Browser Highlighter? - Lois & Clark Fanfic Message Boards

How many of you use and have updated your Skype in the last 6 months? I just wanted to give a heads-up.

I decided to open my Skype today after a few months, and Skype version 4.1 automatically updated. When it was done, something called "The Browser Highlighter" showed on my desktop.

A red flag immediately went up in my head: where did it come from? I never heard of it and didn't want it in my computer. Besides, it's a product from EBAY and I don't use EBAY.

Doing a search on Google, I found that Skype 4.1 has been automatically installing this add-on without user's permission for quite a while. That is ridiculous!

Since I don't know what it does, I don't want it in my computer. I went to the "Programs and Features" list, found "Browser Highlighter" and uninstalled it. Was asked to reboot my machine. I think it has been removed.

I just hope nothing else was installed without my permission (such as a spyware) through Skype.

malu

Just for the record, here's what it does

Browser Highlighter

Quote

The Browser Highlighter is a browser extension designed to simplify your web surfing experience. If you look closely at your browser menu you’ll see a button that looks like a yellow highlighter…that’s it! That little button looks at the pages you visit and highlights things like phone numbers, forms and products. By pointing out where the important stuff is, the Browser Highlighter takes the legwork out of surfing the net. Here is a list of some of the cool features that come with the Browser Highlighter:

* Compare on eBay
* Skype Phone Number Recognition
* Highlighter Shortcuts
* Alerts
Developer Comments

Many people are asking where they received The Browser Highlighter. If you did not add it here, or go to BrowserHighlighter.com to get your free copy - you most likely downloaded it with the new version of Skype. A window popped up with similar verbiage above, asking if you wanted the Browser Highlighter installed. Please see the website for more information on the product including our help site with FAQs and eBays 24-hour technical support.

Seems benign enough, but I, too, like to go seek this kind of thing and then decide if I want to add it, rather than having it sneaked onto my pc when I'm supposed to be dl other things.

LabRat

Looking at the pages we visit, phone numbers etc... Sounds like spyware to me. But it hasn't been that long since I used Skype and I don't seem to have the browser highlighter.

It's on version 4.1. I already had that version, but Skype did an automatic update and downloaded and installed it without asking if I wanted this new "feature". That's why I was so concerned. What else could they be "installing" in my computer?

malu

As I read the quote you posted more carefully, LabRat, I noticed that they actually say

Quote

A window popped up with similar verbiage above, asking if you wanted the Browser Highlighter installed.

That is such a lie. That is the whole point of my ranting. Nowhere, before it was already installed, had I heard of this Browser Highlighter. And looking at some forums out there, people noticed this too, and are outraged.

malu

Apparently it causes major problems on quite a few web pages and sites - for example, people are being banned from playing World Of Warcraft because it lets third party spam in.

It can also be a swine to remove - there are some suggestions in the third comment on this page

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/11808

It can be uninstalled through "Programs and Features" in the Control Panel (Windows Vista). That's how I uninstalled it.

malu