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Anti-Spyware Vendor Partners with Spyware Company?

Posted by michael on from the safe-spyware-bwah-hah-hah dept.

Tuxedo Jack writes "eWeek reports that the anti-spyware vendor Aluria Software has partnered with WhenU of 'WhenUSave' and 'SaveNow' infamy. They've removed WhenU from their spyware/malware definition lists, certified their applications as safe, and they deny that money was involved. As a result, SpywareInfo and many other anti-spyware sites are delisting Aluria's 'Spyware Eliminator' from their lists of preferred software. Is this a dangerous trend for anti-spyware? Or are we just witnessing a natural evolution? I sure hope it's neither - I like my Windows boxes junkware-free, thanks (oxymoron noted)."

6 of 274 comments (clear)

  1. as unimportant as Aluria may seem.... by wo1verin3 · · Score: 5, Informative

    (and for those that don't RTFA) .... they are the backend behind AOL's anti-spyware application which is means potentially millions of users are affected by this.

  2. Aluria... who? by g_adams27 · · Score: 5, Informative


    Can't say I've ever heard of Aluria's Spyware Eliminator. I've got my triumvirate of anti-spyware tools, and I'm satisfied:

    No need to limit yourself to just one, either - run all three!

  3. Re:Not that it relieves my nausea.. by Jeremiah+Cornelius · · Score: 3, Informative
    Yeah.

    It seems that Aluria is leaving the "Reality-based Community".

    --
    "Flyin' in just a sweet place,
    Never been known to fail..."
  4. Re:Dangerous Trend by erick99 · · Score: 5, Informative

    I use Adaware SE and SpyBot which I run manually once a week, each. I have Webroot's Spy Sweepter which stays in memory and provides a good level of "live" detection. Between the three programs it has been a long time since I've had a adware/spyware program on my desktop. However, it has only been through the use of all three that I have gotten to this point. I haven't found a program that will accomplish this by itself, either free or for fee. PC Magazine ran a comparison of spyware removal programs recently and came to about the same conclusion. They did rate AdAware SE as the best program, though.

    --
    http://www.busyweather.com/
  5. Not in monopolies by gad_zuki! · · Score: 4, Informative

    If what you say is true, windows would have 1% of the marketshare by now.

    We're dealing with end users here, not experts. They just want something that works and expect their anti-virus company and anti-spyware company to deliver the goods.

    What good is branding when the company in question used to be called Gator? They simply changed their name. So long bad PR!

    Its cronyism and its killing IT. The entire spyware phenomenon can be traced to activex, which exists to tie the browser to the platform.

    That said, I've been running into a lot of OSX converts. They got sick of windows and bought a used iMac for next to nothing or 999 for an ibook with some promotion. My next machine will be an iBook too. With Mozilla and Firefox telling lazy web designers and those who make corporate policy to pay attention to standards, the shift will be even easier.

  6. Ironport does this, too. by Animats · · Score: 3, Informative
    Ironport sells both rackmount spam filters and rackmount spam senders. They own SpamCop. They also operate the Bonded Spammer program, which "certifies" spammers as OK to bypass spam filters. They're definitely playing both sides of the street. The New York Times picked up on this last year.

    Oh, yeah, Ironport claims their multimillion e-mail per hour senders are only for use by good guys. Right.