installation program will run and add things like Share-to-Web whether you want them or not. -- Kerry MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User http://www.vistahelp.ca Byte wrote: When you inserted the installation CD for the printer you should have selected the Custom install for just the drivers and a minimum of system files. Not the entire application. On Sun, 8 Oct 2006 18:50:52 -0700, "Kerry Brown" *a*m wrote: Not only that, David - I just ran into a client's box that is running an ancient version of Java within an HP Toolbox. I had uninstalled Java before cleaning it up so I was most surprised to see javaw.exe running. When I tracked it down, it came from this HP printer Toolbox running Java 1.3.something! No way to deal with that, so I left it. Sheesh. I have tracked down more weird, intermittent problems to HP software than any other manufacturer. It's gotten so bad that if a system is experiencing weird problems one of my first troubleshooting steps is to uninstall all HP devices and software. Oh no. I also have an HP printer and it took over twenty minutes yesterday for the HP software to install the little driver after I removed all the programs using CCLeaners Add/remove programs. I couldn't believe it took so long for the HP to load a simple driver! After a really long wait (maybe even more than twenty minutes), I findally had to reboot and there is now all sorts of unwanted HP stuff on my desktop and in my start menu. And, all I wanted to do was print. After all this work of cleaning my system of the old vulnerable Java, how can I tell if HP (re)installed the vulnerable Java (BACK) onto my WinXP home machine? Lisa |
#44
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What are these mToolkit programs on my Dell laptop (Can I just
You could be right Kerry, but so far I have two (2) HP printers
and an Epson installed and each of them had a custom install. They could go to the HP website and download just the drivers and some of the embedded system files for a minimum install. Or, call - 1-800-HPINVENT for assistance. -- XP - WNP Today is the first day of the rest of your life. If you find this response helpful, rate it below. "Kerry Brown" wrote: This is not possible with some HP printers. Even if you try to add the printer manually and point to the drivers during the driver install the HP installation program will run and add things like Share-to-Web whether you want them or not. -- Kerry MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User http://www.vistahelp.ca Byte wrote: When you inserted the installation CD for the printer you should have selected the Custom install for just the drivers and a minimum of system files. Not the entire application. On Sun, 8 Oct 2006 18:50:52 -0700, "Kerry Brown" *a*m wrote: Not only that, David - I just ran into a client's box that is running an ancient version of Java within an HP Toolbox. I had uninstalled Java before cleaning it up so I was most surprised to see javaw.exe running. When I tracked it down, it came from this HP printer Toolbox running Java 1.3.something! No way to deal with that, so I left it. Sheesh. I have tracked down more weird, intermittent problems to HP software than any other manufacturer. It's gotten so bad that if a system is experiencing weird problems one of my first troubleshooting steps is to uninstall all HP devices and software. Oh no. I also have an HP printer and it took over twenty minutes yesterday for the HP software to install the little driver after I removed all the programs using CCLeaners Add/remove programs. I couldn't believe it took so long for the HP to load a simple driver! After a really long wait (maybe even more than twenty minutes), I findally had to reboot and there is now all sorts of unwanted HP stuff on my desktop and in my start menu. And, all I wanted to do was print. After all this work of cleaning my system of the old vulnerable Java, how can I tell if HP (re)installed the vulnerable Java (BACK) onto my WinXP home machine? Lisa |
#45
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What are these mToolkit programs on my Dell laptop (Can I just
On some low cost (cheap) HP printers none of the options you suggest are
available. -- Kerry MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User http://www.vistahelp.ca Byte wrote: You could be right Kerry, but so far I have two (2) HP printers and an Epson installed and each of them had a custom install. They could go to the HP website and download just the drivers and some of the embedded system files for a minimum install. Or, call - 1-800-HPINVENT for assistance. This is not possible with some HP printers. Even if you try to add the printer manually and point to the drivers during the driver install the HP installation program will run and add things like Share-to-Web whether you want them or not. -- Kerry MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User http://www.vistahelp.ca Byte wrote: When you inserted the installation CD for the printer you should have selected the Custom install for just the drivers and a minimum of system files. Not the entire application. On Sun, 8 Oct 2006 18:50:52 -0700, "Kerry Brown" *a*m wrote: Not only that, David - I just ran into a client's box that is running an ancient version of Java within an HP Toolbox. I had uninstalled Java before cleaning it up so I was most surprised to see javaw.exe running. When I tracked it down, it came from this HP printer Toolbox running Java 1.3.something! No way to deal with that, so I left it. Sheesh. I have tracked down more weird, intermittent problems to HP software than any other manufacturer. It's gotten so bad that if a system is experiencing weird problems one of my first troubleshooting steps is to uninstall all HP devices and software. Oh no. I also have an HP printer and it took over twenty minutes yesterday for the HP software to install the little driver after I removed all the programs using CCLeaners Add/remove programs. I couldn't believe it took so long for the HP to load a simple driver! After a really long wait (maybe even more than twenty minutes), I findally had to reboot and there is now all sorts of unwanted HP stuff on my desktop and in my start menu. And, all I wanted to do was print. After all this work of cleaning my system of the old vulnerable Java, how can I tell if HP (re)installed the vulnerable Java (BACK) onto my WinXP home machine? Lisa |
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