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Microsoft In Talks To Buy Claria

Posted by Zonk on from the formerly-a-no-good-gator dept.

axonis writes "For the last two weeks, Microsoft has been in talks to buy Claria, an adware marketer formerly called Gator, and best known for its pop-up ads and software that tracks people visiting Web sites. The offer price on the table as recently as Wednesday was $500 million. One person briefed on the deal said there was opposition within Microsoft to the acquisition. Analysts said Microsoft would probably be most interested in the long-term potential of Claria's personalization software rather than its pop-up ads."

4 of 352 comments (clear)

  1. Antispyware, and now this? by bheer · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Microsofts Antispyware's cred just took a dive for no fault of its own. Pity, since Giant (which it was before MS purchased it) was one of the better antispyware apps.

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  2. Encouragement by Mark_Uplanguage · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Yes, let's reward these companies for their abuses of the internet. 500 million reasons to be unscrupulous in business. This is going to make spyware/adware that much worse. Yea, let's here it for best business practices!!! /rant

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    "The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits." -- Albert Einstein
  3. Let me give you a little history lesson by Rogerborg · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Number of times in the entire history of the world that buying off thugs has ever made them go away: 0

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  4. Re:I thought that said CHINA! by rpozz · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What better way to shut down a company that produces so much spyware and other unwanted adds than to buy them.

    Sends out the wrong sort of message when they buy them for $500 million though.