This user has subscribed to over 9,000 other channels... most likely a subscription spammer.

Why would someone subscribe to thousands of other channels?  I can barely keep up with under 200 subscriptions, so how could someone else keep up with thousands of subscriptions?  If they actually watched the videos from thousands of subscriptions, there would be no time left to do anything else.

Patterns

One or all of these patterns are attributed to subscription spammers:

• User does NOT show how many subscriptions they have.

• User does NOT show the channels to which they subscribed.  Why hide this?  Maybe they are ashamed of some nasty channels to which they subscribed?  Or maybe they are selfish and don’t want to share good channels they found with others… Or, they are actually subscribing to thousands of other channels and don’t want people to notice their spamming pattern.

• Their Recent Activity does not show any video likes, favorites, or  comments made on other users’ videos.  Or, they have NO recent activity.  They obviously are not keeping up with their subscriptions.  They simply want to be noticed as a subscriber on other channels.  It’s a free advertisement for their own channel.  It’s selfish behavior.

• Comments on their page are dominated by people thanking the user for their sub.  This shows that the user’s main activity on Youtube is subscribing to channels, not actually watching videos or commenting on others’ videos.

• User subscribes to lots of channels that have no video uploads.  Silly.

This mass subscription behavior is spam.  Why does Youtube tolerate this?

Since they won’t show us their subscriptions on their channel, how can we know if they are subscription spammers?  Perform a search.

Perform a Search to Identify Spammers

Example…

site:youtube.com subscribers vorojtsov

About 5,920 results!  Not all, but many of these pages lead to channels that vorojtsov subscribed to.  This is not a perfect search, but it will reveal the pattern.

How does vorojtsov keep up with all his subscriptions, find time to eat and sleep, plus make his own videos?  Yeah, the answer is he is most likely NOT monitoring the content from his subscriptions.  If this guy is subscribing to you, he’s probably using your channel to gain more viewers for his own videos.

Another Example

site:youtube.com subscribers happyfatties5000

About 11,700 results!  happyfatties5000 is a subscription whore!

Block Spam Subscriptions

Well, I’m not tolerating it.  I have blocked those users that I believe are subscription spammers.  Their behavior is selfish and self-centered and I don’t want them using us.  These spammers could have good videos, but I don’t like them using insincere subscriptions as a way to advertise their own videos.

I value every one of my legitimate subscribers and feel honored each time someone subscribes to my channel.  I have also subscribed back to many of my subscribers but only if I actually watch their videos.  So, if I’m subscribed to you, it’s because I’m actually watching your videos.

If you keep your subscriber list free of spam, then you make it easier for your viewers to find content that they will probably like.  If someone views your channel and likes what they see, they have a high probability of also liking what you like.  So, keep your subscription lists free of spam and perhaps your viewers will value your channel.

My Criteria to Block a User

User has more than 1,000 subscriptions OR if subscriptions are hidden, a web search shows more than 1,000 results

AND…

The user never shows activity on other channels

grambangla08 has 7,504 subscriptions. I bet grambangla08 doesn't monitor those subscriptions!

If there is doubt about a user, whether they are spamming or actually intend to watch the videos on your channel, you could send them a message and ask them.  If they don’t reply, then they are most likely spammers.  You can base your decision to block based on their response.  For me, so far it’s been too obvious who the spammers are and I have not yet felt the need to clarify with a message to the user.

Conclusion

The subscription spammers might have good content on their pages and might be good at what they do (or they may stink) but I don’t like insincere subscriptions so the above steps help identify and block them.  By cleaning up your subscriber list and removing the spammers, you are also making your channel more valuable to your viewers.

Go to Start >> type in a search of “firewall”

Choose Windows Firewall with Advanced Security.

Click on Outbound Rules.

Actions >> New Rule  >> Program >> Next >>

This Program Path:  C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe

>> Next >> Block the connection >> Next >> Next >>

Give this firewall entry a personal note so you remember what it is if you ever come across it in the future.  Press Finish.  Google is now blocked from running its “updater” code and connecting my computer to the internet without my consent.

Google has installed its code in many places on my computer and I don’t want it.  I just found more Google code as a Firefox add-on, calling itself “Google Updater”.  I don’t want an updater for Google so I am removing this.  Here’s how:

Open Firefox.

Tools >> Add-ons

1.  Click on the Plug-ins tab.

2.  Click on the Disable button next to Google Update.

Related Posts
Why is GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe on my computer?

If you want to see what Google is doing on your computer, and if you are running Vista…

Go to Start >> Type into your search box “task scheduler” and run that program.

Disable Google Updater

In Task Scheduler, I disabled all the Google Updater programs once I realized they were there.

To do this, click on “Task Scheduler Library” to display the tasks.  Then, click on the GoogleUpdateTaskMachine entries and click Disable.  This should stop the Google tasks from running automatically.

Related Posts:

Block Google Updater with Vista’s Firewall

Uninstall Google Add-on from Firefox

Why is GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe on my computer?

I have been watching my computer lately to see what it’s doing on the internet.  I want to make sure I haven’t been hacked.  I’m surprised how many different IP addresses my computer connects to without my consent.  GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe is one of them.

Using TCPView, a free program by Microsoft, I watched what internet connections were made when I opened my Firefox browser.  As far as I know, I have no other applications open that should be connecting to the internet.  So, just now as a test, I go to the Cuil search engine.   And to my surprise, I see that my computer connects to a Google server and a Facebook server!

Google server:  74.125.0.148

Facebook server:  www-12-02.snc4.facebook.com

I see the Cuil website has a big link on the top of the page for Facebook, so that explains why my computer is connecting to Facebook, probably running a little Facebook code through Cuil’s home page.

I did not want to connect to Google or to Facebook, so this irriates me that my machine is connecting to the web like this.  So what about this Google server?  What information is my computer sending to Google?  Keep in mind, I did not go Google’s website… I went to Cuil’s website.

Looking at the running processes on my machine, I see GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe is always running. And why is that?

“GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe is a background process…” “…used to notify you when some program is attempting to change IE default search engine to those other than Google.”  source

I’m going to remove the Google Toolbar Notifier.  I don’t need a program running on my computer and connecting to the internet all the time to keep track of which search engine I’m using.  Sounds absurd, really, to think people need help keeping their search engine to one source.  If I want Google, I’ll be sure to use Google.  But I enjoy searching the web from many different perspectives.  There are so many search engines.  Today I’m using Cuil but I switch around all the time.

One comment on ready2beat.com claims that the Google Toolbar Notifier “sends user entered Keywords and Phrases to Google”.  Does my computer send my keywords even if I am not using the Google search engine?  Oh, by the way… I don’t remember installing the Google Toolbar and don’t want it.  So why is it on my computer?  Maybe my wife let it get installed…. sometimes these toolbars are bundled with other programs, like games for the kids, and Java updates.

How I removed GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe

Open up IE.

1.  Click on Tools >> Internet Options

2.  Click on the Programs tab.

3.  Manage add-ons.

4.  Disable.

While I was at it, I disabled all the other stuff, too, just to see if I notice any differences.  I don’t use IE much, anyway.  I primarily use Firefox.

OK, now it’s disabled in the IE browser.  Now it’s time to uninstall it.  However, when I went to the control panel to uninstall it, Google Toolbar is not shown.  Hmm, it appears I can’t uninstall it like a normal program.

These are the programs installed on my machine with the word “Google” in them:

Google Earth, Google Updater, and Google Sketchup

I chose to uninstall Google Updater.  Now GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe is not showing up as a running process connected to the internet.

Conclusion

If I had to repeat this process, and what I would recommend to you, is first try to go to the Control Panel and uninstall Google Updater.  It might not be necessary to remove it from IE… I’m not sure.  Let me know if you find out.   Give us a comment below.  Following the steps above did stop GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe from making an unwanted internet connection from my computer.

Related posts:

Uninstall Google Add-on from Firefox

Google is Clogging Up My Task Scheduler

What is IP 198.63.194.98? (Sun’s Java Automatic Updater)

198.63.194.98

I’m running Vista.  I went to Start > CMD > netstat -o

Netstat shows a foreign address of 198.63.194.98 connecting to my machine.  I wanted to know what program on my machine was connecting to that foreign address.

Went to Microsoft’s site and installed the helpful utility, TCPView.  TCPView gives more details than netstat.  It gives the name of the PID (Process ID) that is accessing the web.  For example, netstat tells me only that PID 4728 is accessing the web while TCPView tells me it’s Firefox accessing the web.

Using TCPView, I see what process is accessing this mysterious IP.

jusched.exe?  This program is Sun’s Java Automatic Updater.   Apparently this program is taking up memory in thousands, perhaps millions of machines across the world.

What is Java used for?

Java is a programming language and a platform.  Examples of its use:

OpenOffice - the free office suite (like Microsoft Office – but free)

Web applications, applets, internet chat rooms…

But is it really necessary for the Java automatic update to run on our computers 24/7?  Do you want this program constantly running on your machine?

Here is what I did on my Vista machine.

Control Panel >>  Additional Options >> View 32-bit Control Panel Items

Double-clicked on the Java icon.  Clicked on the Update tab.

Uncheck the box to update automatically.

OK, now that the Java updater is disabled, I wanted to have Vista itself perform the monthly Java update.  To do this:

Go to the search bar and type “Task Scheduler”.

Click “Create Basic Task”.  Give it a schedule of once a month to select a program.

Now my computer will automatically check for Java updates once per month without the need for jusched.exe to be running at all times.  I set the scheduler to run 5 minutes later for its first run so I could see what happened.

Like clockwork, Vista ran the program and asked my permission if the Java updater could get online.  That’s what I’m talking about.  I allowed the program to run and a new update was in fact available.

Amazing… when I run the update program on a schedule, there is an update.  Why didn’t the program that was running 24/7 on my computer already find this update?  jusched.exe seems like a useless program when this is handled so much more efficiently with a Vista scheduled task.

Not Done Yet

OK, now after the Java update, I get a message saying that they are going to automatically look for updates again.  Hey, I just went through a bunch of steps to prevent that.

Luckily, it took only about 30 seconds to repeat the steps above to uncheck the automatic updates from the Java control panel.  The task is still programmed in Vista so my machine should be good to go and say goodbye to jusched.exe.

Information was on how to disable this program was found at this helpful site:  vista.blorge.com

I downloaded and installed RSSOwl as a “Portableapp” (a portable application) on my thumb drive.  And I am really happy I did.  It works great and has more functionality than Microsoft’s Live product.  It’s free and available at AfterDawn.

As long as I have my thumb drive with me, I’ve got my RSS reader with me, which I can access from any Windows machine connected to the internet.

Using Wolfram Alpha, you can find your longitude and latitude coordinates on Earth. Wolfram Alpha also has average wind speed data for your location. You can get weather forecast data to help determine when the best times might be for your wind turbine.

How do I find my latitude on Earth?  See the video below to see:

Added Sep-2-2008

Vista says: The backup did not complete successfully.  The latest backup set can not be found.

Here’s a way to make Vista start over.

Edited Jan-23-2009

Added Aug-01-2008

how can you restore it to an older saved state?

Added Jul-02-2008

This article might help you find your saved games in Vista’s Virtualstore. Read

Edited Jul-30-2008

When I ordered a Drobo unit from BuyDig.com, I was encouraged by a $50 cash rebate. But is the rebate a real deal?
Drobo rebate.

Some router configuration tips: D-Link DI-LB604 Dual-WAN Load Balancing router

Updated Jun-18-2008

Want to know how to set up your router for surfing secure websites and sending SMTP email? Tips

How to save audio in audacity for use in Hammer (the Half Life 2 map editor)

Added Feb-26-2008

This tutorial is for map designers, using Hammer. I show the simple, but necessary step to convert audio to work in speakers, using Audacity, a free audio editing tool. Tutorial.

How to reinstall Juice Podcast Receiver

Added Feb-21-2008

Getting an error with your Juice Podcast Receiver like the one below?

It might be time for a reinstall. Here’s how I did it without losing my settings. Tutorial

Nvu Tutorials

Online videos showing how to do a few things in Nvu, like how to resize tables.

Has your doctor been good to you?

Visit DoctorScorecard.com and share the experiences you have had with doctors, good or bad. Does your doctor meet your medical needs? Give your doctor a score! See what other people have said about their doctors.

DoctorScorecard

What’s the best-tasting tomato? Some people say it’s the Cherokee Purple.