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Spyware More Common in Popular Software?

Posted by Cliff on from the watch-what-you-install dept.

Keith Young asks: "Over the past month, we have seen a 1500% increase of spyware denials on our firewall primarily due to WildTangent 'spyware' installed with AOL IM 5.5 and adware installed with Weatherbug. Since many of these widely-installed types of applications have an automatic upgrade feature, how can these be tested for license agreements, spyware, and security 'irregularities'? Is this another reason to approach management to choose only open source alternatives?"

3 of 71 comments (clear)

  1. free apps aren't free by Sammich · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I know everything you can download for free isn't really that, but on the same hand as many people want to know if they have drm-crippled CDs that they purchase, wouldn't one also want to know what 'extras' get installed with a program and not just an [install] button to start and an [ok] button when finished?

  2. GAIM by Schezar · · Score: 5, Informative

    Gaim

    Just a friendly reminder in case there's anyone out there in slashdot land who still doesn't know about it. Works perfectly with AIM/ICQ and Jabber (and those other services no one actually uses ^_~) Even has a Win32 installer.

    --
    GeekNights!
    Late Night Radio for Geeks!
  3. screensaver.com by dtfinch · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I recently discovered that screensaver.com is distributing screensavers that I wrote with their own custom installer that includes several spyware programs, some of the worst I know of, hijacks their home page, puts advertisement links all over their computers, and requires them to agree to receive spam before they're finally allowed to install my screensaver. I've dropped their affiliate commission and demanded that they stop distribute my screensavers with spyware, particularly because it hurts my reputation and is responsible for some of my support email, but so far no response (I'll give them another day or so). Spyware bundling was not a problem I had anticipated when I wrote the EULA. Next I'll be contacting other authors I who's screensavers are being distributed in this fashion.