Re: Spyware Still Cheating Merchants and Legitimate Affiliates

[Steve Pirk <orion () deathcon com>]

Very nice writeup. Has anyone considered forwarding the URL
to Blockbuster? Anyone have a contact? I doubt that an email
to customer service or abuse would get anyone's attention...

Just a thought... (thanks Ferg!)
--
Steve
panic: can't find /

On Mon, 21 May 2007, Fergie wrote:

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> Ben Edelman:
>
> [snip]
>
> Spyware vendors are trying to clean up their images. For example, Zango
> settled a FTC investigation, then last week sued PC Tools for detecting and
> removing Zango software. Meanwhile, Integrated Search Technologies (makers
> of a variety of software previously widely installed without consent)
> introduced a new "Vomba" client that even received "provisional" TRUSTe
> Trusted Download certification.
>
> But these programs' core designs are unchanged: They still track user
> behavior, still send browsing to their central servers, and still show
> pop-up ads -- behaviors users rightly disfavor due to serious effects on
> privacy and productivity.
>
> Putting aside users' well-known dislike for pop-ups, these programs also
> continue to interfere with standard online advertising systems. In
> particular, these programs show ads that overcharge affiliate merchants --
> especially by claiming commission on organic traffic merchants would have
> received anyway. This article presents six specific examples, followed by
> analysis and strategies for enforcement.
>
> [snip]
>
> More:
> http://www.benedelman.org/news/052107-1.html
>
> - - ferg
>
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>
> --
> "Fergie", a.k.a. Paul Ferguson
>  Engineering Architecture for the Internet
>  fergdawg(at)netzero.net
>  ferg's tech blog: http://fergdawg.blogspot.com/
>
>
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