Bonzi Buddy

Welcome to the world of BonziBUDDY! He will explore the Internet with you as your very own friend and sidekick! He can talk, walk, joke, browse, search, e-mail, and download like no other friend you've ever had! He even has the ability to compare prices on the products you love and help you save money! This room is public. This room is private. You are the owner of this room. Bonzi Buddy takes the form of a purple monkey on your desktop, and can easily be spotted. Amongst what it can do includes; talking to keep you company, walking, telling you a joke- funny right?, helping you browse, searching for files, send an e-mail, and helping in downloading files.

BonziBuddy
Developer(s)Bonzi Software, Inc.
Initial release2000
Stable release
4.1 / 2005
Operating systemMicrosoft Windows
TypeAdware, spyware, malware
LicenseFreeware
Websitebonzi.com (discontinued)

BonziBuddy, stylized as BonziBUDDY, (pronounced /bɒnzibʌd/BON-zee-bud-ee) was a freeware desktop virtual assistant made by Joe and Jay Bonzi. Upon a user's choice, it would share jokes and facts, manage downloads, sing songs, and talk, among other functions.[1] Some versions of the software were described as spyware[2] and adware.[3]

The software used Microsoft Agent technology similar to Office Assistant,[4] and originally sported Peedy, a green parrot and one of the characters available with Microsoft Agent. Later versions of BonziBuddy in May 2000 featured its own character: Bonzi, the purple gorilla.[5] The program also used a text-to-speech voice to interact with the user. The voice was called Sydney and taken from an old Lernout & Hauspie Microsoft Speech API 4.0 package. It is often referred to in some software as Adult Male #2.

BonziBuddy was discontinued in 2004 after the company behind it faced lawsuits regarding the software and was ordered to pay fines.[6] Bonzi's website remained open after the discontinuation of BonziBuddy, but was shut down at the end of 2008.

Criticism[edit]

In April 2007, PC World readers voted BonziBuddy the sixth on a list named 'The 20 Most Annoying Tech Products'. One reader was quoted as criticizing the program because it 'kept popping up and obscuring things you needed to see'.[7]

One of the last newspaper articles written about BonziBuddy while it was still in distribution described it as spyware and a 'scourge of the Internet'.[8] Another article found in 2006 on the BusinessWeek website described BonziBuddy as 'the unbelievably annoying spyware trojan horse'.[9]

Spyware[edit]

A number of sources identify BonziBuddy as spyware, a claim the company disputed.[10] In 2002, an article in Consumer ReportsWeb Watch labelled BonziBuddy as spyware, stating that it contains a backdoor trojan that collects information from users. The activities the program is said to engage in include constantly resetting the user's web browserhomepage to bonzi.com without the user's permission, prompting and tracking various information about the user, installing a toolbar, and serving advertisements.[11]

Trend Micro and Symantec have both classified the software as adware.[12][13][14]Spyware Guide's entry on the program also states that it is adware.[15]

Legal issues[edit]

Internetnews.com reported the settlement of a class action suit on 27 May 2003. Originally brought against Bonzi Software on 4 December 2002, the suit accused Bonzi of using its banner advertisements to deceptively imitate Windows computer alerts, alerting the user that their IP address is being broadcast. In the settlement, Bonzi Software agreed to modify their ads so that they looked less like Windows dialog boxes and more like actual advertisements.[16][17]

On February 18, 2004, the Federal Trade Commission released a statement indicating that Bonzi Software, Inc. was ordered to pay $75,000 in fees, among other aspects, for violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act by collecting personal information from children under the age of 13 with BonziBuddy.[18]

Other software[edit]

Bonzi also made other software such as Internet Alert '99 and Internet Boost '99.

Internet Alert '99 claims to have some hidden Windows features to protect your computer. It also allows you to simulate an Internet attacking your computer. Internet Boost '99 claims to supercharge your computer by speeding up your Internet connection. Voice E-Mail also allows you to add music and sound effects to emails.

Bonzi Buddy Acs

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^'BonziBUDDY!'. bonzi.com. Bonzi Software, Inc. Archived from the original on 21 June 2000.
  2. ^Geschwind, Bill (11 August 2004). 'AppNote: Automating the installation and execution of Spybot Search & Destroy with ZENworks'. Novell Cool Solutions. Novell. Retrieved 14 July 2007. Hotbar, Bonzi Buddy, Gator eWallet and Comet Cursors ... are all spyware-laden programs that I have encountered far too often in the field on my users' machine
  3. ^'BonziBuddy'. www.spywareguide.com. Retrieved 2019-02-26.
  4. ^Hachman, Mark (28 May 2003). ''Bonzi Buddy' Creator Settles Suit'. ExtremeTech. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 7 September 2006.
  5. ^'Counter Spy's entry on BonziBuddy'. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 7 September 2006.
  6. ^Ravenscraft, Eric (18 August 2017). 'A Brief History of BonziBuddy, the Internet's Most Friendly Malware'. How-To Geek. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  7. ^'The 20 Most Annoying Tech Products'. PCWorld. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  8. ^Kladko, Brian (21 March 2004). 'Prying Eyes Lurk Inside Your PC; Spyware Spawns Efforts at Control'. The Gale Group, Inc. Retrieved 16 November 2007.
  9. ^'Breaking: MySpace Backlash Sighted In Mainstream Media!'. Businessweek. Bloomberg L.P. Archived from the original on 3 June 2011. Retrieved 16 November 2007.
  10. ^'BonziBuddy'. Spyware Loop. 16 July 2013. Archived from the original on 28 April 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  11. ^Barrett, Robertson (21 November 2002). 'Five Major Categories of Spyware'. Consumer Reports. Consumers Union of U.S. Archived from the original on 9 January 2006. Retrieved 7 September 2006.
  12. ^'ADW_BONJING.A'. trendmicro.com. Trend Micro. 8 July 2004. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007.
  13. ^'ADW_BONZIBUDDY.C'. Threat Encyclopedia. Trend Micro. 8 June 2004. Retrieved 14 July 2007.
  14. ^'Adware.Bonzi'. symantec.com. Symantec. 13 February 2007. Retrieved 5 April 2009.
  15. ^'BonziBuddy'. Spyware Guide. Actiance. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  16. ^Morrissey, Brian (27 May 2003). 'Bonzi Settles Deceptive Ad Suit'. internetnews.com. QuinStreet. Archived from the original on 6 June 2003. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  17. ^Morrissey, Brian (4 December 2002). 'Bonzi Hit With Deceptive-Ad Complaint'. internetnews.com. QuinStreet. Archived from the original on 18 June 2003. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  18. ^Schwartzman, Jen (18 February 2004). 'UMG Recordings, Inc. to Pay $400,000, Bonzi Software, Inc. To Pay $75,000 to Settle COPPA Civil Penalty Charges'. ftc.gov. Federal Trade Commission. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=BonziBuddy&oldid=1023916872'

Ever come across the BonziBuddy virus? Regardless of whether firsthand experience with it or a close friend sought helo from you, perhaps you already know that it’s one malware entity that causes a huge problem to many computer users.

But what exactly is this virus?

About BonziBuddy Virus

The BonziBuddy virus was popular many years ago. In fact, it was regarded by many as a great friend or somewhat a sidekick that helps with certain tasks.

So, what does the BonziBuddy virus do? What was its real motive?

Bonzi Buddy Parrot

Unfortunately, it was too late when people realized it existed to collect personal information from unsuspecting victims. It popped up random adverts that lure you into using useless applications or other malware entities.

It was in 1999 when the BonziBuddy virus started wreaking havoc among devices. For six years, this virus secretly gathered information from victims. Although it’s no longer being produced or created today, copies of it still surface every now and then.

How Did the BonziBuddy Virus Infect Your PC?

In case you found yourself dealing with this virus, you probably asked first, how on earth did your PC get infected? Here are some possible reasons why your device acquired the virus:

  • Your operating system is outdated.
  • Your browser has poor security settings.
  • You are not practicing safe internet practices.

Still not convinced? Perhaps you did any of the following:

Downloaded and Installed Freeware

Free software applications may be very enticing to download. However, do not be deceived. Most of these freeware apps often come bundled with malware entities, spyware, adware, or other suspicious programs like BonziBuddy. There is a chance that ransomware is attached to your download to grant hackers access to your device.

Used Peer-to-Peer Software

Yes, peer-to-peer applications and programs are often handy. But did you know that using a shared network only exposes your privacy, security, and data to risks, and your system to malicious programs like the BonziBuddy virus?

Visited Malicious Websites

The moment you visit websites with dubious content, Trojan-like entities like BonziBuddy may be automatically downloaded onto your PC. That is something you should avoid.

How to Know If Your PC Is Infected?

There are a few tell-tale signs to look out for to know if your PC is infected with BonziBuddy. These include:

PC Not Working Properly

The BonziBuddy virus can severely slow down your PC. if you notice that it takes longer than normal for your PC to boot or your internet connection suddenly became slow, it is likely that the BonziBuddy has already started its attack.

Odd Shortcuts Appear on Your Desktop

As with other viruses, BonziBuddy can mess with your internet settings or even create new shortcuts on your desktop.

Advertisements Pop Up at Random

BonziBuddy may trigger annoying ads to appear on your PC, even when you are not connected to a WiFi network. These ads are generated for you based on your browsing habits and personal information.

Spam Messages Are Sent from Your Mailbox

BonziBuddy may gain total control of your mailbox and use it to generate spam messages with malicious attachments.

How to Remove BonziBuddy Virus

The good news is that no matter how intrusive this virus can be, it can still be removed. Here is a quick BonziBuddy virus removal guide we have prepared for you:

  1. Close the BonziBuddy program by right-clicking on its icon in the Task Bar and selecting the Exit option.
  2. Go to Start > Programs > BonziBuddy. Select Uninstall BonziBuddy Bargain Hunting Tool. Wait until the uninstallation process completes.
  3. Reboot your PC.
  4. Once your PC has restarted, start cleaning up. There might be a couple of small files associated with the program. They may be small but they can still harm your PC in some ways. To be safe, delete them from your system.
  5. Uninstall other software applications associated with the BonziBuddy program.

Bonzi Buddy Download For Windows 10

Bonzi Buddy

Summary

Bonzi Buddy Windows 10

When it comes to security and privacy, no program or application is your buddy. In fact, some of the most popular anti-malware programs we know can be used as loopholes by malware entities to attack victims. What you can do is to constantly educate yourself with the latest malware strains out there. Research about the most effective tips and tricks that can keep your PC safe. And most importantly, know the basic PC repair tactics so you know what to do when faced in such situations.

Did the BonziBuddy virus removal guide above help you? Do you know other ways to get rid of the virus? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Bonzi Buddy Download

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