Gator Forces Site To Remove 'Spyware' Label

lurker412 writes "CNet News is reporting that Gator has forced PC Pitstop to remove Web pages that call Gator's software 'spyware.' The correct term, according to Gator, is 'adware.' The article states: 'If we find anyone publicly calling us spyware, we correct it and take action if necessary,' said Scott Eagle, Gator's senior vice president of marketing. So be careful what you say in your comments..."

Comments

Re:on permban

[Anonymous Coward]

Sure there is. Just re-route Gator's servers to 127.0.0.1 in your HOSTS file.

GATOR IS SPYWARE

[trelanexiph]

from: GAINware 5.0

Here's what we do know...
While we don't know the identity of GAIN-Supported Software users, the GAIN AdServer and TGC collect and use the following kinds of anonymous information:

• Some of the Web pages viewed
• The amount of time spent at some Web sites Response to GAIN Ads
• Standard web log information (excluding IP Addresses) and system settings
• What software is on the personal computer
• First name, country, city, and five digit ZIP code
• Non-personally identifiable information on Web pages and forms
• Software usage characteristics and preferences

so you track who we are (list item 6, and 7 different list items of data about us, including what kind of computer we have, where we surf, what software we use to go there and configuration information on our computers.) YOU ARE SPYING ON US.
spy
n. pl. spies (spz)

1. An agent employed by a state to obtain secret information, especially of a military nature, concerning its potential or actual enemies.
2. One employed by a company to obtain confidential information about its competitors.
3. One who secretly keeps watch on another or others.
4. An act of spying.
   
   for those who are illiteratei among us, please check the third definition.
   Thus I declare that you (Gator) are manufactures and purveyors of spyware onto the masses.

Be?

[Atario]

I think we should just say "beware" :-)

Clever. But I bet Steve Jobs already has that one trademarked.

"Malware", people. Covers a lotta crap.

Re:Gator is trash and spyware

[GreenKiwi]

I have found little software that does more to make a user's PC using experience unenjoyable than Gator.

What about bonzi buddy... I think that stupid little ape made computers at least as annoying, probably more so.

Re:Me first

[John Biggabooty]

I can't believe they gave in to such an obvious slapp suit. Calling something what it is isn't libel. Nobody agrees to install gator. A pop up appears, and people click on it to make it go away. That does not constitute an agreement.

I am a computer tech at a small mom-and-pop TV repair and computer store. I spend most of my time cleaning up systems that have become completely useless because of spyware like, Gator, Bonzi Buddy, Xupiter, Weatherbug, Comet Cursor, the list goes on and on. Sometimes, Lavasoft Ad-aware won't get them all, and I have to use Spybot search and destroy. This crapware was turned the internet into a minefield for the non-technical, who are the majority of computer users. It is a public nusiance. The people who create this stuff are racketeers. Perhaps the people behind all this crapware believe that computers are meant for the techno-elite, and never should have reached the masses. If their goal is to make millions give up on computers, they may be succesful. If only the techno-elite used computers, I would be out of a job, but I might be happier. Cleaning this crap off of hard drives because people need their data instead of just formatting them and reinstalling is making me CRAZY!!

Re:Me first

[Thuktun]

I don't like to use the term spyware, I prefer the term "Crapware"

In my opinion, it's more accurately termed "crappy spyware with intrusive popups", but I can see why they'd want to call it "adware" instead.

RoboForm is much better and isn't adware, spyware, or anything similar. It even imports Gator's stored information, though I'm not sure why you'd need much of an incentive to move away from Gator.

(I'm not affiliated with Siber Systems, the maker of RoboForm, I'm just a *VERY* happy user.)

Re: Use of Q.E.D.

[hank]

QED is the abbreviation of the Latin expression "quod erat demonstrandum," which in English means "what has been proven" or "it is demonstrated."

It is typically used to signify the end of a mathematical (or other) proof. Unfortunately, I have never read Cryptonomicron (sp?), so I can't understand why the above poster would have a problem with another person using it. Maybe he thinks that people otherwise wouldn't have known the term unless they read it in the book?

Personally, one of my professors used it at the end of a proof in lecture one day and another kid asked what it meant. *shrug*

Re:Me first

[aldousd666]

Not to mention that you can't uninstall gator by normal means. The %ProgramFiles%\Common Files\CMEII\ directory is hard to find if you're joe user, and oh, is that on purpose that the registry keys for gator.com don't disappear after I uninstall? Oh that's right, according to the Terms of service, those are 'enhancement technologies' and they don't necessarily get removed during the uninstall.. Interestingly enough, this information is listed under the 'Right to Remove' section in the Terms Huh!?!