Comments:New.Net is a company that sells domain names for "nonstandard" top-level domains including .free, .xxx and .shop. While several such nonstandard TLDs are currently implemented by a number of organizations and under consideration by ICANN, this particular implementation smacks of an attempt to overthrow more legitimate pioneers of alternate domain-names (e.g. OpenNIC, AlterNIC). This software consists of a browser "plug-in" DLL (e.g. newdotnetx_xx.dll, where xxx indicate a version number), which is placed in the user's Windows folder. The file is normally placed in C:\\Windows\\ (C:\\WinNT\\ for NT users) and run silently at start-up (via Rundll32) by a Run key placed in the Windows registry. Until recently, New.Net offered a 0.05 USD commission for each system the plugin was successfully installed on. According to New.Net staff, this program has been discontinued. However other file-sharing clients and other free downloads continue to bundle it with downloads.
Removal Instructions:The NewDotNet software places a reference in Windows' Add/Remove Programs dialogue. It is recommended that you use this to remove the program, as explained in more detail in the New.Net FAQ. DO NOT simply delete the DLL, as it tampers with the default Winsock settings and manual removal will cause you to lose Internet access. The Add/Remove dialogue is available by clicking Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Add/Remove Programs. To remove the plug-in, select new.net from the list and click Add/Remove. Rebooting the computer will complete the removal.
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