In July 2004, Boyd launched Vitalsecurity.org, a website bringing to the public attention issues of privacy and spyware. In November 2004, a modular hacking technique was employed to compromise Windows end-users by hacking Apache servers. When hacked, the servers would redirect a user on any of the server's websites, leading them to a set of ever-changing infection pages. These pages employed recoded viruses, trojans, malware and spyware. This technique is used heavily today by the groups behind the spyware CoolWebSearch. The idea that alternative browsers such as Opera and Firefox could somehow enhance end-user security was cut down in March 2005 with the discovery of a Java applet that, if agreed to, would install a large adware bundle onto the end-user's PC. It was found that having the "rogue" site in the user's blocklists and security tools would do nothing, the install bypassing these tactics completely if the end-user clicked "Yes". An updated Firefox.XPI installer was also deployed in some of these installs.
In June 2005, it was discovered that more and more Adware makers were turning to alternative sources for their installs, as more end-users become aware of the more common install tactics. A reliance on crude social engineering and P2P systems that were previously clean was now on the rise. Boyd discovered that BitTorrent forums and file-sharing sites were used as a major source of distribution for Aurora and a number of other major adware programs, wrapped up in bundles produced by Metrix Marketing Group, a company who lost control of their own network. Potentially copyright infringing files, illegal pornography and incorrect / absent disclosure was exposed on such a scale as to cause the companies involved to publicly declare their discontinuation of these methods. This story caused such an uproar that numerous media pundits weighed in, and made a delicate situation worse. An article by John C. Dvorak of PC Magazine alleged Boyd was part of some "Grand Microsoft Conspiracy" to bad-mouth BitTorrent to the benefit of their planned P2P tool, Avalanche. Furious P2P users even went as far to say Boyd was in league with the RIAA, out to create further problems for file-sharers by bringing these bundles to light. However - Dvorak's piece caused something approaching outrage on the other side of the fence, leading a fellow Ziff Davis Media publication to go head to head with Dvorak. Dave Methvin of PC Pitstop followed up the investigation with his findings. He alleges that some of the films distributed contained potentially illegal underage pornography, and not long after, MMG went offline and the Adware companies all pulled out of this particular distribution.
In October / November 2005, Boyd discovered what is considered to be the first known instance of a rootkit being distributed via instant messaging, hidden inside a large payload of adware and spyware. Over a period of months, the group behind the attacks distributed numerous inventive payloads and were eventually traced back to the Middle-East.
Adware critic
Boyd is a notoriously fierce critic of adware companies, famously causing 180solutions to label him a "fanatic" on their Weblog, with bad feeling in evidence on both sides to this day. He is regularly referenced on other leading antispyware sites such as Sunbelt Blog, Suzi Turner's ZDNet blog and Ben Edelman's home page.
Security discoveries
In 2006, Boyd continued to make significant discoveries in the field of security, including
The discovery of a 150,000 strong Botnet ring that used a custom-built Perl script to steal payment data from third party shopping cart applications
An exposé of a web-browser that redirected end-users to potentially illegal pornography
An Instant Messaging Worm that installs its own web browser.
The discovery that Adware makers Zango were promoting their content on Myspace.
A modular, multi-chained string of infections dubbed the "Pipeline Worm".
An Instant Messaging infection that uses Botnet-style tactics to enable click fraud.
The discovery of a worm using QuickTime files to spread across MySpace with the intent of pushing Zango Adware.
