Lincoln, NE – April 13, 2006:
A new Spyware infection was discovered this morning by the Schrock Innovations research department called MoviePass. Internet users intentionally or unintentionally install the MoviePass software on their computers while attempting to download music or movies from the Internet. Once the free trial software expires, MoviePass demands $29.99 a month from unsuspecting victims. Those who refuse to pay can be slapped with a $359.88 bill and a damaged credit report.
According to Thor Schrock, owner of Schrock Innovations, the MoviePass software blurs the line somewhat between a legitimate software subscription service and a dangerous spyware threat. The software seems to provide a legitimate service, but also collects information about all of the programs on your computer to prevent “software conflicts.” This same information could be used to detect anti-spyware programs and build counter measures into the MoviePass software.
Additionally, when consumers sign up for the MoviePass free trial, they are required to agree to a lengthy Terms of use agreement. Within that agreement there is language that explains how customers of MoviePass will be automatically billed if they fail to remove the MoviePass software from their computer before the expiration of their trial.
An excerpt from the Terms of use reads, “IF YOU DO NOT EITHER CANCEL OR PROVIDE PAYMENT INFORMATION DURING THE TRIAL PERIOD OUR BILLING SOFTWARE WILL BE ENABLED UPON THE EXPIRATION OF YOUR TRIAL PERIOD. THE BILLING SOFTWARE WILL RUN ON YOUR COMPUTER, DISPLAYING POP-UP WINDOW REMINDERS THAT PROVIDE YOU WITH VARIOUS METHODS OF PAYMENT FOR THE ANNUAL LICENSE. THESE POP-UP WINDOWS WILL APPEAR MORE FREQUENTLY UNTIL YOU CHOOSE ONE OF THE PAYMENT OPTIONS AND PAY FOR THE LICENSE.”
The agreement continues by specifying “IF YOU FAIL TO PAY OR CANCEL DURING THE TRIAL PERIOD, YOU ARE LEGALLY OBLIGATED TO PURCHASE AN ANNUAL LICENSE TO THE MEDIAPIPE SOFTWARE AT THE PRICE LISTED IN THE ADVERTISEMENT YOU CLICKED THROUGH TO INITIATE INSTALLATION.”
“Consumers who install this software on their computers agree to a Terms of Use agreement in order to establish their free trial,” Schrock said.” Once they have agreed to that document, an account is established in their name that has to be cancelled via telephone in accordance with that agreement, or it will end up costing them big money.”
In the Terms of use available on the company’s website at www.mediapass.tv, the company also explains that is has the right to use your hard drive and bandwidth for their purposes, as well as share your personal information with their affiliates.
Schrock said a telltale sign of the presence of this software is when your computer starts displaying MoviePass messages asking you for billing information. Schrock recommends that unless you wish to continue subscribing to the MoviePass service, you immediately call MoviePass and cancel your account before you remove the software
“The sad thing is that the way the Terms of Use agreement reads, once your trial expires you must immediately provide your billing information to MoviePass, otherwise they will invoice you for an entire year’s worth of service,” Schrock said. “It is also critical that you call MoviePass to cancel before you remove the software from your computer. MoviePass is unable to cancel your account unless you provide a number from within your software.”
The MoviePass and MediaPipe software do have uninstallers that are provided by the company and located in the Add/Remove Programs folder. While the uninstallers remove a great deal of the software, they do not remove everything so a manual cleanup is required of up to 5 folders in the Program Files folder on your computer’s hard drive.
More information about MoviePass, including their Terms of Use and subscription rates can be located at http://www.moviepass.tv. Consumers who wish to unsubscribe from the service must call MoviePass at (866) 431-7720.
Schrock Innovations has created a free tutorial that instructs consumers how to contact MoviePass to unsubscribe, as well as how to stop the annoying pop-ups generated by the MoviePass software. This tutorial is located at www.schrockinnovations.com/removemoviepass.php