Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Who Invests in Spyware Companies?

Posted by michael on from the glad-you-asked dept.

NW writes "Ben Edelman just published a list of major investors in spyware companies totaling over $139 million in venture capital." Slashdot has not verified Edelman's information, and please note that harassing the receptionist at these places is unlikely to cause any change in their investment policies.

6 of 293 comments (clear)

  1. Don't have to take my word for it -- sources by bedelman · · Score: 5, Informative

    As to "Slashdot has not verified...": I've cited sources for each report of funding of each specified spyware company. See the links within my page -- just click on the "$40 million" and similar hyperlinks to see the source (news coverage, press release) reporting that funding.

  2. 0wnership Society by Doc+Ruby · · Score: 4, Informative

    Remeber that "investors" are the owners. They can hide behind corporations, but the owners are responsible for the actions of their companies, even if they're not legally accountable.

    --

    --
    make install -not war

  3. Who Advertises With These Firms by bedelman · · Score: 5, Informative

    I have on hand lots of information about advertisers supporting these companies. One complication is that some of the advertisers are unintentional participants -- e.g. the ads were placed by affiliates, apparently often acting without authorization by the underlying merchants. Often, the link format makes it possible to tell the difference between an affiliate's ad and an "official" ad.

    As to Gator advertisers: See Gator advertisers as of 2003 and Gator advertisers based on data from Claria's S-1 disclosure.

    In any event, I'll be updating my site with more advertiser information in the future. It's at the top of my list of priorities.

  4. Re:Weatherbug? by lucabrasi999 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Personally, I wouldn't trust Bill Gates, but your parents might. He thinks it's spyware.

  5. Here is the dirt on Weatherbug by AtariAmarok · · Score: 4, Informative
    click here for a detailed analysis.

    If it really was not spyware, they would not feel a need to spam message boards to say it.

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
  6. Example of spyware installed via security holes by bedelman · · Score: 4, Informative

    I recently made a video showing spyware installed through security holes.

    My records (packet sniffer logs, etc.) do tell me what specific exploits were used, though my public write-up doesn't include all these details. In any event, the video is certainly sufficient to validate the "hefty claim" of software installed through security holes.