“An outfit accused of having a long history of making spyware has sued PC Tools, the maker of Spyware Doctor for preventing its product from working.” (Nick Farrell, The Inquirer, May 21). Reports InfoWorld:
According to a posting on a blog called Spamnotes.com, Zango is seeking at least $35 million in damages, alleging that Spyware Doctor removes Zango’s software without warning users that it will be deleted. The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in King County Superior Court in Seattle, according to Spamnotes.com.
Formerly known as 180solutions, Zango is trying to clean up its tarnished reputation. In November it paid $3 million to settle U.S. Federal Trade Commission charges that its software was being installed deceptively on PCs.
PC users have complained that the software has been installed without warning, forcing them to endure unwanted pop-up ads. The company has also been accused of tracking user behavior and making its software too difficult to remove.
(Robert McMillan, “Zango sues antispyware vendor PC Tools”, May 18; Slashdot thread; Grant Gross, “FTC settles with adware company”, InfoWorld, Nov. 3; Jeremy Kirk, “Reformed adware vendor still under fire”, Jul. 17; Slashdot thread, Jul. 10, 2006).
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So, a software company makes a product that installs itself on your computer without your permission, inflicts ads upon you, bogs down your machine, makes it difficult to remove the unwanted software, and then dares to sue another company that magnanimously removes the invading code for you? Color me unsympathetic.
And, this is rich: “… alleging that Spyware Doctor removes Zango’s software without warning users that it will be deleted.”
How about a little warning that it will be installed?
The best one is the May 18 article, which lays out Zango’s new “business plan.” I’ve never seen a more convoluted justification for a spyware company.
I have no proof, but I suspect that the same people who make spyware also make anti-spyware. The anti-spyware pop-ups can be downright invasive, once causing my computer to nearly shut down unless I clicked to purchase their product.
All the anti-spyware software I’ve ever used will warn the user that the anti-spyware software will also uninstall adware that was added with the user’s consent– it’s not uncommon to come across “Free” games and utilities that’re supported by ad views. Also, while I’m certain that major anti-spyware companies were started by programmers that were fed up with spyware, I’ve little doubt that there are plenty of predatory companies that release second-rate anti-spyware software and count on fearmongering and, yes, spyware, to get you to pay attention to them and shell out.
“I have no proof, but I suspect that the same people who make spyware also make anti-spyware. The anti-spyware pop-ups can be downright invasive, once causing my computer to nearly shut down unless I clicked to purchase their product.”
Nope. The same people who make spyware also make malware that masquerades as anti-spyware. These pop-ups are not anti-spyware, that’s just their hook to get you to click on them.