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Three Companies Shut Down For Spyware Bundling

Posted by Zonk on from the more-in-the-vein-of-sony dept.

SenseOfHumor writes "A U.S. Court has shut down three companies for secretly bundling spyware. The assets of Enternet Media Inc. and Conspy & Co. Inc., based in California, and Iwebtunes, based in Ohio, have been frozen pending further court action, the FTC said. The court also ordered all three firms to halt downloads of the software." From the article: "According to a complaint filed in district court in Los Angeles, Enternet and Conspy bundled their malicious software with music files, song lyrics and cellular telephone ring tones offered free on a range of Web sites. The software was also disguised as a security upgrade for Microsoft Corp.'s Internet Explorer Web browser."

6 of 95 comments (clear)

  1. So when will Sony BMG be shut down? by 4r0g · · Score: 5, Funny

    Obvious case there.

    --
    - 4r0g
    1. Re:So when will Sony BMG be shut down? by AstroDrabb · · Score: 5, Insightful
      Answer: never. The main difference between Sony BMG and these three companies is that these three companies are/were very small. Once you get enough captital to bribe members of the government with, you basically become untouchable.

      I guess this episode should become a lesson in all MBA classes. If your company is small then keep your head low and do good business. Once the company becomes big enough, _then_ you get to do the nasty things.

      --
      If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land,
      it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. -James Madison
  2. It's all in the name by nizo · · Score: 5, Funny
    ...Conspy & Co. Inc....

    Now there is a great name for a company! Could it be any more obvious their products contain spyware????

    --
    I Am My Own Worst Enemy
  3. Dear Sony... by Picass0 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If I had my way, Sony would be held accountable in a similiar manner. While these companies installed spyware, Sony actually installed a backdoor. Sony's actions are a violation of a far greater magnitude.

  4. 'bout time... by Mister+White · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Now, let's go ahead and shut down GAIN and all these 'websearch' places, and we'll be doing something. I see the auto-installing IE websearch bars and the "internet optimizer" wares to be some of the most vicious of all spyware. It's beyond intrusive, and downright annoying. Who wants to continually "uninstall" all of these?

    --
    "Crime fighters fight crime. Fire fighters fight fire. What do freedom fighters fight?" -George Carlin
    1. Re:'bout time... by spooky_nerd · · Score: 5, Funny

      Hey now, let's not be too hasty. Uninstalling these things is what keeps me busy at work. You might call them malware, but I prefer the term gainfully-employedware.