Pando Media Booster(get rid of it!) - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

Swingline

Forge Runner

Join Date: Sep 2010

Somewhere far away from you

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10 Apr 2011 at 06:00 - 1

This is just a friendly warning to get rid of Pando Media Booster. It is pretty much legit malware that secretly installs when downloading a f2p game. Some games will give you the option to install it or not, just say no because it does nothing for you besides speeding up patches for the game a bit faster. Its a black hole that can suck up to 4/5ths of your bandwidth by seeding the files for that game to potentially thousands of other users. It can cause things such as your guildwars game to have connection issues all the way to your ISP charging you extra $$ for the bandwidth it uses. All you have to do is simply uninstall it but be warned if you continue to play the f2p game that future updates and patches can reinstall it. With GW2 still a ways away a lot of us are playing other games on the side to keep us entertained so I believe its important to be aware of what f2p games are doing out there.

EDIT: Here is an article that discusses another program just like the PMB.

http://torrentfreak.com/akamai-gamer...slaves-100915/

Games that contain the Pando Media Booster
League of Legends
Lord of the Rings Online
Any Nexon Game

Stay safe

Abedeus

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Jan 2007

Niflheim

R/

10 Apr 2011 at 06:40 - 2

Just to add what OP said - Pando is for example in basic League of Legends install. When I got it, I had 300 ping. After uninstalling, I never go above 210.

Bristlebane

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2008

Mo/

10 Apr 2011 at 07:03 - 3

Thank you Anet for NOT installing "legit" malware like Pando on our computers ^^

Chocobo1

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Sep 2007

New Zealand

CoA

N/

10 Apr 2011 at 07:06 - 4

Will stuff like this be picked up by virus scanners? I don't have this paticular thing on my computer but would like to check for anything similar

Malchior Devenholm

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Nov 2005

The Dragon Arena!!!

Pshycho Ninjas [oGod] | Vent Rage [vR] | Zealots of Shiverpeak [ZoS]

10 Apr 2011 at 07:13 - 5

Good thing I already removed this after my LoL install when I saw it wasn't doing anything

Swingline

Forge Runner

Join Date: Sep 2010

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10 Apr 2011 at 07:14 - 6

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chocobo1

Will stuff like this be picked up by virus scanners? I don't have this paticular thing on my computer but would like to check for anything similar

A virus scanner does not pick this up because it is like I said in the original post, legit malware.

Chocobo1

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Sep 2007

New Zealand

CoA

N/

10 Apr 2011 at 07:19 - 7

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swingline

A virus scanner does not pick this up because it is like I said in the original post, legit malware.

Le sigh.... I uninstalled my Runes of Magic game I don't ever play, dunno if that had anything with it. Havent touched it for over a year though.

Swingline

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Join Date: Sep 2010

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10 Apr 2011 at 07:32 - 8

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chocobo1

Le sigh.... I uninstalled my Runes of Magic game I don't ever play, dunno if that had anything with it. Havent touched it for over a year though.

I am not too sure if pando is in that game. Just do a search for it in the start menu or go to the uninstall programs list and if its there uninstall it immediately. I will edit the original post to include the games I know that contain it.

Kojima

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2010

Home

En Caligne Veritas [DARK]

R/Rt

10 Apr 2011 at 07:33 - 9

Oh my. Thanks for the information. Off with the DDO and LOTR for me. I hate pan anyway. Download is so slow it crawls.

Chocobo1

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Sep 2007

New Zealand

CoA

N/

10 Apr 2011 at 07:39 - 10

Is there a way to search for any programs similar to this? Like if they are on your computer or what not.

Swingline

Forge Runner

Join Date: Sep 2010

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10 Apr 2011 at 07:48 - 11

What f2p games have you installed chocobo?

Del

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Sep 2009

In a van, down by the river.

RED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GO if I know, ask Lynette.

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10 Apr 2011 at 07:49 - 12

Good tip OP. I had no idea what it was so i ignored it. Uninstalling it solved a bunch of issues i've been having lately.

Chocobo1

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Sep 2007

New Zealand

CoA

N/

10 Apr 2011 at 07:50 - 13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swingline

What f2p games have you installed chocobo?

Not any personally. More concerned about my sister, she installs a lot of free crap games ontop her laptop

Swingline

Forge Runner

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10 Apr 2011 at 07:55 - 14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chocobo1

Not any personally. More concerned about my sister, she installs a lot of free crap games ontop her laptop

Well first make sure she doesnt have PMB. The only downside is updates and patches may slow down but when you open your ISP bill and find an extra $50 there you will wish you had removed it. I did some google searching and found Runes of Magic and Allods use their own bit-torrent P2P client for downloading files so it all comes down to researching the games your sister downloaded.

Chocobo1

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Sep 2007

New Zealand

CoA

N/

10 Apr 2011 at 07:57 - 15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swingline

Well first make sure she doesnt have PMB. The only downside is updates and patches may slow down but when you open your ISP bill and find an extra $50 there you will wish you had removed it. I did some google searching and found Runes of Magic and Allods use their own bit-torrent P2P client for downloading files so it all comes down to researching the games your sister downloaded.

Alright cool. I'll go check it out now. Just argh, I have a 60 gig cap per month and it costs $2 extra per gig I go over, so I really have to be careful about stuff like this.

Olle

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Aug 2008

Ign: Miniature Julia

Teh Academy[PhD]

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10 Apr 2011 at 08:06 - 16

Solved, found it, silly me.

Swingline

Forge Runner

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10 Apr 2011 at 08:27 - 17

I edited the original post to include info about another stealth p2p program

Star_Jewel

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Mar 2010

Denizen of Tyria since Feb. 2009

10 Apr 2011 at 14:40 - 18

I got mine from the now-defunct Chronicles of Spellborn (which is supposed to be coming back -- no clue if PMB will be included).

Darcy

Never Too Old

Join Date: Jul 2006

Rhode Island where there are no GW contests

Order of First

W/R

10 Apr 2011 at 16:35 - 19

Thanks for the headsup. I knew about Panda, but was not aware of the Akamai program.

FoxBat

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Apr 2006

Amazon Basin [AB]

Mo/Me

10 Apr 2011 at 16:44 - 20

The DDO installer comes with PMB, but after installing the former I was able to remove the latter with no issues.

Dzjudz

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2005

gwpvx.com/user:dzjudz

10 Apr 2011 at 18:40 - 21

So... this doesn't have anything to do with Guild Wars? Did you try posting it on the fan forums of games that actually include that software?

Kityn

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Mar 2005

Michigan

Heroes of the Horn [HoH]

N/

10 Apr 2011 at 18:55 - 22

PMB might be a reason why some people are having issues connecting to GW Wiki and the other Arenanet/NcSoft websites. I uninstalled it and now can connect to those sites without any problems. Hopefully that fixed the problem.

urania

Forge Runner

Join Date: Apr 2006

vD

Mo/

11 Apr 2011 at 08:35 - 23

I had both...i got Pando from Lotro, but the other one..no clue where from.
Cheers for the info, didnt expect to find a useful thread in Riverside Inn.

LordDragon

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Aug 2010

Dragons Den

E/

11 Apr 2011 at 14:38 - 24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kityn

PMB might be a reason why some people are having issues connecting to GW Wiki and the other Arenanet/NcSoft websites. I uninstalled it and now can connect to those sites without any problems. Hopefully that fixed the problem.

Timely information. I had just installed LotR the other day. Had not noticed my speed dropping yet but Pando was there and running.

Now what Pando actually does is set up your system to work as a P2P node for approved Pando software. This means that anyone downloading LotR has a chance of getting at least part of the program from your computer. I can see that doing things this way certainly reduces the cost of presenting LotR as a F2P game but I also feel that it is underhanded.

LotR has a mechanism for payment with micro transactions. If that is not enough to keep their game servers going then they need to rethink their business model. Burying the right to use a players connection in the EULA is just sneaky and underhanded.

My thoughts on that are this; when Pando/LotR pay for my internet connection they can use it. Until then, not a chance.

IlikeGW

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Aug 2005

11 Apr 2011 at 14:54 - 25

It doesn't ever to seem to run on its own on my computer, and I believe it's only to seed parts of Nexon games to other people if I use them, so I don't really care.

Skyy High

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: May 2006

R/

11 Apr 2011 at 15:59 - 26

FFS....thanks, I had some of these sitting on my system too.

Swingline

Forge Runner

Join Date: Sep 2010

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11 Apr 2011 at 16:27 - 27

Quote:

It doesn't ever to seem to run on its own on my computer

I discovered PMB running in the background while I was surfing the web with no game running. I had just turned my computer on as well.

Quote:

I believe it's only to seed parts of Nexon games to other people if I use them, so I don't really care.

One of the things I have come across when reading about pando and akamai is that the company using this software can use it to potentially spy on your activities. Who knows, while seeding files for other users they could be downloading your browsing history. This isn't some random person saying these things, its programmers and computer savvy people and they say uninstall immediately. With companies like Nexon, who already have a shady history with many other topics, I would trash this crap immediately.

Mcsnake85

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Nov 2009

Italy

E/P

12 Apr 2011 at 09:42 - 28

Sorry,but i dont understand what this programm do..in simple words what it do?

Riot Narita

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2007

12 Apr 2011 at 10:22 - 29

Jeez, I never heard of those things before. Secretly turning user PC's into peer-to-peer servers?!

In other words, "let's steal our user's bandwidth, and add an attack vector to their PC's, and use their PC's for our own purposes". OUTRAGEOUS! Who the **** do they think they are?

You'd think they'd have learned after the Sony rootkit scandal - after which Sony was told they DON'T OWN PEOPLE'S PC'S, and are not entitled to install/run whatever the hell they like on them.

Happily, my own PC shows no trace of such things... and in any case, nothing is allowed to run as a server on my PC, ever (and I am warned if anything attempts it)

Iuris

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2006

Crazy ducks from the Forest

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12 Apr 2011 at 11:26 - 30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riot Narita

In other words, "let's steal our user's bandwidth, and add an attack vector to their PC's, and use their PC's for our own purposes". OUTRAGEOUS! Who the **** do they think they are?

What do people expect from games that are supposed to be actually free but are not?

UNLESS IT'S AN AMATEUR PROJECT, A GAME WILL SEEK, IN SOME WAY, TO GET MONEY FROM YOU! And if it claims it won't it should just be a warning sign that the devs are not upfront about it...

LordDragon

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Aug 2010

Dragons Den

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12 Apr 2011 at 14:21 - 31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mcsnake85

Sorry,but i dont understand what this programm do..in simple words what it do?

They let other people download approved content from YOUR PC.

If you install Lord of the Ring Online. You also install Pando. Pando opens up your system for other people to download parts of Lord of the Rings Online.

Pando coordinates with thousands of other PCs that have Pando installed. When a request is made to download Lord of the Rings Online, Pando gets that software from USERS PCs that have Pando running. Only a small piece may come from your PC. Then again the whole game might come from your PC when a new person downloads the game. It all depends on how many system with Pando installed are accessible to that new download.

In simplest terms, Pando makes your system their download server for product in the Pando approved software list.

Mcsnake85

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Nov 2009

Italy

E/P

12 Apr 2011 at 19:23 - 32

Quote:

Originally Posted by LordDragon

They let other people download approved content from YOUR PC.

If you install Lord of the Ring Online. You also install Pando. Pando opens up your system for other people to download parts of Lord of the Rings Online.

Pando coordinates with thousands of other PCs that have Pando installed. When a request is made to download Lord of the Rings Online, Pando gets that software from USERS PCs that have Pando running. Only a small piece may come from your PC. Then again the whole game might come from your PC when a new person downloads the game. It all depends on how many system with Pando installed are accessible to that new download.

In simplest terms, Pando makes your system their download server for product in the Pando approved software list.

So..in other words,i disinstalled a program that accelerate my downloads and help other ppl to download fast?
So...the question is: it does anything bad or not?

FoxBat

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Apr 2006

Amazon Basin [AB]

Mo/Me

13 Apr 2011 at 00:20 - 33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mcsnake85

So..in other words,i disinstalled a program that accelerate my downloads and help other ppl to download fast?
So...the question is: it does anything bad or not?

It helps other people download stuff faster, at the cost of your internet connection getting clogged. That can cost you more money, make your stuff lag, respond slowly, or not at all... all so other companies can use *you* as a download server.

I just helped someone who couldn't connect to guild wars or gw.com for a month now, they found and uninstalled PMB and all their issues went away. My guess is that PMB is being used heavily for some or another program at the moment. Might be the european users downloading DDO clients as french/german versions were recently released.

Kosar The Cruel

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Feb 2010

Ontario, Canada

D/

13 Apr 2011 at 03:41 - 34

If this thing is running it would appear in my task manager, correct?

I have League of Legends installed, but I don't think I have the patience to go through all the files and it doesn't appear when I search for any combination of the words "Pando", "Media", or "Booster".

Is there a date when Riot Games added this to their install list when installing LoL?

FoxBat

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Apr 2006

Amazon Basin [AB]

Mo/Me

13 Apr 2011 at 05:04 - 35

PMB shows in your add/remove programs / programs and features list in the control panel. It doesn't try to hide very hard. It will NOT appear as an open application, you should find it bured in the processes, but that's harder to comb through than your installed apps list.

Kosar The Cruel

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Feb 2010

Ontario, Canada

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13 Apr 2011 at 18:36 - 36

Hah - Found the stupid thing!

Thanks for the heads up. Much appreciated.

willie makeit

Academy Page

Join Date: Dec 2005

Acolytes of Anguish [aOa]

R/

13 Apr 2011 at 23:56 - 37

I have Lotro installed and did not find anything called pando in add/remove programs. So I went to search and found a folder called pando and deleted it. My internet browser is a ton faster now just like old times. Thanks for the tip.