Adware cannibals feast on each other

Companies that use free software downloads to target Web surfers with annoying ads are turning on each other to keep customers--and the cash they generate--for themselves.

The tactic is in the spotlight in a little-noticed legal dispute unfolding in Seattle. Caribbean-based ad company Avenue Media last month accused New York-based DirectRevenue of using competing software to detect and delete Avenue Media's Internet Optimizer program from its customers' computers.

According to the Nov. 24 complaint, DirectRevenue's software detects Internet Optimizer and then sends a command to "kill" the program, a process that deletes its files from the PC registry and from the computer altogether. Avenue Media said DirectRevenue's tactics have caused it to lose about 1 million customers--about half its installed base--and as much as $10,000 a day in revenue.

"DirectRevenue, knowingly and with intent to defraud, exceeded its authorized access to users' computers...by automatically uninstalling Avenue Media's Internet Optimizer upon installation or update of DirectRevenue's competing browser," according to the complaint, which was filed in a district court in Seattle.

Avenue Media's lawsuit offers the latest twist in the tangled and sometimes seedy tale of programs--known as adware, malware or spyware--designed to deliver advertisements from an all-seeing and sometimes inextricable place on the PC. Though there are many useful applications for the desktop and the Web, the industry associated with it is much like the Wild West, with no real rules or self-regulation, and can taint even responsible companies.

Legal experts said Avenue Media's lawsuit is important because, if the charges hold up, it may shed light on the rights of software makers when it comes to changing users' personal PC settings. The suit also could turn up the volume on the outcry from consumers and privacy watchdogs over the plague of spyware and malware applications online.

"Once the computer is infected with 10 different unwanted programs, the person is likely to take some action to address the situation," said Ben Edelman, a researcher at Harvard University.

Edelman says he has recorded instances of DirectRevenue's software uninstalling Avenue Media's program. "Assuming you could get away with this, it could be highly lucrative."

Founded in 2002, DirectRevenue makes software to monitor Web surfing behavior and send targeted ads while people are at a particular Web site. For example, it might deliver a Hertz ad while a visitor is at the Web site of Dollar.

DirectRevenue acknowledges that it may uninstall competing applications in its user license agreement: "You further understand and agree, by installing the software, that the software may, without any further prior notice to you, remove, disable or render inoperative other adware programs resident on your computer."

It also makes Web game applications or other such software, including a plug-in to keep track of U.S government atomic time, so that people are enticed to download a bundle of applications that includes its adware. The company's software is identified by several different names including A Better Internet, BI, Twaintek and Thinstall, according to the complaint.

DirectRevenue has raised as much as $26 million from investors Technology Investment Capital and Insight Venture Partners.

/topic/directrevenue.html">DirectRevenue, Ben Edelman, adware, Seattle, complaint

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Battle of the Parasites

by robanga December 7, 2004 7:37 PM PST

Battle of the Parasites

Who would have thought?

Like this Reply to this comment

Just like the Mafia, but better!

by December 7, 2004 8:19 PM PST

Just like the Mafia, but better!

All the adware fighters in the world miss 20% of this stuff. Let 'em kill each other off. I wish I had a ware that would let me watch. :-)

Like this Reply to this comment

Re: a ware to watch it

by Loco_Man December 8, 2004 7:23 AM PST

Re: a ware to watch it

I might make a program to do that... but it would be bundled with gator (or whatever they're called now) and it wouldn't work without it... :D

Like this

parasites

by 1btb December 8, 2004 9:23 AM PST

parasites

I spent about forty bucks for Pest Patrol to remove this garbage from my PC. Never once was I asked to accept any license agreement before software was installed on my PC - that part of the story is a pure crock. These crooks should be treated like terrorists.

Like this Reply to this comment

forty bucks for Pest Patrol

by Ubber geek June 6, 2007 8:06 AM PDT

forty bucks for Pest Patrol

http://www.analogstereo.com/gmc_savana_owners_manual.htm

Like this

Hacking??

by ppeach December 8, 2004 9:31 AM PST

Hacking??

I may be on the wrong track here, but if their software alters software on my computer, doesn't that cross the line into hacking or something. And, if it does, then aren't they subject to prosecution under certain laws. I hope I'm thinking right and someone goes after this. (one more parasitic worm off the internet)

Like this Reply to this comment

oooh

by December 8, 2004 5:46 PM PST

oooh

Let the battle of thewhores commence.

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[robanga]

Battle of the Parasites

Who would have thought?

Just like the Mafia, but better!

All the adware fighters in the world miss 20% of this stuff. Let 'em kill each other off. I wish I had a ware that would let me watch. :-)

[Loco_Man]

Re: a ware to watch it

I might make a program to do that... but it would be bundled with gator (or whatever they're called now) and it wouldn't work without it... :D

[1btb]

parasites

I spent about forty bucks for Pest Patrol to remove this garbage from my PC. Never once was I asked to accept any license agreement before software was installed on my PC - that part of the story is a pure crock. These crooks should be treated like terrorists.

[Ubber geek]

forty bucks for Pest Patrol

http://www.analogstereo.com/gmc_savana_owners_manual.htm

[ppeach]

Hacking??

I may be on the wrong track here, but if their software alters software on my computer, doesn't that cross the line into hacking or something. And, if it does, then aren't they subject to prosecution under certain laws. I hope I'm thinking right and someone goes after this. (one more parasitic worm off the internet)

oooh

Let the battle of thewhores commence.