180 Solutions Cuts Back on Spyware Installs

An anonymous reader writes "Washingtonpost.com is reporting that adware purveyor 180Solutions has finally decided to stop letting third-party companies install their programs for commission without 180's approval. The story says 180 announced the move after pressure from public interest groups who threatened to file a formal complaint with regulators at the Federal Trade Commission."

Comments

makes sense now

[fearanddread]

Makes more sense when you see the update at the bottom of the article:

"UPDATE, 5:44 p.m. ET: Spyware researcher Eric Howes points out that it is perhaps clearer to say that 180 will no longer allow third parties to install its software unless the method of install is first approved by 180. More specifically, the company will no longer let third-parties install its software via "ActiveX," a component included in Internet Explorer that spyware purveyors commonly abuse to install their wares with little or no interaction on the part of the user."

Re:Please

[yurnotsoeviltwin]

well technically, they don't provide spyware. They provide adware. There's a difference, not that anyone really cares. They both suck just as bad too me.

Re:Better Ideas

[Cylix]

While it's too late now.

I'm fairly certain that low end Dell's now ship with it. They have a lot of stuff installed... even Office trial that can be purchased. I'm not sure, but I think WP was the full version, but only included on CD.

So yeah, that might explain the price break on the new equipment and boy does it slow them down. So of course I wipe and reinstall... then create an image disk for all of the systems.

Unfortunately, I can't go back and confirm it on the dozen new systems, because they no longer have the factory install.