Comments on: See you later, anti-Gators?

Slapped with a libel suit by the notorious adware company, a Web site pulls pages that called Gator's program "spyware." Will the suit cause critics of Gator-like software to zip their lips?

Libel chill is an indication of company ethics

So the purveyor of Gator says it is not Spyware because people are warned it is being loaded. Sorry, that is a falsehood. This Gator software is a dangerous nuisance because it installed on my computer unannounced and there is no clear indication what it does with my information. In my books, that IS Spyware. Using libel suits to silence the truth says something very negative about a company's ethics, so I am lucky to have found and removed the software and recommend to all friends and acquaintances that they do likewise. I am entitled to that opinion on the facts.

Gator

Just wanted to say Gator is a piece of s*** and shoud be run out of business.

Computer-Savy Reporting?

The article indicated that PCPitstop had removed the pages implicating Gator as spyware- if the reporter had actually looked at the site better, he/she would have found all the same information under another heading- there is now a whole section devoted to Gator & co (as opposed to the prior few pages). Gator claims "adware" isn't the same as "spyware"- it doesn't matter to me, I don't want anyone monitoring my surfing & I despise pop-ups regardless of where they originate. I mistakenly installed Gator once & it acted like a virus- installing, erasing, downloading- all without my permission. The claim that "people are clearly notified" before downloaded is very misleading- the notification consists of "to view this page you need to download & install..." when a user clicks on a misc. link. In reality, you don't need to install anything to view the page & you can decline, but new or novice users don't know that & end up with Gator in their system. I call that downright "unfair business practices". I advise all of my friends, family & pc repair customers to get rid of Gator- and educate them on "adware"- they are of the same opinion- "spyware" & "adware" are essentially the same thing & nobody wants either of them.

[toyotaas]

Gator is spyware

Gator is spyware, it is a very obtrusive program that alters you search engine to take you where you don't want to go. Also it makes your computer slow. It primarily lures people who are not computer saavy and for someone who is not real familiar it can be tricky to remove all files. Gator should be shut down!

untrustworthy gain

I installed p2p software soon after purchasing my computer and had no reason or evidence of GAIN installing itself on my computer. But after a few days getting to hang of things I decided install a spyware removal tool and low and behold Gator was revealed. I did not have a clue it installed on my computer but on finding out what exactly it does, I spent 6 hours making sure I removed it. I now detest all sneaky spy or adware.

I have an idea

Since this 'labeling' issue has created such a fuss, let's just call Gator 'malware.' How can such a term not stick to such an intrustive piece of software?

I have no sympathy for companies that do everything possible to negatively affect my computing experience. Especially a company that is quick to back their wortless product with such excessive litigation. Gator will always be labeled as 'malware' in my book.

[BMR777]

Gator - Is there anything they won't do for $$$?

I hate this whole idea of Gator and programs like it. I got Gatored back in 1999 or 2000 and it was BAD. My PC was so slow. Ever since, I have hated this product, and kept it off of my system, thank God. The thing that burns me up is Gator's "One Click" install practice. Gator uses ActiveX applets to install, and if a unsavvy user clicks "Yes" the PC gets Gatored, just like that! Also, that license agreement, what is it like 50 pages!!!!!!!! Who will read that??? It should be MANDATORY for you to at least scroll to the bottom of the agreement before Gator will install. This way at least people have some kind of idea of what they are dealing with. Now, if you are stupid enought to use ILLEGAL P2P, perhaps you DESERVE to get Gatored! I, however, got gatored like 50% or more do, by ActiveX Applet, doing nothing wrong, and that was in 2000! Also, this notion that one person on a PC can install a spyware app for all users, this is wrong!!! This should be illegal. Say a 10 year old installs KaZaa. Should his mom and dad have to see GAIN ads even though they did not DL or even use Kazaa??? NO! This should be illegal. If a program displays ads, it should only display ads on the account first installed on, and in turn the requested app such as Kazaa only works on the original account that the ads are first displayed on. Gator makes me sick!

If you use IE, add these sites to your Restricted Sites Zone:

http://www.gator.com
http://webpdp.gator.com
http://www.claria.com
http://www.precision-time.com
http://www.websecurealert.com
http://www.grokster.com
http://www.kazaa.com

and many more...

Also, DL a HOSTS file to block Gator, CWS, WhenU and more: http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

The above hosts file works so great!

Also, visit my website at www.rusnakweb.com to get spyware help, and Gator removal help at the RusnakWeb Forums.

Gator Sucks!
BMR777
www.rusnakweb.com