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WhenU.com Enjoined From Competing Pop-Ups
Frisky070802 writes "The NY Times reports that a preliminary injunction has been issued against WhenU.com, a company that distributes software that performs certain tasks for users but also intercepts their website visits so that, for instance, a visitor to Expedia would see a pop-up ad for Orbitz. Now if only we could get rid of all the rest of the pop-up ads."
We are scheduled to get rid of pop-up ads right after we deal with SPAM once and for all.
Don't hold your breath, please.
Hopefully I didn't put any [] around my words.
For the unfortunate friends and family that run Windows, I always install adaware and do a scan of their computer every once in a while.
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
It seems to take care of the adware kazaa installs, and most others.
Reccomended for every windows user, should be "mandatory" like antivirus software.
Funny how all through the article not one mention is made of the weaknesses of having IE and Windows (which is the only setup the whenu.com client affects) as a monoculture. I can't count the number of times people on my ISPs board have claimed the ISP must be doing something wrong cos going to one site brings up another, or cos going to one site brings up ads for another.
Weak software brings about this crap. Start at the base.
"I doubt WhenU held a gun to people's head forcing them to install the WhenU client."
No, but I have suspected them of using an IE exploit to install their client without the user's knowledge or consent. I can't prove it, of course, and I'd imagine it would be a big stink if it were true (e.g., felony computer crime for each violation, one would think.)
They don't literally force anyone to install their software, but they certainly do it clandestinely and without a clear affirmative decision made by the user. It doesn't fall in the same category as literally holding a gun to the user's head, but that doesn't make it ok.
"To say it plainly, if it's MY computer, I'll install what I choose, and if I'm not happy, I know exactly where the uninstall is located."
This kind of spyware sneaks in. And without a certain amount of knowledge, such as knowing the registry inside and out, they are very hard to remove. I don't need help with this stuff either, but I know a thing or two about computers. That does not diminish my concern for a victim who cannot say that.
So instead of holding a gun to your head and making you talk, they sneak into your apartment while you're at work and bug the place. Does that make you feel better?
-fb Everything not expressly forbidden is now mandatory.
The injunction against the company only prevents them from using a particular pop-up ad that is triggered when a user visits the webste of one of their customers. So I think the main issue is it ethical to draw people away from your competitor by taking advantage of the fact that you have some software installed which "knows" when you visit your competitors' site?
There's no such thing as a positive pop-up. They're only annoying, no matter if they contain ads or a message telling you that your password failed. Put the damn message in the body of the web page.
In contract law there are certain things that you cannot sign away. For instance, you cannot sell yourself into slavery.
It is controversial whether EULAs even constitute a legal contract.
Why should companies get away writing software that if a script kiddy did he would be put in prison, or at least get a criminal trial?
Once software starts hijacking your computer then it is entering the realm of viruses. Among other things this definition should include being unable to uninstall the software without re-installing windows. Another is repeatedly resetting your password to goatse or other pr0n sites.
Promote Sensitivity on Slashdot, make me your friend.
If I install KaZaA - God help me if that day ever comes! - I expect it to find me music. I don't expect its bundled programs to also "reach [me] at the exact moment [I] express an interest in [some advertiser's] product."
Speaking of which, if I go to expedia.com, I'm not expressing an interest in orbitz.com's product! I'm expressing an interest in Expedia.
I can see both sides of the issue here, and for once it's actually difficult for me to take sides in an issue that involves advertising (usually it's a no-brainer). I still find myself siding against WhenU, though. EULA or no EULA, their practices are sneaky and underhanded. The article claims that between Gator and WhenU, more than 30 million people are infec^Wusing this software. How many of them do you think have any fucking clue it's installed, and of those, how many have the slightest idea how to get rid of it?
"BSD: Free as in speech. Linux: Free as in beer. Windows 10: Free as in herpes." --Man On Pink Corner in #52607549.
I know a lot of people are going to mention mozilla. And for good reason. It just works. But I'd like to mention that pop-ups represent a golden opportunity to introduce opensource software to your non-techie friends and family.
The non-geeks have a difficult time understanding the whole concept. But if you solve a very visible problem for them, like pop-ups, you earn a chance to tell them why mozilla exists. Don't beat them on the head with it (i.e. don't preach), just feed them a little. Next time they have a problem, they'll come back for more.
So while pop-ups are a curse for your average folk, we geeks can make a little use out of the situation.
jef
Give an advertiser a useful tool, and he will abuse it until nobody wants the tool anymore!
Apparently advertisers never consider this effect, they make the same mistake over and over again.
- They changed television from an information/entertainment medium with the occasional advertisement into a continuous show of advertisements with the occasional show element inbetween. Result: people buy VCRs and TIVO, to skip the ads.
- when they discovered the banner ad they did not stay with displaying a logo and static advertisement text, no it all had to be animated and blinking. Result: people install banner blockers
- then they discover the pop-up, and abuse it to such a level that some sites cause an endless loop of popups and the amount of popups is annoying in generel. Result: people demand popup blockers.
When will they learn to be moderate? Probably never.