New York Attorney General Sues Spyware Company

DevanJedi writes "Reuters is reporting that New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer has sued alleged spyware company Direct Revenue, charging the Internet marketer with secretly installing millions of spyware programs that sent unsolicited advertisements to users' computers. Direct Revenue settled a class action law suit last month in Illinois."

Comments

No, you can't have a constitution

[voice_of_all_reason]

Spitzer also asked the court to compel the company to account for its revenue

5th amendment surrenders?

As much as they're probably guilty, the court should not be able to say "prove you didn't do X or we'll hold it against you"

Re:No, you can't have a constitution

[mOdQuArK!]

Spitzer has been pissing off rich and powerful people for a long time, with about the same fervor whether or not he's seen as running for Governor. I think he gets off on bringing the big guys down, and IMO, the more power to him.

If he _does_ get elected Governor, I hope every crooked politician & business executive in his state go bankrupt from the dry-cleaning bills that they have to pay to clean their underwear every time he makes a move.

Spitzer eh?

[TubeSteak]

From what I understand, his style is to pick a fight and make a lot of noise about it in the press.

The defendants are usually judged guilty by the court of public opinion, long before an actualy jury gets near the case.

I'm not saying his technique is good or bad, but it's worth noting that more often than not, he gets a settlement instead of a drawn out legal battle.

Ok...

[gcnaddict]

We see all of this, and yet no one has bothered to sue Claria yet... even AFTER they announced their restructuring plan.

Please sue Claria!

DirectRevenue developers should do jail time

[mrheckman]

I had personal experience with Direct Revenue's adware that took many hours to remove. Imagine how many hours have been spent by people trying to clean up their computers from their adware. I think it is a shame that the developers were able to escape with just a fine from the Illinois lawsuit. They should have to do hard time -- at least one hour for every hour spent by people trying to remove their software. How many years do you think that would add up to?

No, the cat does not "got my tongue."

[Impy the Impiuos Imp]

> Direct Revenue settled a class action law suit last month in Illinois

Don't let them settle a lawsuit! Make the assholes release software to de-install itself, safely and completely.

Son of a bitch, I had to re-stage my wife's laptop because of Winfixer.

Fix the law.

[headkase]

I'd like to see it made illegal for software to resist an uninstall (e.g. reinstalling itself on the next reboot). Seriously, if you want it gone and it's your machine who the hell do they think they are to stop you?

Re:Eliot Spitzer: Is he cool, or is he whack?

[mhollis]

Actually, niether. He's a politician.

I generally like what he has been doing, which mostly amounts to leveling the playing field between big business and the people -- but one can easily see the opportunitism here of a very political animal in the cases he takes on and how his PR machine works it. He was elected by mostly Democrats to be the Attorney General under a Republican Governor with whom he has had a mostly uneven relationship. He did not challenge this Governor (Pataki) until the Governor announced that he is planning on leaving office, though he has gone after many of the Governor's financiers and political cronies.

In not running against this particular governor, he has set his office up as a stepping-stone to the office of Governor for himself. A very shrewd move. Were he to have remained as a candidate for Attorney General (especially with the favorable press he has been receiving in the state of New York) I'd say he's close to 90% altruistic -- a very hard-working prosecutor with an eye for the kind of justice that sells newspapers. By virtue of his run for Governor and the timing of that run, I'd say he's about 50 to 55% altruistic and would probably make a pretty good, if not combative Governor.

I recall another prosecutor who is rumored to have made a good executive: Giuliani. But Rudy Giuliani was best-suited to crisis management. He tended to get bored and pick fights (usually with the helpless) when things got quiet. Unfortunately I think Rudy has sold his soul to the Republican right (which is wrong).

My overall favorable impression of Mr. Spitzer will, likewise, tumble should he sell his soul to a national political machine. These types are best when they're fighting the good fight with no hangers-on and no encumbrances.

Re:He's been suit-happy the past few years

[sgt_doom]

I don't think it's that AG Elliott Spitzer wants to run NY as much as he is filling a tremendous void left by the absymal, nonperforming and nonfunctioning F.B.I., who appears to be involved with far too many of their very own inhouse scandals and problems.

The F.B.I. should really be doing everything the Mr. Spitzer is doing, but thank goodness at least he's doing it!!!!

You know, if this country had an F.B.I. director like Mr. Spitzer, as opposed to that useless shyster, Mueller, or better yet, a real attorney general at the federal level......

Rough Rider

[Doc Ruby]

Spitzer is the frontrunner in the upcoming 2006 NY state governor election. His career is starting to remind me of Teddy Roosevelt's.