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AOL 9.0 Called Badware

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the been-called-worse dept.

An anonymous reader writes "The bad news at AOL keeps coming. First they get in trouble for releasing search data on more than half a million customers, then it gives away security software with a nasty EULA, now its free client software is accused of acting like badware according to Stopbadware.org, the Google-funded rating group."

6 of 295 comments (clear)

  1. Badware? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    That sounds like a term a 5 year old would come up with.

    1. Re:badware? by w33t · · Score: 5, Funny

      I prefer to call it "misunderstoodware".

      --
      My Computer Music Tutorial Videos
    2. Re:badware? by Tom+in+Boston · · Score: 5, Funny
      But it's so simple and easy to uninstall! I wrote up these instructions...

      http://websiteperson.com/advocate/uninstallaol90.h tm

      1. Go to the control panel, Add/Remove Software, and choose AOL. I think it asks you to restart after this.
      All done, right? Not yet!
      2. Follow the same steps to remove "Real Player," assuming you don't want it! (Spyware, intrusive.)
      3. Follow the same steps to remove "AOL Coach." Apparently uninstalling AOL doen't uninstall this, whatever it is.
      4. Follow the same steps to remove "AOL Desk Bar." Hmmm... Maybe this was the icon in the task bar?
      5. Follow the same steps to remove "AOL Spyware Protection."
      6. Follow the same steps to remove "AOL Toolbar."
      7. Follow the same steps to remove "AOL You've Got Pictures Screensaver."
      I think we're almost done!
      8. Follow the same steps to remove "Pure Networks Port Magic." (What the heck is THAT?)
      9. Follow the same steps to remove "Viewpoint Experience Technology."
      Not done yet...

  2. wtheck by kemo_by_the_kilo · · Score: 4, Funny

    Between not letting you cancel (even post mortum) and having "bad"ware... the only thing left for them to do is start including dell batteries with their CDs

  3. Re:Maybe Joe Schmoe shouldn't be using a computer. by monsterfish · · Score: 5, Funny
    He doesn't look at a PC as a car, he thinks of it as a washing machine.
    In that case... I guess I look at my car as a washingmachine, look at my PC as a car... but I just can't remember what I use my actual washingmachine for!
  4. I love it! by SanityInAnarchy · · Score: 4, Funny

    AOL is worse than malware. Malware is written with bad intent, or possibly written by Malcom Reynolds. AOL is just badware -- badly conceived, badly designed, and badly implemented.

    --
    Don't thank God, thank a doctor!