Homeland Security names spyware exec to federal privacy board

"The Department of Homeland Security has named Claria, an adware maker that online publishers once dubbed a 'parasite,' to a federal privacy advisory board.

"An executive from Claria, formerly called Gator, will be one of 20 members of the committee, the department said Wednesday.

<snip>

"In the past, Claria's pop-up ad software has riled some users who claimed it was annoying, installed without permission, and not easy to delete. Publishers also were irked about pop-up ads for a rival's product appearing next to their own Web sites. Catalog retailer L.L. Bean sued Gator for alleged trademark infringement."

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http://news.com.com/Adware+maker+joins+federal+privacy+board/2100-1028-5587653.html?part=dht&tag=ntop&tag=nl.e703

Hard to believe that venture capital is invested in basically criminal enterprises like this.

Says, with a smack of his lips, that no unauthorized chicken will be had for dinner.

They don't care who knows what they're up to - they know that there's nothing anyone can do to stop them.
I've been so bummed and semi-scared over the last few days and I can't shake it. Stories like this only reinforce what feels like hopelessnesss.
:o

they did it in latin america so given some resistance here....just a matter of time

that keeps promoting the scum and sleaze of the earth to high hierarchy?

Now I really HAVE seen it all.

Now I know there really is NO limt to their stupidity.

Redstone

i wish it was. it's well-planned destruction of our country. taking away our rights, peeking into our private lives, all that. we don't live in a democratic country. that city on the hill is now burned down, and bush is giggling and holding the match.

Oh this is sick. Say good-bye to privacy.

Because most of them probably have GATOR on their computers without their knowledge.

You couldn't BUY shit that's any funnier than this!

should be horse-whipped, dragged through the streets and hung by their balls.

fully and completely.

on edit: you forgot drawn and quartered.

My personal belief is the shit Gator and Gains Publishing puts out is criminal. Most of it is worse than a virus. Granted they have their bases covered on the legal issues because they are SLIME. I cannot even imagine the productivity loses that have been caused by these bastards. They are GREEDY SLIMY BASTARDS.

I am utterly disgusted with this little announcement. White collar crime pays.

that I'd think it's an Onion article at first glance. But then, illogic is a hallmark of The Shrub Admin.

A Report on the Federal Trade Commission's Spyware Workshop
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While not a focus of the FTC workshop, looming in the background of this debate are the numerous lawsuits currently pending against The Claria Corporation (formerly The Gator Corporation) and WhenU.com, Inc. which have been filed by web sites that object to pop-up ads appearing over their web sites without their approval. The claims include trademark infringement, copyright infringement, tortuous interference and unfair competition. The results so far have been inconsistent, with some courts ruling in favor of the pop-up providers and others finding merit to the claims of the underlying web sites. (Please contact Ronald Urbach or Gary Kibel for a copy of our detailed discussion of the pending litigation).

More:
http://library.lp.findlaw.com/articles/file/01009/009623/title/Subject/topic/Science,%20Computers,%20and%20Technology_Internet%20and%20World%20Wide%20Web/filename/science,computers,andtechnology_1_991



<snip>

Several Web publishers said they have been approached by L90 or Gator to run such download ads, but they refused out of fear of a consumer backlash. "We thought it was dirty," said one Internet executive who asked to remain anonymous. "It's the kind of thing that makes the phone ring." (cnet.com)

GAIN can install software without your knowledge. With so many security issues on the Internet, it is important to know when and why software is being installed on your system. Our survey shows that most users do not know how GAIN got onto their system, and Gator can install even more software without further notice.

GAIN collects extensive information. Perhaps Gator doesn't know who you are, but it certainly collects a lot of information when you consider all the things that the company lists in its Terms and Conditions. Take our Gator license quiz and see how well you know it.
<snip>
Users don't know what Gator is doing with the information it collects. Although Gator's privacy statement says that it doesn't collect personally identifiable information, Gator doesn't say much about how it uses the data it does collect. When asked about an investigation of Gator's data collection practices, Gator's own spokesperson said, "Eighty percent of the magic is what he'll never see. He's only touching a part of the elephant."

More:
http://www.pcpitstop.com/gator/default.asp