Spyware or Researchware?

prostoalex writes "When the story of Firefox Web site visitors being predominantly male was published, many questioned the methodology used to acquire such research data. This MSNBC article talks about another research company, ComScore Networks, using a free antivirus utility to lure the Web users into downloading a small utility to their hard drives. The catch? The software watches not only sites visited, but even locations of the mouse clicks. ComScore swears the final data does not contain any personal information, but, as the article states, anti-spyware utility manufacturers are still thinking whether to include it on their list."

Comments

Depends...

[LewsTherinKinslayer]

The difference between Spyware and Usage Statistics pretty simple: is it clearly stated to the End User and is optionable. Essentially, its not spyware if you know about it up front and have the ability to (actually,) turn it off.

Re:Depends...

[pete6677]

Most importantly, is it overly difficult to remove? If the software was either carelessly created or intentionally designed to resist uninstallation, it could cause problems for the user and should be avoided.

Re:Gendericator

[mfh]

To find out the gender of a visitor, just create a site which requires visitors to hold one key while moving the mouse.

Or you can ask... most people are honest about their gender unless they are in a chat room. But without any social interaction nobody has a reason to lie.

spyware (noun)

[weighn]

any software that covertly gathers information about a user while he/she navigates the Internet and transmits the information to an individual or company that uses it for marketing or other purposes - http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=spyware

The software watches not only sites visited, but even locations of the mouse clicks.
add the use of the word "lure" and it makes me think that this is, indeed, spyware.