- This topic is empty.
-
Posts
-
APCW AUDIT REPORT:
RealTime Gaming CasinosINTRODUCTION:
=============After concluding our audits on VIP Profits “VIPCasinos.com” (and having our Auditor find what he believed to be Adware/Spyware) we began an extensive study of other RealTime Gaming casino software downloads. Our goal was to duplicate the results that happened during the VIPCasinos.com software installation where AOL Spyware Blocker detected an Adware/Spyware item called “Riviera Gold Casino”.
Audit Info:
We downloaded and installed the software from thirteen (13) more RTG casinos. Upon istallation we ran the same AOL Spyare Detection software used before. We also implemented three additional Adware/Spyware programs: Spybot Search & Destroy ; Spyware Blaster ; and Scan Spyware.
After each audit, all hard drives and registries were restored to their original clean conditions. The results were also duplicated on more than one machine and from a variety of locations.
Audit Issues:
We were able to duplicate the results found at VIPCasinos with three of the thirteen softwares tested using our AOL Spyware Detection program. That’s approximately 23% of the tested pool. Scan Spyware was also able to locate this item, but only upon manually scanning the computer… not durung installation. Spybot Search & Destroy and Spyware Blaster did not flag the item at all.
We tested APCW Members who are using the RTG Platform first, then selected a few RTG casinos for testing that are not APCW Members. The results are below (If no casino is listed we did not test that site):
Breakaway Casino – FLAGGED RIVIERA GOLD ADWARE
Cirrus Casino – CLEAN!
Cool Cat Casino – CLEAN!
Geisha Lounge Casino – FLAGGED RIVIERA GOLD ADWARE
Gold Key Casino – CLEAN!
Hampton Casino – CLEAN!
King Solomons Casino – FLAGGED RIVIERA GOLD ADWARE
Portofino Casino – CLEAN!
* Royal Circus Casino – CLEAN!
Sci-Fi Casino – CLEAN!
Sail Away Casino – CLEAN!
Vegas Break Casino – CLEAN!
Windows Casino – CLEAN!*It should be noted that Royal Circus Casino was the original Riviera Gold Casino.
We immediately informed all APCW Casino Members involved in this audit and RealTime Gaming in Atlanta. After a long phone conversation with Todd Epperson at RTG, we feel that this issue can be resolved quickly and in a possitive way.It is our understanding that this Adware/Spyware “item” has become an issue due to the following scenario (or something very close to this):
1) In 2003 and 2004, as Riviera Gold Casino was experiencing a tremendous amount of negative publicity for poor business practices, they were reported to various entities as having used some sort of spyware to track players activity online.
2) Some spyware software publishers began flagging a Registry Key within the RTG Software download used to recognize returning players and retreive data about them, such as login information.
3) Since the original report was about Riviera Gold, the spyware software publishers called this item “Riviera Gold Casino” instead of the long, technical HKEY name.
4) For some reason (still unknown at this point) certain RTG Softwares are not being flagged, possibly due to a slight variation in how the registry keys are being stored in the individual computers registries. This is why some casinos seem to have the “item” and others do not.
5) RTG realizes that, no matter what the cause, the effect of this could be far reaching. They agree that it’s their problem to help fix this registry key so that this activity stops.
Audit Conclusions:
We are quite pleased to see a major software company take a pro-active interest in this issue. They have returned our calls, listening to the problem, awknowledged their responsibilities, and pleadged to resolve this.
At this time, the APCW has no reason to believe this situation is anything more than an unfortunate occurance, and that RTG is sincere it it’s efforts. We hope and believe this problem will be solved in the near future.
We do not hold any casino, affiliate program, or individual responsible for this, and do not believe there was malicious intent.
> > > > > PLEASE SEE REALTIME GAMING’S STATEMENT BELOW < < < < < > > > > > PLEASE SEE WAGER JUNCTION’S STATEMENT BELOW < < < < <
ON THE ADWARE/SPYWARE AUDIT CONDUCTED BY APCW:
Todd Epperson
RealTime GamingThursday, April 27, 2006: (To RTG) …it looks like it is just a bogus entry in the Spyware software’s database that is associating the RealTime Gaming registry key with Riviera Gold. I am researching how and where to remove this entry from the Spyware databases. I will keep everyone updated with any progress.
If you respond to anyone on this email list or speak to any other clients: Please let them know that RTG does not have Spyware imbedded in our software and no Spyware is being loaded when our casinos are installed. This is just a problem with an entry in some Spyware applications that needs to be resolved with these Spyware providers.
STATEMENT FROM WAGER JUNCTION AFFILIATE MANAGER
RE: APCW AUDIT OF RTG ~ ADWARE/SPYWARE ISSUESApril 28th, 2006 : Once I received the Audit Report from the APCW we contacted the software provider and had our technicians take a look at the software. After a thorough examination, the investigation turned up no cases of spyware in the software on any of our Casinos.
In addition, the software provider came back and advised us that the reason for the flag by the APCW was due to an anti-spyware program that reported a registry key ( HKLMSoftwareRealtime Gaming ) as being a part of the adware “Riviera Gold Casino”. This is not correct and the software company are now investigating as to how they can correct the situation.
The above situation again brings home the fact to me that it is imperative for companies like myself to be working with pro-active partners.This is the sort of situation that could have got out of hand, but thanks to the APCW and its members we have gotten rid of a potential contentious issue.
The APCW is clearly very good for our industry and I look forward to a long association with them.
Best Regards
GregExcellent work, Todd!
You continue to impress me and are doing a lot for this industry.
Professional and methodical research, and the handlng of the results is professional also.
Guys, if you are not yet a member of the APCW you should join.
Thanks Dom… :blush:
I just want to make sure everybody knows that even though I run APCW I have a lot of people behind me. Most importantly in my Auditing Director, Anthony Telesca, who is super aggressive, a seasoned affiliate, and sharp as a tac.
Without people like him, and the cooperation of our auditors, these reports would not be possible.
I agree with Dom. Great work J! :hattip:
I will be ensuring I become more active in the APCW.
Good stuff J.T.! You have Golden Palace as RTG in there btw…unless i missed something, in which case, sorry…it’s late here and I’m getting older
Cheers
Simmo!
Thanks Simmo…
Shoulda been Gold Key Casino… so many places with “gold” is there names…!
Double Post
Oooops!
