Microsoft Said to Be in Talks to Buy Adware Developer

[ronjor]

-{ Quote: "
The company that Microsoft has pursued is controversial: Claria, an adware marketer formerly called Gator, and best known for its pop-up ads and software that tracks people visiting Web sites. The Gator adware has frequently been denounced by privacy advocates for its intrusiveness." }-
Story (http://tinyurl.com/aej27)

[ErikAlbert]

FYI,
The Homeland Security Department (DHS) announced the appointments of 20 members to the Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee that will advise the department's secretary and chief privacy officer on issues that affect privacy, data integrity, and data interoperability.
http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2005/0221/web-dhsprivacy-02-23-05.asp

and Claria is one of these 20 members.
Quoting "D. Reed Freeman, chief privacy officer and vice president for Claria Corporation in Arlington, Va."

Is that logical ?

[polyglory]

Buyer beware and In my view to be very careful, a gut feeling in my case.

My feelings, may defy logic, but they have not let me down yet in over forty years. :o

[tuatara]

-{ Quote: "The company that Microsoft has pursued is controversial" }-

What is the problem exactly ?

MS just needs more workers, and prefer workers that already have knowledge of their business,
and can start working directly without giving them in-house training..

;D

FWTDK: http://xp-antispy.org/content/view/17/45/






;D

[Infinity]

-{ Quote: "FYI,
The Homeland Security Department (DHS) announced the appointments of 20 members to the Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee that will advise the department's secretary and chief privacy officer on issues that affect privacy, data integrity, and data interoperability.
http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2005/0221/web-dhsprivacy-02-23-05.asp

and Claria is one these 20 members.
Quoting "D. Reed Freeman, chief privacy officer and vice president for Claria Corporation in Arlington, Va."

Is that logical ?" }-

It certainly doesn't sound logic to me :o ...


service pack 3 will have an extra shopping toolbar maybe :D

[ronjor]

More. (http://tinyurl.com/ajy3j)

[tuatara]

-{ Quote: "David Moll, CEO of enterprise anti-spyware vendor Webroot Software Inc., said the reports show that Microsoft is more concerned with revenue than with security and privacy." }-

This is what were are saying for 20 years now...


It is hard to believe that with all the Trojans, Virusses,spyware,adware,
dailers,firewall problems etc. etc of the MS OS,
that there are still people out there that don't know this.

And is there 1 person out there who worked with several OS-es that
don't believe this, or see this in a other way?

Now Security Software is hot news, so Microsoft,
will take actions .... from a marketing point of view ...of course..

;)

[ErikAlbert]

Of course buying Claria could be a smoke-screen for something much bigger.

Two facts :
1. Claria is one of the members of the Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee and that committee is close to The Homeland Security Department (DHS).
2. Bill Gates wants to buy Claria for marketing reasons, but that is just a fake reason.

What could happen :
1. If Bill Gates buys Claria, he will become a member of the above mentioned committee.
2. Once Bill Gator is a member of that committee, he will be very close to DHS.
3. And from DHS to the White House is just a small step.

Conclusion :
I think Bill Gator wants to be the next President of the United States and he has the money to finance his campaign.

Is that a possibility ? ;D ;D ;D

[tuatara]

-{ Quote: "I think Bill Gator wants to be the next President of the United States and he has the money to finance his campaign. Is that a possibility ? " }-


Is Bill Gator a brother of 'ALI' G... ?

;D ;D ;D

[hayc59]

Hi All:
Several sources have now confirmed that Microsoft downgraded its detections of Claria's adware products in the latest update (#5731) to Microsoft AntiSpyware released today. Where Microsoft AntiSpyware used to detect Claria's products and present users with a "Recommended Action" of "Quarantine," following today's update Microsoft AntiSpyware now presents users with a "Recommended Action" of "Ignore" (see attached screenshot). Users can still change the action to "Quarantine" or "Remove."

While Claria's products have not been removed from the Microsoft AntiSpyware definitions, this change is troubling, coming so close on the heels of the revelation that Microsoft has been in talks with Claria to acquire the company:

Is Microsoft about to buy Claria/Gator ??? (http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13779376)

Credit goes to Donna of "Calendar of Updates"
http://www.dozleng.com/updates/index.php?showtopic=5570
Ben Edelman and Suzi of Spyware Warrior for testing and confirming this find.
http://www.benedelman.org/news/063005-1.html

Best,
Eric L. Howes

Note: as discussed later in this thread, it now appears that the Claria detections were "downgraded" much earlier than the 7/1 update (#5731) -- at the very least by 6/2 (#5723).

Edit: Full Disclosure - since Nov. of 2004 I have performed consulting work for Sunbelt Software, the makers of the CounterSpy anti-spyware application. In Jan. 2004 I was awarded the Microsoft Most Valued Professional Award (MVP) for my work on privacy and security issues.

*For new or updated info please check back to original peice
of Info-->
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13793423

MS Downgrades Claria Detections

[tuatara]

LOL , ROTF !

This is once again, something the MS fans will not believe ...

;D

[sam42]

-{ Quote: "Of course buying Claria could be a smoke-screen for something much bigger.

Two facts :
1. Claria is one of the members of the Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee and that committee is close to The Homeland Security Department (DHS).
2. Bill Gates wants to buy Claria for marketing reasons, but that is just a fake reason.

What could happen :
1. If Bill Gates buys Claria, he will become a member of the above mentioned committee.
2. Once Bill Gator is a member of that committee, he will be very close to DHS.
3. And from DHS to the White House is just a small step.

Conclusion :
I think Bill Gator wants to be the next President of the United States and he has the money to finance his campaign.

Is that a possibility ? ;D ;D ;D" }-
be very afraid of what MICROSOFT is upto, imagine <snip> = freedom dead?????????

edited to remove political commentary - we don't discuss politics here at Wilders - Detox

[ErikAlbert]

Well, it doesn't need to be about politics anyway.
People can be replaced by other people and sooner or later everybody has to die anyway.

In case of Claria/Gator, I think Bill Gates is more interested in the INFORMATION that Claria collected by installing adware programs on people's computers world-wide.

EACH software that asks for an internet connection is sending and receiving information.
I have no idea of the contents of these messages and even when I was able to read these messages, I wouldn't understand the meaning of them, bcause they are coded and certainly not in plain text.
I wouldn't be surprised that outgoing messages of legitimate softwares contain MORE information than absolutely necessary and I'm sure that marketing experts know how to analyse/use each bit of information in their advantage.
As long we don't know anything about these messages for sure, they will always be a mystery for most users.
In other words any software company can use or abuse these messages at will and what users don't know, doesn't hurt.
Adware/Spyware programs don't even ask our permission.

The trouble with information is that it can be used in a GOOD way or in a BAD way and knowing human nature it will be used more in a bad way, than in a good way.
Successfull business men don't wait for good luck and they would do anything to be sure of that luck and INFORMATION about users makes that possible.
That's what Bill Gates is doing IMO, buying information, maybe not in a decent way, but you don't become that rich by acting like a saint either.

Negotiating with Claria won't make Microsoft popular amongst users, at least not in the beginning, but people also easily forget. Time heals many wounds and most people won't drop Microsoft just because of that.
After all they paid for Microsoft software.

Besides spying on people happens all the time and it starts always in an innocent way, but business people are never satisfied and they want more and more.
Each time I go to the supermarket, they spy on me too and each product I bought is recorded in all kinds of statistics to satisfy the client even more in the future, at least on the surface.

My personal opinion is that each adware/spyware program needs to be destroyed and forbidden in the future.
Adverts belong on websites only without dirty tricks.
But I also understand why business/marketing people are doing this.
If people don't want to go to the mountain, you have to bring the mountain to them and that's what adware programs are doing all the time.
It's all about manipulating the average man on the street.

[JRCATES]

-{ Quote: "
In case of Claria/Gator, I think Bill Gates is more interested in the INFORMATION that Claria collected by installing adware programs on people's computers world-wide.
" }-

This was my first inclination as well. Of course, it could simply wind up being a "buy out to put out" type maneuver on behalf of Microsoft as well....or at the very least to use Claria as a "research and development" resource center to combat spyware. Many times, businesses will buy businesses simply to put them out of business! Microsoft certainly has the capital to do exactly that. While this hasn't been mentioned in this particular thread, I have seen it mentioned as a possibility in others.

-{ Quote: "
EACH software that asks for an internet connection is sending and receiving information. I wouldn't be surprised that outgoing messages of legitimate softwares contain MORE information than absolutely necessary and I'm sure that marketing experts know how to analyse/use each bit of information in their advantage. As long we don't know anything about these messages for sure, they will always be a mystery for most users.
" }-

Another good point. Even though the anti-spyware developers may have an inside track as to which ones are MORE dangerous or threatening, it's entirely possible that some are worse than thought to be, while others are less severe, etc. After all....all AS apps miss items and have different signature databases, etc, and that's why it's generally recommended for users to have and use "2 or 3" AS apps.

-{ Quote: "
My personal opinion is that each adware/spyware program needs to be destroyed and forbidden in the future.
Adverts belong on websites only without dirty tricks.
But I also understand why business/marketing people are doing this.
If people don't want to go to the mountain, you have to bring the mountain to them and that's what adware programs are doing all the time.
It's all about manipulating the average man on the street.
" }-

Nice summarization ;)

[ErikAlbert]

-{ Quote: "Of course, it could simply wind up being a "buy out to put out" type maneuver on behalf of Microsoft as well....or at the very least to use Claria as a "research and development" resource center to combat spyware. Many times, businesses will buy businesses simply to put them out of business! Microsoft certainly has the capital to do exactly that. While this hasn't been mentioned in this particular thread, I have seen it mentioned as a possibility in others.
" }-

That is also possible and that happened more than once in the business world, but I believe that it will be a combination of both.
Put Claria out of business AND use their information about users to make more money for Microsoft.
I can't believe that Bill Gates would spend so much money for just putting a company out of business only.
Even when Bill Gates doesn't buy Claria, it doesn't mean that Bill Gates leaves Claria with empty hands. All kinds of secret deals are possible when Bill Gates puts enough money on the table.

[meneer]

I suppose that the EULA allows installation of MS tools like Gator/Gain :lurking:

[ronjor]

More (http://tinyurl.com/9m3xa)
.....

[ErikAlbert]

-{ Quote: "
What's most troubling, both Howes and Edelman said, is that the whole back and forth between adware/spyware vendors and anti-spyware developers is done behind doors. "Removing adware from a [product's] database or changing how adware or spyware is detected is almost always done secretly," said Edelman.
" }-
That is indeed most troubling. Secret deals between both already exist, but I'm not surprised.
One step further and adware programs are completely legitimate like adverts on TV.
If they don't care about adware anymore, they won't care about spyware either and any spyware can be hidden in adware programs and sold as adware.

The good and the bad guys need eachother to make more money on both sides and adware programs are good tools to manipulate/brainwash ordinary people.
If they don't want to buy, make them buy, whatever it takes. That's the real business world.

[ronjor]

All the more reason to support the little guys like Javacool and the others that provide protection for us. JMO.

[Bethrezen]

-{ Quote: "Microsoft is also interested in the "reams of data" derived from years of deploying adware and spyware to consumer desktops." }-

says it all really everyone already knows ms has a finger in every pie and now with all this ill-gotten gain from the spyware industry they can get there fingers in to even more pies

DAM MICROBLOAT !!!!!!!

-{ Quote: "Rather, Microsoft is probably looking to purchase other assets, including advertising, personalization and behavior-tracking technology, in order to catch up with competitors like Yahoo Inc. and Google Inc., two rivals that utilize contextual technology to draw in advertisers." }-

I recon the reason the billey boy wants to buy gater is so that he can have them build some sort of sneaky spyware directly in to windows so that bill can spy on everyone that uses windows

why else would you want to buy a spyware company

[Brian N]

They also made the spyware that Claria developes less of a threat in their anti-spyware software ..
They now recommend to ignore it ..

Bye bye, I wont be using that anymore.

[ErikAlbert]

Although it has nothing to do with Microsoft, Lavasoft (Ad-Aware) de-listed Whenu also :
http://netrn.net/spywareblog/archives/2005/02/13/dont-drink-the-whenu-kool-aid/
I don't know what Lavasoft finally did with Whenu, but it happened and that is enough for me to get second thoughts about Anti-Spyware companies, that we all trusted unconditionally in the past.

[The Hammer]

-{ Quote: "Although it has nothing to do with Microsoft, Lavasoft (Ad-Aware) de-listed Whenu also :
http://netrn.net/spywareblog/archives/2005/02/13/dont-drink-the-whenu-kool-aid/
I don't know what Lavasoft finally did with Whenu, but it happened and that is enough for me to get second thoughts about Anti-Spyware companies, that we all trusted unconditionally in the past." }-
They added Whenu back to their detection list after public pressure.

[Brian N]

Just the fact that Lavasoft actually removed this nasty piece of spyware from their database made me stop using it.

WhenU (also known as WhenUSearch, SaveNow, Save! etc.) displays popup adds, tracks you on the internet and also updates itself. No idea why it should update, don't care either.

Back to spybot! ;)

[ronjor]

Microsoft denies its antispyware favors Claria

-{ Quote: "Microsoft is moving to quash claims that its antispyware tool is now giving preferential treatment to adware maker Claria." }-

Story (http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-5782848.html?tag=zdfd.newsfeed)

[ErikAlbert]

-{ Quote: "
"All software is reviewed under the same objective criteria, detection policies and analysis process,"
" }-
What a crap excuse is that ?
There is only one rule for Adware and Spyware : "DELETE", I don't even need the option "IGNORE" and I certainly don't need a better definition for Adware and Spyware. Both are wrong.

The option "IGNORE" is created for users to show that Claria isn't really dangerous.
You can ignore Claria people ! Claria is good for you !! You need Claria !!!
The next step is de-list Claria silently.
Coming soon : WhenU (and many others after that).

Microsoft's new excuse : Anti-Spyware is for spyware, not adware otherwise we would have used the name
MS Anti-AdwareSpyware.

[ronjor]

Microsoft Irks Watchdogs with Claria Downgrade Explanation

-{ Quote: "Eric Howes, a spyware researcher who works as a consultant for Sunbelt Software, said recent tests with the Windows AntiSpyware utility showed that adware programs distributed by WhenU, Wehhances, eZula.TopText and New.net were also downgraded." }-
Story (http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1835837,00.asp)

[The Hammer]

I'm going to ditch it anyway in favor of BOClean as MS-Antispy always tries to download the same updates and is caught in a loop. A solution is posted in another thread but MS should fix it themselves with an update.

[ErikAlbert]

That's what business/marketing people want.
Teach (brainwash) ordinary people first to accept adware very gradually on their computers.
It's already happening, IGNORE means don't care, keep it on your computer, it doesn't hurt.

Bringing the adverts to people at home is alot more effective than waiting for a visit on their company website and by studying people's surfing habits/interests, combined with personal data, they can give people approperiate adverts on their computers and even personalize them, which is more effective than advertising on TV.

There are more than 500,000,000 computers world-wide, so the market is big enough.
No wonder that business people are using adware already to sell their products and AntiSpyware companies are going to minimize adwares to make that possible and better.

An alarming development IMO. Once adwares are accepted by people/law, nobody will be able to stop this anymore and spyware has always been a naughty child of adware.
Combine both on people's computers and you have the perfect tool to make people buy.

I wouldn't be surprised, that the next generation of AntiSpyware softwares will be used to kill the competition in favor of other companies. Remove their adware and keep our adware on people's computer.

I see myself already surfing on the net and getting approperiate adverts on my computer to make me buy what I'm looking for.
Isn't that scaring ?

[Pollmaster]

-{ Quote: "What a crap excuse is that ?
There is only one rule for Adware and Spyware : "DELETE", I don't even need the option "IGNORE"

The option "IGNORE" is created for users to show that Claria isn't really dangerous." }-

Really? You don't need IGNORE? The next time, you have a false positive, it would be nice to be able to set to ignore.

[Pollmaster]

-{ Quote: "Microsoft denies its antispyware favors Claria



Story (http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-5782848.html?tag=zdfd.newsfeed) " }-

MS doesn't favour Claria. Just as ad-aware doesn't favor Whenu.
It's just money talking.

[ronjor]

-{ Quote: "Ben Edelman, a Harvard Ph.D. candidate and spyware expert, said the applications in question should be quarantined because of a variety of deceptive practices they use to get people to download them. For example, he said, Claria promotes its GAIN contextual advertising application on sites targeted at kids and via ads made to look like part of the user interface. The goal is to fool users into clicking on them." }-
Article (http://www.internetnews.com/ent-news/article.php/3519321)

[ronjor]

Microsoft/Claria Deal Dead

-{ Quote: "Microsoft has ended its acquisition talks with behavioral targeting firm Claria, ClickZ News has learned from a source close to the discussions. Another Microsoft source later confirmed that report." }-
Story (http://www.clickz.com/news/article.php/3519521)

[cheater87]

will this change spyware in any way????

[ErikAlbert]

-{ Quote: "will this change spyware in any way????" }-
Good question.
They waited too long and any attempt to stop adware/spyware will be a drop in the ocean.
The train is running and we do what we can, but we are not in control anymore to stop the (money) train.
Adware/Spyware will be there until internet looks like a desert and nothing is left to steal anymore.
It's in human nature to create and destroy and innocent people try to survive between the moments of creation and destruction.
Half of the internet users are defending their computer with numerous security softwares, while the other half is attacking the rest with even more malicious softwares.
There are no good guys or bad guys, it depends on which side you are and some people like to eat from both sides.

A user complains about adware. What happens when the same user starts a business on the internet without much success and they offer him an adware solution to make his business successfull world-wide.
Will he reply YES or NO, while his wife and four children are waiting for food on the table ?

[HandsOff]

-{ Quote: "MS doesn't favour Claria. Just as ad-aware doesn't favor Whenu.
It's just money talking." }-


That's pretty funny and there is little doubt how M$ feels about money, however I'm guessing their is more to it than just money. Could it be some insane power trip?

I'm a obligated to use the term behavioral advertising? I prefer the less technical term "Brain-washing".

I still wonder at the fact that so few people ever respond when I say that Microsoft being in the Anti-Spy buisness, while at the same time producing operating systems and browsers whose numerous holes permit the very spyware they now claim to want to combat is a conflict of interest so clear that the government should make them divest.
1. The worse they make their o/s and browser, the better for their antispy
2. How can others antispy compete with M$, when only M$ has access to
full documentation of windows and IE?
3. Decisions like IE7 only for Longhorn...is it simply a ruse to keep the bulk of
internet users tied to an inadequately protected browser?
5. Will the most powerful software maker in the world ever have a
product, any product, that does not compromise user's privacy?
4. Most Microsoft Products themselves (idiotic definitions notwithstanding)
are spyware in their own right! Some of us pretend it's not so...

...someone is going to step up and say, claria is just business, M$ is just being impartial, their antispy product is good. Their security holes are just mistakes. SP2 is really a major advance, and there is a Santa Claus!


Claria working with the government to protect my privacy???

I) The government is not going to stop spyware

II) Microsoft is not going to stop spyware.

III) That leaves you and me and the indy software.



What about Googles "personalized search" Ha, ha, ha! I love it!


- HandsOff