Kazaa

www.kazaa.com

Kazaa Media Desktop (once capitalised as 'KaZaA') is a controversial peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing application commonly used to exchange MP3 music files over the Internet. It is also increasingly used to exchange movie files. Although the official Kazaa client can be downloaded free of charge, it is financed by attached malware - despite the "No Spyware" message displayed on the website. Sharman, Kazaa's home company, claims that the products are not adware and do not collect personal user information.

Malware installed by Kazaa includes the following:

• Cydoor: Collects information on the PC's surfing habits.
• B3D: An add-on which produces advertising popups.
• InstaFinder: Redirects the users URL typing errors to InstaFinder's web page instead of the standard MSN search page.
• RX Toolbar: This toolbar monitors all the sites the user visits with Microsoft Internet Explorer and provides links to competitors' websites.

As a result of this malware, CNET's Download.com site stopped distributing Kazaa in April 2004.

Kazaa Lite

This is an unauthorised modification of the Kazaa Media Desktop application which excludes adware and spyware and provides slightly extended functionality. It became available in April 2002. It can be downloaded free of charge, and as of mid-2005 is almost as widely used as the official Kazaa client itself. It connects to the same FastTrack network and thus allows to exchange files with all Kazaa users.

K-Lite

This is another unauthorised modification of the Kazaa Media Desktop application, which requires the user to supply the original, unpatched Kazaa Media Desktop. The program removes the malware and adds some additional functionality. K-Lite includes multiple search tabs, a custom toolbar, and autostart. It also has a download accelerator, an optional splash screen, an IP blocker and ad blocking.

Kazaa Plus

A paid-for premium version of Kazza introduced by Sharman Networks in 2003. Although the product claims to contain no spyware or malware, they are actually still present.