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General Public Realizes KaZaa is Spyware

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the death-to-the-eula dept.

blankmange writes "CNet is reporting the slow dawning of the general public to KaZaa and spyware. "Virginia Watson unwittingly authorized a company she'd never heard of to install software that would help turn her computer into part of a brand-new network. The software, from Brilliant Digital Entertainment, came with the popular Kazaa file-swapping program. But the 65-year-old Massachusetts resident--who has a law degree--didn't read Kazaa's 2,644-word "terms of service" contract, which stated that Brilliant might tap the "unused computing power and storage space" of Watson's computer. " " Fortunately the helpful graph in the article compares the complexity of IRS tax forms with Brilliant's terms of use... guess which one is harder to read?

2 of 408 comments (clear)

  1. Those Poor Normal Users by inKubus · · Score: 3, Flamebait

    I am glad that I do home computer consulting for a living. There are so many idiots out there who just install whatever software they find without knowing the facts. And I'm glad that most of the facts are only availible on obscure sites until most people have already been hurt. I LOVE AMERICA. I am glad that companies to stupid stuff like this to hurt consumer's PCs. Somebody has to fix the damage, therefore it translates into MONEY for me ($75/hour).

    I am no troll. This is the truth. It's not very nice, but look at how much a body shop charges. Or a plumber. People don't want to be protected. They do not want knowledge. They want to make mistakes, and they want to pay to have them fixed.

    God Bless America.
    Cheers.

    --
    Cool! Amazing Toys.
  2. Re:Why is this so difficult? by inKubus · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    Hey, want a bit of advice? DON'T DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL SOFTWARE FROM THE INTERNET if you are afraid of getting jacked! DUH! The last thing we need is MORE LAWS taking this shit into courts for computer ILLITERATE LAWYERS AND JUDGES decide what PEOPLE WHO ARE SMART ENOUGH TO BE CAUTIOUS WITH THEIR COMPUTERS can and can't get.

    If people were smart enough, they would just download open source software, examine the code and compile it themselves. But if you are too LAZY to do that, don't put the blame on some company who's just trying to make a buck or two.

    Some people's children. :)

    --
    Cool! Amazing Toys.