How rogue software went from rampant to demise

During the May Day holiday, the old fox opened the computer and wanted to play a game, but not long after opening, a bunch of pop-up advertisements popped up on the screen, and the old fox was stunned.

At this time, the old fox remembered that last night it seemed that he accidentally downloaded a piece of software, but forgot to clean it up, and sure enough, the computer had a problem.

This kind of software is also the rogue software that is deeply hated by the majority of users. About this, the old fox should have a good chat.

The predecessor of the rogue

In fact, in the Internet 20 years ago, there was no so-called rogue software, and only rogue plug-ins were popular at that time.

Speaking of rogue plugins, there is a famous rogue plugin that cannot be left out, that is, the founder of 3721, 3721, named Zhou Hongyi.

That's right, the founder of 360 Security Guard.

In October 1998, Zhou Hongyi created 3721 Company and launched the "Network Real Name" service, which is different from the current personal real name system.

3721 network real name means that enterprises can register their own company name and product name as 3721 network real name, and customers can enter their company's Chinese name in the browser address bar to go directly to their own website.

However, the 3721 is not satisfied with this, it goes a step further and plays with bundled installation.

As soon as the 3721 plug-in is installed, there are a whole bunch of things installed at the same time. It turns out that the gameplay of the rogue software has appeared in the 3721 era, and Zhou Hongwei is indeed an old "habitual offender".

Over time, many people began to be overwhelmed. The reputation of the 3721 plugin is getting worse and worse, and even programmers have marked it on their personal websites: "If you are a supporter of 3721, do not install this program, I do not welcome and refuse its supporters to use this program!" ”

Under everyone shouting, Zhou Hongwei and his 3721 plug-in were silent for a while. Soon, however, he will reappear in the jianghu with a new identity.

Change a vest and go ashore

The average computer user in the early 2000s didn't care much about rogue plugins. What they fear most is computer viruses. Installing antivirus software is the choice of most users.

However, at that time, the anti-virus software, whether it was Kingsoft, Rising, Jiangmin in China, or Kaspersky, NOD32, Mai Cafe, norton abroad, had to charge.

At that time, the price of a set of antivirus software was about three or four hundred yuan, which was a lot of expenses for users. If you want to eat a free lunch, you have to put a lot of thought into it.

Some antivirus software will give users a free "activation code". But these "activation codes" can usually only be used for one month, and they still have to pay money when they run out.

In addition, there is a "keygen" that allows users to use a cracked version of antivirus software by manually replacing files.

However, like the Activation Code, the Registrar has a time limit. And because of the problem of software updates, the "keygen" must also be updated continuously, and users have to find new ones every three or five minutes.

Users who do not want to spend money and are afraid of trouble have to not install antivirus software and directly "run naked".

At this time, Zhou Hongwei, who had been silent for a while, re-emerged from the jianghu and launched the 360 series of software in 2006, and declared that it was "free forever".

Founder of a rogue plugin company, launched security software, and the dragon turned into a dragon slayer? It's ironic no matter how you look at it.

The "forever free" statement made 360 software the first choice for users, with installs skyrocketing and users quickly taking the top spot.

Different from paid antivirus software, 360 software is free for users to use, bring a lot of traffic to their own software, and then support the development and maintenance of software through advertising monetization.

Just by changing a vest, the profits rolled in. This operation has made other software companies fully admired, and they sincerely sighed:

"Heaven does not give birth to 360, eternal as a long night!"

As a result, hao123, 2345, Master Lu, and even Tencent and Baidu have launched their own free antivirus software.

The antivirus software on the market is gradually controlled by various "computer housekeepers" and "security guards".

The true face of the rogue

After installing these "guards" and "butlers", how does it feel to use them?

At the beginning, it seems that it is OK, there is no charge, and there is no need to bother to find what "activation code" and "keygen", which is much more convenient than before.

However, after a period of time, it feels like the computer is getting more and more stuck, and there are often all kinds of strange software.

Those strange software is the "family bucket". There are many kinds of "Family Bucket" software, including browsers, picture kings, mobile phone butlers, input methods, audio and video software, game halls, wallpapers, quick start methods and so on.

"Family Bucket" usually uses slogans such as "security" and "fast" to try to occupy the permissions of the computer at different levels in the name of protecting the computer.

They tend to be installed silently, without the user's knowledge.

The interfaces of these software are also varied.

There is a way to play with eye coverings.

Not to mention that I thought it was a love game.

Strange words, comparable to insurance company terms.

What's worse is that most of these accompanying software can't be uninstalled cleanly, and the attached folders and mini programs can't be deleted at all.

These small programs that cannot be deleted contain various pop-up games and advertisements, and as long as the computer is running, these demons and ghosts will rush to pop up.

As for modifying the home page, it is more routine.

After a pass operation, the computer is either slow or dead, and there is no difference between it and the virus.

These software, which were originally developed for "anti-virus", have become the biggest viruses themselves. The so-called "anti-virus" has become a joke.

Moreover, scanning the user's hard disk is a routine operation of this type of software. After scanning, these software will record the user's private information, and the user's data is often leaked out in this way.

Rogue software will also kill competitors who are not their own factions as "viruses".

If a computer is loaded with multiple rogue software, it is hilarious, you clear my plugins, I restrict your permissions, and fight each other.

The most famous rogue software civil war is the 3Q War that broke out in 2010.

360 and Tencent accused each other of being "viruses", stopped each other's software operations, and caused a storm in the city, and finally stopped under the intervention of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

But to this day, the small fights between rogue software are still endless.

In addition to the rogue civil war, other software companies have also developed "rogue software killers" that specifically target rogue software.

But in this way, the symptoms are not cured. No one can guarantee that the current "rogue software killer" will not become a new generation of rogue software.

After all, the current rogue software, in the name of "anti-virus", entered thousands of households.

How to rationally rectify

Since rogue software is so rampant, is there no way to cure them?

In fact, for rogue software, the state has been carrying out various rectifications.

The 3Q war of that year was stopped under the leadership of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and to a certain extent, it deterred those rogue software companies.

In 2017 and 2021, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology implemented policies to limit the behavior of rogue software from the direction of protecting personal information.

In addition to the state shot, various computer brands, also through their own way, to fight against rogue software.

As early as 2017, Lenovo Computer developed a computer housekeeper with the purpose of replacing various rogue software.

Huawei, ASUS and other different computer brands are also developing their own computer butler software, not giving rogue software a chance.

However, the main battlefield of rogue software is no longer a computer.

In the mobile era, mobile phones are king, and everyone is developing mobile apps. Rogue software, of course, is no exception.

From computers to mobile phones, rogue software continues their rogue journey to this day.

Of course, this is another story...

References: Tuanzi's Haven: Rogue Software A Brief Spire Safe Home: The "Development History" of Chinese Rogue Software If You See the Wind: The Rogue Attributes of 360 and the History of Chinese Antivirus Software Jiangsu Internet Police: The Huge Profit Source of the Bottom Rogue APP Editor: Chen Zhanxiang