iDownload Tries to Silence Spyware Critics

Doug Muth writes "According to this article over on DSL Reports, yet another spyware author, iDownload, has been sending out cease and desist letters to sites that classify their iSearch toolbar as Spyware. Some research reveals that yes, iSearch really does take over users' computers. A search on Spyware Guide also turns up a writeup on iSearch."

Comments

No need for alarm

[delta_avi_delta]

Contradicting the article's claim that the industry isn't standing up to these guys, it's nice to see that CastleCops have themselves retained council, and their rebuttal http://castlecops.com/article-5765-nested-0-0.html doesn't pull any punches.

From the link

[techstar25]

iSearch claims it "displays links to and advertisements of related websites based on the information you view and the websites you visit; store non-personally identifiable statistics of the websites you have visited;"

If that isn't spyware, I don't what is. In fact, isn't that the definition of "spyware"?

They also claim to "conveniently without your input or interaction; install software from iSearch affiliates; and install Third Party Software".

That's scary stuff!

Re:Yea definitly spyware....

[Phosphor3k]

They also clam that their antivirus software (part of their suite) is ICSA certified. Funny, I don't see their product on ICSA's certification list

Re:The Law of Uninteded Consequences

[geoffspear]

Is it at all possible that iDownload could use the DMCA to sue people who make software to remove their spyware?

No. There's no copyright issue whatsoever.

They might be able to argue that the spyware removal software is interfering with contracts between them and their users (as I believe some actually have tried to argue), but good luck convincing a court. At best, they could try to sue the people who installed their spyware, agreed to their ridiculous EULA, and then broke the EULA by removing it. I imagine the first person sued under those pretenses would just need to get a single Windows users on the jury, countersue for 1 billion dollars, and seize all of the spyware company's assets.