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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..."
Does it spy on me? Yes. Is it software? Yes. Therefore, Gator = Spyware.
QED.
Gator claims that their software isn't spyware because people are told about what they are installing. Yes, they are told that they are installing Gator but that's it. I'm pretty sure that even my grandmother would click NO to installing a "persistent, targeted advertising and consumer tracking system" onto her computer.
So while technically they are correct they should also realise that they are sleazebags who sleep with SCO. There. That should piss them off.
Oh, and P.S.: Gator is Spyware. Ha!
Great idea.
No, think about it. They can claim their product doesn't "Spy", but when it comes to arguments about its crap-like qualities, they haven't a foot to stand on.
At work we have a constant battle against Gator on user PCs as it uses deceptive messages and popups on websites to convince users to install. I have found little software that does more to make a user's PC using experience unenjoyable than Gator. Bravo, you've gone above and beyond the call of duty; most spyware simply installs itself and tracks users movements, your software pretends to provide useful functionality on top of being deceptive and displaying your customers' ads instead of the ones that rightfully belong on the site. And on top of all this it makes an already nearly unbearably (wow, alot of -ys) unstable OS (Windows) even more unusable.
Thanks alot, Gator! You've made me look like a PC Repair genius as simply running Ad-Aware on most systems to remove the stinking heap of maggot infested goat dung your software is from a user's PC thereby speeding it up and making it crash less often!
Maxim: People cannot follow directions.
Increases in truth directly with the length of time spent explaining them
Very ..uh.. transitive.. almost.
Gator is Adware
Adware (if it is to be targetted in any meaningful way) is Spyware
Therefore Gator is Spyware
That's a good point. I'm pretty sure their practices go a very long way towards making Lavasoft (makers of AdAware) a profitable company. It's pretty bad when your competitors provide nothing but the abscence of your software.
Feedback: Tell us how we're doing or give us an idea on how to make it better.
Partners: You'd like to propose a business relationship or learn more about our business.
Affiliate Program: You have a question about the affiliate program. To learn more click here.
And my personal favorite...
Press: You'd like to schedule an interview with The Gator Corporation executives.
Slashdot Editors? Hello?
The implication: we don't know your color, style, and size preference for your underwear, the names of your pets, or your checking account number. Yet.
Doing my level best to piss off the religious right wing...
Gator is NOT winning. 23,000 sites with the words gator and spyware. They might as well try to halt peer to peer music trading. By calling themselves, "adware" they will forever malign the name "adware". Gator is scum and anyone who has anything to do with them shall be judged as scum.
Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.
You seem to be confused. "took down" and "went down on" have entirely different meanings.
Sincerely,
Loser
P.S. The only thing worse than being an AC is pretending to be someone you're not. Is your life that pathetic?
Since the purpose of Gator is to give the marketers of Gator control of the end user's machines, why doesn't Gator just add some code to their program to prevent its users from seeing sites that tell the end user what Gator is.
Gator is spyware. They have a history of using drive by installs and misleading ads and trojan programs all designed with the purpose of making profiles of end users and manipulating the end user's browsing behavior.
This lawsuit is nothing but a stupid little word game played by shysters in a pathetic attempt to legitimize their game. They are like the spammers who put an opt out button in the spam with the idea that the opt out button legitimizes the spam.
Oh well, I hope slashdot and all of the users who responded to this post are ready to defend their free speach in a Gatorific round of lawsuits. I have looked at Gator, I've seen it in action. It is spyware.
I for one welcome our new Goator overlords.
Goatware4ever
There *is* a difference between "year hardware dates from" and "date of OS install".
WinME will run on 7-year-old hardware...
Thank you! When I remove spyware from people's computers, occasionally (but definitely not often) they actually use a piece of software (like Gator) that comes with it. If I like RoboForm after I install it, it will next to KaZaA Lite on my list of spyware replacements.
Mod parent up. More.
It's an operating system, not a religion.
Write it on WWDN and they might take more notice than just a comment on /. ;)
"PC Load Letter? What the $@#% does that mean?!"