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Bonzi Class Action Suit Settled: No Foolin'!

An anonymous reader writes "According to this article in the Toronto Star, a class action suit against Bonzi Software has reached a settlement. Bonzi will not pay damages but will be required to stop using fake user interface (FUI) style error messages to trick users into clicking on their banners. This is a big win for the community as it will help to improve the Internet's ailing perceived user experience. Most of you have seen Bonzi's banners, and probably most of you won't admit to having been fooled by them at some point. Well, imagine how many novice computer users were tricked into installing again, or paying for software they really did not need. Congratulations and thanks to Lukins & Annis for a job well done. Interestingly, bonzi.com has been returning connection refused all day. This is usually one of the net's busiest sites."

44 of 376 comments (clear)

  1. Ah... by Obiwan+Kenobi · · Score: 5, Funny

    Interestingly, bonzi.com has been returning connection refused all day. This is usually one of the net's busiest sites.

    Ah...a little thing called justice.

    1. Re:Ah... by danheskett · · Score: 5, Funny

      Haha.. that ad was always the funniest thing to me. "Your computer is 'broadcasting' an IP address".

      Sounds scary! "Broadcasting", "address", "IP" - sounds terrifying for a newbie.

      Funny how essential things like "routing information" can be turned into a scary thing to uninformed users. Funny meaning "sad".

    2. Re:Ah... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
      "Your computer is 'broadcasting' an IP address"

      Quick! Install the latest WinXP security patch!

    3. Re:Ah... by Frater+219 · · Score: 4, Funny
      Haha.. that ad was always the funniest thing to me. "Your computer is 'broadcasting' an IP address".

      The first time I saw that, I was reminded of a schoolyard taunt: "Your epidermis is showing!"

      (To make this funny, you have to consider that not every kid knew what his epidermis was, and that it wasn't dirty for [parts of] it to be showing ...)

    4. Re:Ah... by canajin56 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Another good one is to say "Your computer is insecure. Any website you browse can access your files." and then right below it, put a frame with a url of something like "file:///%userprofile%/My%20Documents" or "file:///~" or whatever, depending on the OS and browser reported.

      --
      ASCII stupid question, get a stupid ANSI
    5. Re:Ah... by ENOENT · · Score: 5, Funny
      The first time I saw that, I was reminded of a schoolyard taunt: "Your epidermis is showing!"

      So, I take it that you didn't go to a girls' school in Saudi Arabia?

      --
      That's "Mr. Soulless Automaton" to you, Bub.
    6. Re:Ah... by Cruciform · · Score: 4, Funny

      Hey, it worked.
      500,000 people just stopped broadcasting! :)

  2. Good job! by aeinome · · Score: 4, Funny

    I agree, m4d props to L&A for showing them up. I've never actually clicked on one of them (I swear) but my friend, who uses the same computer, does so numerously. I pretty much have to uninstall Gator and such on a daily basis.

    --
    When you don't have a leg to stand on, don't even get up.
  3. Ya, I was fooled... by oscast · · Score: 5, Funny

    I thought my OS X aqua icons turned into these nasty, square-shaped, clunky, windows-esch styled buttons.

  4. Cavaliers by Jack+Comics · · Score: 5, Funny

    Bonzi doesn't have to pay any money? I guess Perfect Tommy and the rest of the Hong Kong Cavaliers managed to save the day after all!

    Bad joke, I know but it had to be said, err... written. :)

    --
    "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." - Oscar Wilde
    1. Re:Cavaliers by iamsure · · Score: 4, Funny

      "Because bonzi doesnt have to pay any money?"

      Of course not - they hit the monkey, and won the cash!

  5. Your Computer is Being Controlled by a Moron by dbravender · · Score: 4, Funny

    Your operating system sucks. Click here to install Linux now! [Ok]

    1. Re:Your Computer is Being Controlled by a Moron by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      d0nt 1n5t4LL d4 lunex 0r j3ff-k w1LL h4x0R y0uR b0x!!!!!! 17 h4pp3n3d t0 4 fr3ind!!! LOL on AOL!!

  6. SYSTEM WARNING! by stratjakt · · Score: 0, Funny

    Your PC is in need of maitainance.

    Click here to get the latest upgrade for your system.

    --
    I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
    1. Re:SYSTEM WARNING! by Jack+Comics · · Score: 4, Funny

      ... Your system apparently is also in need of a decent spellchecker. Please go here for more information.

      --
      "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." - Oscar Wilde
  7. Fooled? by tomhudson · · Score: 0, Funny
    The only people fooled were Windows users (not surprisingly).

    Just like the idiots who get worried when they see the "your computer is broadcasting it's IP address" messages.

    Even when I was occasionally using a WinBloze box I wasn't taken in, as I'm sure most tech-savvy users weren't. The people who fall for this tactic are the same ones who keep forwarding email warnings about anti-perspirants causing cancer, etc.

  8. Re:my dad used it... by Theaetetus · · Score: 3, Funny
    My dad used to use bonzi before I explained what a fool he was for installing spy ware. He like the bonzi-buddy (the little Microsoft Agent Charater) because he could make it talk and it would sing to him.

    Maybe you should trade your dad's computer for a parrot. ;)

    -T

  9. Nothing by unicron · · Score: 2, Funny

    Will EVER beat the Window Messaging Service pop-up I got selling a program that blocks Windows Messaging Service. They never responded to my emails as to whether or not they offered "change your windows background" or "how to change your boot-up wav" software.

    --
    Finally, math books without any of that base 6 crap in them.
    1. Re:Nothing by Kintanon · · Score: 3, Funny

      Heh, I got one of those a couple of weeks after I stuck my win2k box back on the net. I laughed for about 20 minutes, then I turned of windows messaging service and went about my business. I couldn't believe the guy wanted 20$ for that.

      Kintanon

      --
      Check out JoshJitsu.info for Brazilian Ji
    2. Re:Nothing by Blkdeath · · Score: 2, Funny
      Heh, I got one of those a couple of weeks after I stuck my win2k box back on the net. I laughed for about 20 minutes, then I turned of windows messaging service and went about my business. I couldn't believe the guy wanted 20$ for that.

      The great irony of it all, you realize, is that everybody who reads your post will be laughing at you.

      You're aluding to being technically savvy, yet you put a fresh Win2k install live on the Internet without hardening it or using even a basic $50 SOHO firewall?

      --
      BD Phone Home!

      Shameless plug. Like you weren't expecting it.

  10. Shoot! by GundyRage · · Score: 1, Funny

    Now I'll never be able to optimize my dial-up connection!

  11. Bubba Asks by Arbogast_II · · Score: 3, Funny

    What in tarnations are yall talkin about. I use Mozilla everyday, I never seen one of these Bonzi Gorilla Men!!!! What is the big hullabaloo about:)

    --


    HenryJamesFeltus.com
  12. How do ads like these work? by Schezar · · Score: 3, Funny

    Not just Bonzai, but all of those ads that try to 'trick' users into clicking through: fake 'X' buttons, bogus radio buttons, etc...

    How many people, once fooled into the company's web site, decide "Hey, I'm already here. Why not give them my credit card number for some useless piece of shit I don't need."

    ?

    I'm serious. Has there ever been a study on this sort of thing?

    --
    GeekNights!
    Late Night Radio for Geeks!
  13. Geek version.... by bobm17ch · · Score: 5, Funny



    WARNING Linux user! You have some Micro$oft webpages in your browser's cache! We can help you remove them safely!

    Open up a shell and type: apt-get install hitthemonkey

    K THX!

    --
    \\ Mitch
  14. Gimme a 'P'! by Col.+Panic · · Score: 3, Funny

    gimme an 'R'!
    gimme an 'E'!
    gimme a 'C'!
    gimme another 'E'!
    gimme a 'D'!
    gimme yet another 'E'!
    gimme an 'N'!
    gimme a 'T'!
    What's that spell?

    PRECEDENT!

  15. Re:Good job! New Friend by Nom+du+Keyboard · · Score: 4, Funny
    I've never actually clicked on one of them (I swear) but my friend, who uses the same computer, does so numerously.

    Now there's a definition of "friend" of which I was previous unacquainted with.

    --
    "It's the height of ridiculousness to say for those 9 lines you get hundreds of millions."
  16. MS Office Paperclip by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Now we just need a suit against Microsoft for that annoying Office Paperclip... I'll get you paperclip! You may have won the battle, but the war is not over! You're dead paperclip! DEAD!

  17. Re:Bonzi buddy! by malia8888 · · Score: 5, Funny

    just as their system grinds to a halt with a big purple ape [bonzi.com] on the screen jumping out at you,

    The true victim in this lawsuit is the purple ape. He has been neutered and sent to a zoo;)

    --
    Harpo Tunnel Syndrome--my wrist feels funny.
  18. Re:style sheets to block annoying ads by jdreed1024 · · Score: 4, Funny
    nope -- I don't see any of them anymore thanks to the userContent.css style sheet.

    Well, that's all well and good, but your computer is broadcasting an IP address which can be used by hackers, and now you can't even be warned of this fact. Thanks to Bonzi, I found out about this years ago, and my net experience has been much safer since I installed their software. *phew*

    --
    There is no sig, there is only Zuul.
  19. Re:Bonzi buddy! by Schezar · · Score: 4, Funny

    Oh gods.

    People at my (former) office would huddle around the monitor and watch the little bastard perform. Never believed me when I told them what it was, and yet constantly complained that their PCs were too slow.

    Of course, now I work for IBM (work.. Yet I'm somehow posting on /. at 2:30pm), and I've no doubt that if anyone were caught with Bonzi installed on their machine, they would be laughed out of the department.

    --
    GeekNights!
    Late Night Radio for Geeks!
  20. I like this one: by butane_bob2003 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Your computer is transmitting an IP address!

    Helpful warning, kind of one the same lines as:

    Your epidermis is showing!

    --


    TallGreen CMS hosting
  21. KeWl by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    so any word on when I get my money for shocking that bouncing monkey thing!

  22. Re:Bonzi buddy! by TopShelf · · Score: 5, Funny

    If there was any justice, it would be the developers who got neutered...

    --
    Stop by my site where I write about ERP systems & more
  23. Re:wow, how is this good? by linuxChique · · Score: 4, Funny

    Who wants to volunteer to write one of those FUI ads to install Linux on all those poor fools' Windoze machines?

    --
    the penguin will eat you.
  24. Re:wow, how is this good? by ect0plasm · · Score: 3, Funny

    karma whore! *pointsfinger* (Score:-1 Troll)

  25. My Imagination? by ShwAsasin · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm happy those bogus errors will finally be put to an end, atleast from Bonzi. I'm rather disturbed that the firm that won this lawsuit is called Annis. Am I to believe that all lawyers are assholes, or just in that one practice?

  26. Re:Big win? by notque · · Score: 5, Funny

    A big win? What are you smoking? Bonzai duped countless users for years and completely got away with it. They didn't have to pay anything. A big win would be if they got slapped with such a huge fine.

    No, A big win would be if they got slapped with a large trout.

    --
    http://use.perl.org
  27. yep... by maxpublic · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...it's good to see the monkey being spanked.

    Max

    --
    My god carries a hammer. Your god died nailed to a tree. Any questions?
  28. Re:Yum. by ryanvm · · Score: 2, Funny

    How much fun is it to be in the middle of a big data entry project, in the 'zone' and you get disturbed by a gigantic monkey with no 'off' button that wants to eat/nap/take your money?

    Oh, so you've met my brother-in-law then?

  29. Re:Bonzi buddy! by dogfart · · Score: 2, Funny

    But that would just make them more dedicated coders. Fewer distractions, you know.

    --

    "dope will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no dope"

  30. Re:wow, how is this good? by Anonvmous+Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Who wants to volunteer to write one of those FUI ads to install Linux on all those poor fools' Windoze machines?"

    Ah yes, that way millions of people could say "WTF? Why don't any of my games work?!"

  31. Holy Crap, Me too!! by ProfessionalCookie · · Score: 2, Funny

    It was a ugly dialog box thingy that didn't really match the rest of my interface. It said that I had to "click to cancel" a theme change in OSX- so I clicked it and fortunately they were not lying 'cause everything stayed the same.

    I'm so glad OS X gave me a chance to cancel that, I don't know what I'd do if I had to deal with an interface that ugly!! (Thank You Apple)

  32. OH yeah?! by smkndrkn · · Score: 2, Funny

    I clicked on the http://www.bonzi.com link and I get a popup that states:

    Internet Alert
    Your Computer is Currently Transmitting An Internet IP Address. With This Address, Someone Can Begin Attackign Your Computer.

    Download Internet Alert To Protect Yourself Now!

    haha classic. I've seen this one before but in light of the settlement I think its even funnier that I Just got that.

    --
    ======== In the future, everything will be artificial. ========
  33. Oh now thats Cruel by Loosewire · · Score: 4, Funny

    Interestingly, bonzi.com has been returning connection refused all day. This is usually one of the net's busiest sites."
    So what do people do when they read this, they click it to see if its true - that was just a ploy to get us to slashdot the site wasnt it ;-)

    --
    Slashdot - The one stop shop for procrastination