Let's get something straight. ALL (yes, ALL) adware asks permission for installation. You cannot get adware with a fresh installation of windows even if you went to the shadiest sites on the Internet without clicking yes to something. Once you click yes to that one thing, the adware that's installed may install other adware....it's all included with their EULA. But you will never get any adware without user interaction. (Viruses not included; I'm talking about adware)
If you're using someone's software, it's your responsibility to read through the EULA. I don't care if it's legal mumbo jumbo or not; you downloaded and installed someone else's product that came with an agreement. It's technically illegal to use the software if you don't agree with the EULA, so again, your fault for not reading it. If you don't want to read it, don't install it.
And since you did install that software on your own accord, any cpu cycles or electricity that software uses is your responsibility. You installed it.
Once again, if you leave a program running on a fresh installation that opens internet explorer windows to random sites on the internet, you will not have one piece of adware on that machine the next day. I don't see how you can pass laws against software that comes with an agreement that people ignore and then complain about later. You cannot outlaw stupidity.
ALL spyware/adware asks permission at one time or another. Whether you click yes on a popup, click to allow an activex control, click next on the install of an adware supported program, click run on the wrong download, or click yes saying you read the license agreement, in the end, the reason for the adware is ALWAYS the user.
If anyone ever stopped to read the EULA of any of the programs they install, they'll realize why they have adware. You allow full control and installation of new programs whenever the program wants. Once installed, it can be damn near impossible to get rid of, but it was your fault in the first place.
And do not even try to blame microsoft for the adware. You can blame them for not knowing what software is installed on their operating system, but that's because xp is based on nt, which was designed for internal networks with IT departments. The solution is in encrypted installations much like how consoles work. Alex St. John has some pretty good articles on what Microsoft needs to do to fix that problem.
But adware asks at least once. If you allow it, you're allowing as much adware as the one program can download. In the end, USER ERROR.
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Let's get something straight. ALL (yes, ALL) adware asks permission for installation. You cannot get adware with a fresh installation of windows even if you went to the shadiest sites on the Internet without clicking yes to something. Once you click yes to that one thing, the adware that's installed may install other adware....it's all included with their EULA. But you will never get any adware without user interaction. (Viruses not included; I'm talking about adware)
If you're using someone's software, it's your responsibility to read through the EULA. I don't care if it's legal mumbo jumbo or not; you downloaded and installed someone else's product that came with an agreement. It's technically illegal to use the software if you don't agree with the EULA, so again, your fault for not reading it. If you don't want to read it, don't install it.
And since you did install that software on your own accord, any cpu cycles or electricity that software uses is your responsibility. You installed it.
Once again, if you leave a program running on a fresh installation that opens internet explorer windows to random sites on the internet, you will not have one piece of adware on that machine the next day. I don't see how you can pass laws against software that comes with an agreement that people ignore and then complain about later. You cannot outlaw stupidity.
ALL spyware/adware asks permission at one time or another. Whether you click yes on a popup, click to allow an activex control, click next on the install of an adware supported program, click run on the wrong download, or click yes saying you read the license agreement, in the end, the reason for the adware is ALWAYS the user. If anyone ever stopped to read the EULA of any of the programs they install, they'll realize why they have adware. You allow full control and installation of new programs whenever the program wants. Once installed, it can be damn near impossible to get rid of, but it was your fault in the first place. And do not even try to blame microsoft for the adware. You can blame them for not knowing what software is installed on their operating system, but that's because xp is based on nt, which was designed for internal networks with IT departments. The solution is in encrypted installations much like how consoles work. Alex St. John has some pretty good articles on what Microsoft needs to do to fix that problem. But adware asks at least once. If you allow it, you're allowing as much adware as the one program can download. In the end, USER ERROR.