Only problem with that is that some adware actually has beneficial uses that can't be found elsewhere. Ever used a download accelerator? Most of those are ad-powered. How about Eudora? Same thing.
What we need is something that will make programs state right up front, in size 10 font on one screen, what they will do to your system. No legalese, no hidden clauses, just the truth. In fact, maybe a ratings system would be simplest, like we have for movies and video games. F for Freeware, C for Commercial, A for Ad-ware, S for Spyware, etc. I don't imagine many companies would want the S rating on their software.
That way we don't have to haggle after the event whether a particular piece of software is legal or not-- if you want the user to know that your software is OK, get it rated. Then all the browsers all get "Don't install unrated software" checked by default in their next release. When a dialog pops up, the user makes an informed decision-- and only one dialog will pop up, otherwise it's S-rated. Pretty soon people will all check the "Don't install S-rated software" box too. If something gets past this system and installs itself without notifying the user, it's illegal under our shiny new spy-killer law, and we can hunt down the cretins who birthed it.
The only problem with this idea is: who will the raters be? Unless we want to squish all the software whose developers are too cheap to spring for a rating on their software (read: freeware), getting your stuff rated will have to be free. Next question: Where will the money to fund the committee come from? Answer: I don't know. Obviously getting money from the US Government brings big problems. Microsoft, I suspect, is too tight-fisted and is already quite happy with the current arrangement. Perhaps some sort of open-source foundation could be established-- I'm sure someone out there has the cash and the desire to educate the people.
Whatever system is instituted, I think telling the people what they're getting before they click OK is a better system than just outlawing certain classes of software.
Heh, if the containment field on a tank full of antimatter failed, it would blow up a lot more than the carrier. My guess is it would take out a sizable chunk of the planet.
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Poor upstart site, just getting on its feet, and you /. it already? For shame!
What we need is something that will make programs state right up front, in size 10 font on one screen, what they will do to your system. No legalese, no hidden clauses, just the truth. In fact, maybe a ratings system would be simplest, like we have for movies and video games. F for Freeware, C for Commercial, A for Ad-ware, S for Spyware, etc. I don't imagine many companies would want the S rating on their software.
That way we don't have to haggle after the event whether a particular piece of software is legal or not-- if you want the user to know that your software is OK, get it rated. Then all the browsers all get "Don't install unrated software" checked by default in their next release. When a dialog pops up, the user makes an informed decision-- and only one dialog will pop up, otherwise it's S-rated. Pretty soon people will all check the "Don't install S-rated software" box too. If something gets past this system and installs itself without notifying the user, it's illegal under our shiny new spy-killer law, and we can hunt down the cretins who birthed it.
The only problem with this idea is: who will the raters be? Unless we want to squish all the software whose developers are too cheap to spring for a rating on their software (read: freeware), getting your stuff rated will have to be free. Next question: Where will the money to fund the committee come from? Answer: I don't know. Obviously getting money from the US Government brings big problems. Microsoft, I suspect, is too tight-fisted and is already quite happy with the current arrangement. Perhaps some sort of open-source foundation could be established-- I'm sure someone out there has the cash and the desire to educate the people.
Whatever system is instituted, I think telling the people what they're getting before they click OK is a better system than just outlawing certain classes of software.
Heh, if the containment field on a tank full of antimatter failed, it would blow up a lot more than the carrier. My guess is it would take out a sizable chunk of the planet.