Feds Asked to Take Action Against Adware Creator

An anonymous reader writes "CNet is reporting that a consumer watchdog group has asked the Federal Trade Commission to take action against 180solutions and CJB.net for unfair and deceptive business practices. The Center for Democracy and Technology submitted over 150 pages of examples of 180s bad practices." From the article: "180Solutions deliberately and repeatedly duped Internet users into downloading intrusive advertising software, according to a Center for Democracy and Technology complaint (download PDF). The company continued these practices even after it pledged to better itself and after receiving warnings from spyware experts and privacy advocates, the group said."

Re:Stupid adware.

[StupidHelpDeskGuy]

Public stoning? Why would we want to smoke them up?

Re:Stupid adware.

[redheaded_stepchild]

Perhaps I'm the only one who sees this on a regular basis:
When I uninstall 180Solutions based stuff from a clients computer, I get a little questionairre that I am required to fill out. Questions are usually closely related to "Why did you remove this software?", "What services would have made you keep this software?" and "What could we do in the future to better serve you?" The first two are followed by drop-down choices (none of which are even close to my desired answers) and the last is a text field. Now, I don't know about you guys, but if they had honored my request for a Remote-controlled Sniper Rifle auto-aimed at their CEO's head, I might have considered keeping the software. Oh well.

Re:And not always duped...

[eikonos]

That's Microsoft innovation in action! ;)

Re:Throw them in jail...

[adyus]

...won't somebody PLEASE think of the mothers?

;)

Re:And not always duped...

[PastAustin]

...plenty of pop up ads saying hello.

HOLY SHIT POPUP ADS ARE TALKING NOW?!

Well at least they were polite and didn't say, "BOO!"

A dose of their own medicine..

[nixkuroi]

I think the feds should be granted warrants to enter the 180's employee's homes and build furniture in them. This furniture would be covered with fleas, ticks and head lice and be generally annoying to the person who lived there and there family. They would also be painted in ugly colors and make noises anytime someone entered the home or used another piece of furniture. Additionally, the furniture and appliances would be built in such a way that it would be difficult or impossible to remove from the homes without causing damage.

Maybe we could send them some Sony DRM cd's too.

Re:A dose of their own medicine..

[jcgf]

I think the feds should be granted warrants to enter the 180's employee's homes and build furniture in them.

That would kick ass. You could say things like "How do you like your new dining room table in the bathroom bitch?" or "ha ha a poorly designed cupboard in the living room, how do you like them apples mother fucker?".

It looks like their luck...

[Blazeix]

...is about to turn 180 degrees.

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:And not always duped...

[Anonymous Coward]

I prefer to hide my face slime.

Re:Stupid adware.

[syzler]

I think we should just submit them to a public stoning... they might actually consider not doing it again!

Death tends to make people lethargic and unmotivated, as a result most do not repeat transgressions once they are dead.

Re:Only one?

[hotdiggitydawg]

deliberately and repeatedly duped Internet users into downloading intrusive advertising software....(download PDF)

Oh, the irony. Acrobat Reader must be the most resource-hungry bloatware [theinquirer.net] I've ever come across, and it displays ads, and has been used [smh.com.au] as spyware...

Re:Stupid adware.

[holywarrior21c]

it should be... public stoning, ironing, free torturing, raping, slicing, cuting, sawing, steaming, painting, drowning... YESSS!! i feel much better! - George W. Dr.Evil Bush -

Re:FISH!

[ewhac]

You're improving, Rimmer. Last time, you wrote that 400 times, did a silly little dance, and then fainted.

Re:Stupid adware.

[thrillseeker]

When I uninstall 180Solutions based stuff from a clients computer, I get a little questionairre that I am required to fill out.

When people bring me an infected computer, I simply answer yes to the short-form questionairre: FORMAT C: (Y/N)?

Re:And not always duped...

[TallMatthew]

BrittneySpearsNaked.jpg.exe

Do you know where I can download that? Rad!