CDT & StopBadware.org Release Adware Reports

[TeMerc]

Robert McMillan, IDG News Service20/03/2006 08:04:31The fight against invasive software will take a step forward this week as the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) and the Google-backed Stopbadware Coalition will release two separate reports that state the names of undesirable software programs and the advertisers who help fund them. On Monday, the CDT will publish its report on the major advertisers who are behind so-called "adware" software, which is "increasingly clogging users' computers," according to a statement from the digital public policy organization. "This report untangles the adware funding model and identifies several of the mainstream companies that help fuel the growing Internet scourge," the CDT said. Two days later, the Stopbadware Coalition is set to release its first report, which will name several software programs to its Badware Watch List, which it is billing as a community generated list of unwanted software. PCWorldSource:Sunbelt Blog======================================================================================How Advertising Dollars Encourage Nuisance and Harmful Adwareand What Can be Done to Reverse the TrendA Report by the Center for Democracy and TechnologyMarch 2006

Unwanted advertising software or "adware" has evolved from an annoyance into a serious threat to the future of Internet communication. Every day, thousands of Internet users are duped into downloading adware programs they neither want nor need. Once installed, the programs bog down computers’ normal functions, deluging users with popup advertisements, creating privacy and security risks, and generally diminishing the quality of the online experience. Some users simply give up on the Internet altogether after their computers are rendered useless by the installation of dozens of unwanted programs.One of the most troubling aspects of this phenomenon is that the companies fueling it are some of the largest, best-known companies in the world. In the following pages, the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) details how advertising dollars from major, legitimate companies are fueling the spread of nuisance and harmful adware1 and how those companies can help to combat the online scourge by adopting and enforcing good advertising placement policies.

CDTCDT Adware Report (PDF)And on a similar note, from Ben Edelman:Advertisers Funding 180solutions

I've long believed that the spyware explosion results primarily from advertisers' payments. It's easy to see why advertisers love spyware: Where better to get a customer, than someone who is about to buy from a direct competitor? And spyware-delivered ads are so exceptionally intrusive -- often full-screen pop-ups -- that they're likely to drive sales, even if users dislike the pop-up format. Spyware advertising also suffers from a race-to-the-bottom effect. Consider a two-party example. If Expedia serves a big pop-up when users visit Orbitz, Expedia is likely to get lots of new customers from Orbitz. What should Orbitz do in response? They could sue, as many companies have. More @ Ben Edelman