New free pokemon RPG possibly not safe

[Amoeba]

EDIT 3: SceptileHero has pointed out that the sponsored link is a fake. He has provided a link to the real Pokemon Online site: https://www.pokemonworldonline.net/index.html

I have noticed a new sponsored link under pokemon video game discussions. I don't know if this was authorised by the admins or just an advertisement put there by the forum hosting company. But I have noticed it does target pokemon fans.

When one accesses the pokemon online game it asks that you must download a program called 'Zango' first. I have done several searches and found that this 'Zango' is renowned for mallicious practices such as installing components without user consent, installing spyware and adware, unwanted popups, hogging processing power and leaving behind residual components after uninstallation which cannot be easily removed. Even after legal issues these practices still continue.

In some cases where sites ask that you download Zango first, it may turn out that you don't need it after all if you just proceed with the download anyway and don't bother with Zango. However, some include Zango with the download.

Is it really such a good idea for this link, that asks to download a possibly untrustworthy program, on the pokecommunity forums? This is a nice place, I'd hate for it to be a gateway to such issues. Obviously, they don't provide a link to the Zango download, so they are probably considered safe simply because of that.

Better yet, does anyone else know any more about Zango? Are these claims of untrustworthiness false? I'd like to be proven wrong, I hope someone can prove me wrong...

Anyway, I'd like to hear from an admin in particular about this, but if anyone has any more onfo, please share it.

Stay safe.

EDIT: Going to try downloading the game without zango... with anti-virus and firewall on high alert

EDIT2: Yep, it prtty much won't run without it.

 

[Zet]

Zango is old news, just install it, do the thing quickly, uninstall it before they still your search methods etc

 

[Amoeba]

Zango is old news, just install it, do the thing quickly uninstall it before they still your search methods etc

It doesn't really matter if its old news though, especially if not everyone has heard of it.

I couldn't make sense of the last part you said.

 

[Zet]

Zango steals what you search for on the internet, you would know that if you read about it

 

[Amoeba]

Zango steals what you search for on the internet, you would know that if you read about it

I have been reading about it, but that's not what I have read. Please explain what you mean rather than being condescending. I'm just concerned.

I don't understand what 'steals what you search for' means.

 

[Zet]

the searches you make go directly zango company, so they can go "ZOMG!!! A PORN PERSON" etc

also since I'm lazy, what does running the .bat file do?

 

[Amoeba]

the searches you make go directly zango company, so they can go "ZOMG!!! A PORN PERSON" etc

Yeah I read up on that, a lot of companies use that technique. But I also hear from various sources that it installs more than just that on the initial install. And its very hard to scrub off the registry.

What I'm looking for is someone to say "yes, I have used it, it does/doesn't install unwanted components or it is/isn't easy to remove" etc.

I'm not sure what a .bat file is. I'll go look it up.

EDIT: Apparently its a 'batch file', a text file with a list of commands, according to wikipedia. Its apparently to be used by another program for runniing these commands, though I don't know of its true in-depth meaning. I may be wrong in my explanation, since I'm having a hard time interperating its meaning.

 

[Zet]

yes i know that, but the download comes with some bat file that you can run if you need help, thats the problem, it could do something to your computer. And yes zango does all that other stuff

 

[Soul.//Silver]

The website that is give is a fake, this is the real website for Pokemon Online.
https://www.pokemonworldonline.net/index.html
The owner told everyone to avoid that fake site on the front page. So maybe the moderators will have to change that Sponsored Link the the correct website or remove it so young kids don't click on it thinking its real.

 

[Amoeba]

Oh, thats a relief. :) Yes, you're right the admins really need to change that.

I did find it suspicious that there was no forums... no information... no help link... nothing like that. But thought perhaps all that might be included with the game.

Thank you both for your information. Thanks for pointing out it was a fake, SceptileHero. :)

 

[bolmedias14]

Zango? DAAAAAAAAAAMN. Don't download, Zango is very nasty.

 

[AJ™]

It doesn't matter if it's fake.
PC is getting money from it.
You are not being forced to download anything, so just stay away from it if you feel it is unsafe.

 

[LeeMonkey]

The Pokemon RPG advert

Is that advert for the "Free Pokemon Online RPG download etc." thingy legit or am I gonna start getting 500MB of midget porn dumped on my machine?
Better yet anybody else downloaded it?

 

[Amoeba]

Well, that's the plan. But I see no harm in alerting that its fake and malicious - whether it matters to the admins or not. Though to be honest you don't know for certain what the other admins will say about it, so it might just matter. No harm in trying.

 

[Ooka]

Also, just to let you guys know, when you download it from https://pppokemon.com, it's not an updated version, so it won't even run past Oak's introduction (That's how I found out about the official site, a pop-up from the program directed me to it for the most recent download).

 

[lostsoul5673]

I almost fell for it, I had Zango before, but I didn't find a use except for a one-time thing so I uninstalled it. I was going to download it later. But now I know where! Thanks! I've seen this before I think though.

 

[AJ™]

... o_O You're joking, right? That's a horrible way to look at this. There are KIDS on PC who have no idea what is and is not safe, and if this is proven to be malware, chances are they'll fall right into it.

Having money won't matter if everyone avoids PC as a place where you can find downloads to malicious software.

XD.
Good point.
All the spyware does is monitor your browsing.
But really nobody can do anything but Steve.

 

[Shadow236]

Zango is definitely a virus carrying software. Zango is a type of Trojan Horse/Adware program that can install malicious malware on your computer. I did some studying on viruses earlier this year and Zango is a perfect example of a Trojan-Adware program. Trojan Horses promise you something if you download them, but they only download harmful malware into your hidden files. The link is definitely a fake.

 

[AJ™]

You say "all the spyware does" as if it isn't a big deal. XD I think the vast majority of people out there wouldn't like their internet usage monitored by anyone.

And any admin can remove it until things get worked out, but I won't debate that right now.

Yeah, any admin can. But that's going to create problems with the people who paid for it to be there!

I only say it like its not a big deal, because i have spyware protection.
But i see how it could be bad for smaller children who visit the forums, who do not have protection!

 

[Rukario]

Guys, guys relax.. Its only here for a month as a trial.. If you all don't like it or if its forcing spyware on you, it'll be removed.

the site and "game" is the same as shown in other ads floating around PC currently such as: