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Olympic Medalist was Spyware King

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the other-biathlons dept.

Remy writes "Seems that Australian gold medal mogulist Dale Begg-Smith is also a spyware entrepreneur. According to a report at Spam Kings, Begg-Smith has supported himself in style as president of a company responsible for generating 20,000,000 pop-ups per day, thanks to drive-by installs of spyware. I know the concept of Olympians being amateurs is outdated, but shouldn't they be barred from competition for this sort of thing?"

7 of 336 comments (clear)

  1. Well... by daveschroeder · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ...unless spam or spyware is illegal in Australia, or against terms set by the International Olympic Committee (which probably includes stipulations for non-voliation of the laws of competitors' native countries), then no, he shouldn't be barred from competition.

    Also, on the subject of "amateurs", you can't be a "professional" in the sport you're competing in. There's nothing to say that someone can't be rich, or be a "professional" in some other field. He shouldn't be barred for "richly supporting himself" either, until installing spyware becomes an Olympic sport.

    Hmm. Don't give them any ideas.

    1. Re:Well... by azuravian · · Score: 4, Insightful

      How is the parent Flamebait, when the Grandparent is +3 Funny. Aren't these just the same joke (except the one making fun of democrats is Flamebait)?????

  2. Huh? by bobscealy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The olympics are judging competitors on thier sporting abilities, not thier business ethics. If Dale has broken some law then fair enough, chase him down with lawyers. Disqualifying him from the olympics would be on par with banning anyone who fails a doping test from running thier own business - they are completely unrelated.

  3. Sad by DeadPrez · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You don't even attempt to mask your jealousy. Nerd athletes are the Xmen of the future. Sorry, Napoleon Dynamites of the world.

    ps: this is only a joke if rated funny and a serious warning all should heed if rated anything else.

  4. Well... by Geoffreyerffoeg · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If Jesse Owens was allowed to compete in the Berlin Olympics near the height of Nazi power, then I don't think any Olympic committee has authority to enforce a morality unrelated to sporting itself. An Olympic spammer in an online nation is no guiltier than a black Olympian in a racist nation.

    (Please don't misinterpret this as saying that Jesse Owens was somehow wrong.)

  5. Olympic committee morality by yorktown · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Given that the International Olympic Committe has chosen to hold their games in places that grossly violate human rights like Nazi Germany (1936), the Soviet Union (1980), and mainland China (2008), I don't think they have much moral standing to ban someone for spyware.

  6. Re:Actually... by Politburo · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Nagano was 8 years ago, and the US team sucked and trashed some hotel rooms. 4 years ago the olympics were in Salt Lake City.