Comments on: Will certification legitimize adware?

Net companies promise new program to promote noninvasive software downloads, but skeptics remain.

[Arbalest05]

Sunbelt Software is probably correct

This program to certify adware companies will likely increase the amount of resource robbing adware that clogs the average user's computer. On the other hand, the fact that these adware scoundrels will have to ask if they can install their software on your computer may raise the awareness level of users about what is sneaking onto their machines.

Only time will tell.

[jachamp]

Do we trust TrustE?

I'm sorry but I just don't trust that company.

In the past they have given legitimacy to companies with horrendous privacy policies.

I can only imagine which adware purveyors will pay lip service to reforming while having their apps do the dirty work.

I remember the mantra..."'tis better to beg forgiveness than to ask permission"

and that's what these malware purveyors use as their guide.

What they have done in the past is shown complete disregard for consumers and put profit over people everytime.

Companies that were built on this foundation are sure to repeat their steps.

[kenny-J]

Adware certification

I can forsee the adware companies using deceptive names and reasons for allowing them to install. What monitoring program has TrustE set up to assure continued compliance? The adware companies have shown themselves to be amoral and they are going to find a way around TrustE without a montitoring program.

As we know, a *lot* of computer users are not sophisticated enough about technology and the Internet (the continued proliferation of malware through spam--somebody's gotta be making it worth their time) to make an informed decision as to what they are installing. If there is going to be a "white list", I think the spyware/adware removal tools should identify it, notify the user that it is *certified* software, what it does, any information it gathers, and specifically who at what web address, gets that information. I will not use an anti-spyware/adware that does not identify these programs, and will continue to be leery of free downloads.

[Michael Grogan]

You know what will come of this...

...adware companies will become certified and, while a small percentage of their downloads will meet the certification requiremnents, continue to surreptitiously install software AFTER their software has been removed from the anti-spyware tool's lists. What a great way to hide your malware!

[rcrusoe]

What's in a name?

IMO, the Trusted Download Program has as much chance of
being sidely accepted as the MS Trustworthy Computing
program. I "trust" these self serving groups to take very good
care to promote the programs and agenda of its members.

What's the term (supposedly coined by Steve Ballmer) for this
kind of situation? BOGU?