[News CNN] Spyware company downloads a lawsuit

[Hellfighter]

Spyware company downloads a lawsuit
New York AG brings suit against Direct Revenue; alleges defendants 'surreptitiously installed millions' of spyware programs on consumers' computers.
April 4, 2006: 3:20 PM EDT


NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer brought a case Tuesday against "spyware" distributor Direct Revenue asking the court to stop the firm from allegedly installing secret spyware on consumers' computers, as well as sending ads through the software. The suit seeks disclosure of the company's accounting and the imposition of fines.

"Surreptitiously installed spyware and adware harm consumers and businesses," said Spitzer in a release. He called the applications "deceptive and unfair to consumers, bad for businesses that rely on efficient networks to do their jobs, and bad for online retailers."

According to the Attorney General's investigation New York-based Direct Revenue distributed their spyware by offering "free" game and browser enhancements that would then have Direct Revenue's servers install spyware without notifying consumers.

Direct Revenue also distributed their spyware through "bundling" of the installations through programs such as "OfferOptimizer," "Aurora," and "VX2." Once installed the programs were difficult to detect or remove.

Named in the suit are the company's founders and chief officers Joshua Abram, Alan Murray, Daniel Kaufman and Rodney Hook. The company's executives were unavailable for comment after repeated attempts to contact them.

The Attorney General's office released quotes in which former-CEO Josh Abram bragged to a distributor, "We have a very stealthy version of our adware product which we're happy to give you...Don't worry. If we do a deal -- a build together -- these will not be caught."

The case will be handled by Assistant Attorney General Justin Brookman of the AG's Internet Bureau

Source: http://money.cnn.com/2006/04/04/news...tzer/index.htm

i hate all adware who do things behind every one backs, this is why i really don't care much for freebies software items. most will have crap to them.