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FTC Bars Popup Backdoor Ads

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the i'm-your-backdoor-ad dept.

zanderredux was one of several readers to note that the FTC has banned backdoor popups. This is the result of the D Squared case that we've heard a bit about in the past. The case also restricted them from sending IM ads as well.

6 of 348 comments (clear)

  1. Messenger by Klar · · Score: 4, Informative
    I used to get a ton of these. There was an article on TechTv about this: To turn off the messenger service in XP:
    1. Click on the Start button and open the control panel.
    2. Open the Performance and Maintenance control panel and go to Administrative Tools.
    3. Now double-click on Services, then scroll to Messenger.
    4. Double-click Messenger and click Stop to stop the service.
    5. Change the startup type to Disable (see an example).
    --
    Boxing Equipment Reviews
  2. Some thoughts by Benanov · · Score: 5, Informative
    FTA: "Lawyers for the pair said that they were not trying to extort consumers by bombarding them with ads and argued they only intended to send one a day to computer users."

    A few things:
    1. Someone can't code...
    2. The article has some misquotes: They use Messenger Service and MSN Messenger as if they were the same thing. This looks to be using the Messenger Service to send ads.
    3. GRC.COM's Shoot the Messenger is your friend (small assembly program that tells the service to shut itself down and disable it)
    4. When you use a backdoor like that, how do you control that one ad is sent to one machine? Wait. You don't. If they had graduated from college, they might have known that...
    :P --Ben
  3. Re:Huh? by rokzy · · Score: 4, Informative

    a pop-up send via Windows Backdoor(tm), also known as Windows Messenger, a mostly useless service in XP that was set to default to on for some insanely stupid reason.

  4. Re:Baffling contradiction by tsg · · Score: 3, Informative

    Your bafflement is entirely because you attribute both these opinions with one entity when, in fact, there are a great number of people here who don't always hold the same views.

    Slashdot has no opinion. The readers of Slashdot have many opinions. Simply because you read them both in the same place does not mean everyone believes them both.

    If however, you can find someone who does believe both, you should probably address your comments to them.

    --
    People's desire to believe they are right is much stronger than their desire to be right.
  5. Amazed and Confused? by SetiAlphaOne · · Score: 3, Informative

    There seems to be some misunderstanding in this thread.

    Please note that we are talking about the messenger service running under Windows, not the Windows Messenger IM program or web browser popup windows.

  6. Re:second class citizens by tsm_sf · · Score: 3, Informative

    Actually, there was a group in California pushing for a corporate three-strikes law. Here's a transcript from a CNN interview with one of the proponents, and here's an article on the failure of the bill.

    Oh, and for those of you who don't want to click through to that article, here are the names of the three Democrats that helped kill that bill (we expect this kind of behavior from anyone with an R after their name, right?):

    Debra Bowen (D-Redondo Beach)
    Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco)
    Michael Machado (D-Stockton)

    I believe the term is 'Whore'.

    --
    Literalism isn't a form of humor, it's you being irritating.