mrchris
No more bailouts
Premium
join:2002-10-01
North Babylon, NY | Pathetic
Who in their right minds would invite an adware company into COAST? Sad day. |
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Kai Kln
join:2005-01-15
Monroe, WA
| Just playing devil's advocate here...
COAST is the Consortium of Anti-Spyware Technology. It's not the Consortium of Anti-Adware Technology. They're saying 180solutions isn't spyware. That's all. Advertising isn't illegal, you know.
Like I said, just playing devil's advocate. |
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AquaBlaze
Premium
join:2004-02-02
Encino, CA
| Yes, but promoting practices like installing via IE exploits, deceptive EULAs, installs that can't be canceled out of, and software that doesn't fully uninstall IS Spyware, and exactly what 180solutions and other "Adware" companies do. Their programs are exactly like viruses, only with an EULA hidden deep within the crapware so they can legally weasel themselves out of responsibility.
People wouldn't have a problem with Adware if:
A.) They clearly informed the users that they were getting advertisements by use of such software. (no, size 1 font fine prints doesn't count)
B.) When the user canceled from an install, it REALLY canceled the install. (not just going ahead and installing the spyware anyways)
C.) Have the software easily uninstallable if the user wants it out of their system. (no 1001 "are you not not sure you want to not uninstall?" screens, no hiding the uninstaller, and no leaving a component to just re-install the spyware 1 hour later)
But, since these companies would never agree to terms that allowed their customers to no longer be under their patronage...they will continue to harass PC owners everywhere until someone steps in with some heavy-hitting legal action. |
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angryoracle
join:2005-01-27
Stratford, CT
edit:
January 27th, @08:07AM
| reply to Kai Kln
I agree. From what I've read, 180's transition from apps that clearly violate privacy standards to applications that are more respectful in this regard will take 90 days. Their alleged intentions are rightfully seen as laudable. But I say let's see what they're made of. Maybe some of the more prominent adware companies have taken notice of CoolWebSearch and related groups and realized that malicious installations and dishonest conduct isn't a sustainable business model.
All the mudslinging against COAST seems like the same anti-business refrain we've seen in the wake of the corporate accounting scandals. The implication is that every single adware company is guilty until proven innocent. They're not to be judged individually based on their own conduct, but by an impossible standard of justice that proceeds from the idea that all advertising, anywhere, is bad. |
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AquaBlaze
Premium
join:2004-02-02
Encino, CA
| said by angryoracle  :The implication is that every single adware company is guilty until proven innocent. Considering the destructive tendencies of their software, running histories of just sheer "nastyness", etc...yes, I'd probably demand a hell of a lot of evidence to the contrary.
These guys are worse than used car salesmen, lawyers, and pawn sharks combined. Would you automatically "take their word" every time they just pledge "we've changed"?
Hell, a lot of the "spyware-safe" applications out there (KaZaA for instance) play this sob song until the cows come home...but not only is it STILL spyware in every sense of the word, but it's simply crippling in terms of what it does to the installed system. |
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