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180 Solutions Cuts Back on Spyware Installs

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the squeeky-wheel-gets-the-grease dept.

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."

9 of 158 comments (clear)

  1. Better Ideas by Scoria · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Interestingly, I've noticed that spyware developers only tend to change once they've developed a "better" idea, and rumor has it that a couple of original equipment manufacturers are now installing MyWebSearch by default.

    Could it be that some spyware manufacturers are taking the good press while they can, knowing that their current method of installation won't really last? Could they be looking to bypass end-user installation altogether?

    --
    Do you like German cars?
    1. Re:Better Ideas by andrewski · · Score: 0, Interesting

      Yes, HP computers are literally loaded chock full of spyware from the factory.

    2. Re:Better Ideas by The+NPS · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Why did this get a -1? It's definitely true. Dell is doing it too, these days. Compaq, HP and Dell (and probably others) all have mild spyware bundled with them from the factory. HP's recovery partition means than when you reformat, you're putting all that junk back on there. I heard dell swithed from sending out disks with their computers to using a recovery partition as well. Terrible.

  2. Why threaten anything? by Evro · · Score: 5, Interesting
    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."


    Why bother threatening anything? Why not just file the complaint?
    --
    rooooar
    1. Re:Why threaten anything? by LePrince · · Score: 4, Interesting
      Because when getting in front of the judge, you can say that you did everything you could outside of the courtroom to prevent this to getting to a courtoom, and failed because the other company refused to comply.

      Otherwise you might end up in court, screaming, then when the defending party comes in, they will say "Oh, that's why I'm here ? Well, yeah, sure, why not, I don't mind, I'll do it". Then you look like a complete asshat who didn't want to resort to something OTHER than the court...

      One of my friend is sueing someone for fraud (2000$) and as the policeman said, "Do everything you can (legally of course) to recover the cash. If talking doesn't work, THEN we'll file in a legal criminal complaint and it'll go to court. Because if you go to court and she simply agrees to pay, you look like the dumbass.

  3. I knew a guy... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    ...who works for 180solutions. Well, I didn't really know him until I flamed him on full-disclosure for working for 180solutions, but that's beside the point. This guy was totally for 180solutions! I could hardly believe my ears... er.. eyes! I reminded him of the incident where 180solutions was using browser flaws to install adware on victims' machines, yet he had "no recollection of any such event" (even though it was all over the internet and widely discussed on security mailing lists). The nerve of some individuals... Some people just deserve to be shot.

  4. 180's nonconsensual installations -- video proof by bedelman · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Yes, this is the same 180solutions whose software has been so frequently observed to become installed through security exploits.

    Most recently -- just last week! -- I posted video proof showing 180 installing even after users specifically decline and refuse 180. Details.

    Too little too late, indeed!

  5. Re:Bad for digiticians! by temojen · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Yeah, and all those doctors should stop doing Vaccinations since it cuts into their bottom line.

  6. Re:Please by zoogies · · Score: 2, Interesting

    And threaten to file more often. How many spyware perpetrators would quail before the sight of lawyers? Lawyers! They have a purpose in life now, and it's a good one.