Spyware Still Cheating Merchants

Jamie found an interesting story about how Spyware is still on the move. It talks about how Spyware vendors are trying to clean up their image, but still doing fishy things. It breaks down several common types of spyware and some analysis of each.

Re:Thats an interisting article.

[Anonymous Coward]

Then you should read the article again.

The article described how, if you go to, e.g. Blockbuster's website and perform some action(such as signing up—they intend to pay legitimate advertisers who refer new customers), while having certain spyware installed, then Blockbuster is ripped off by having to pay an illegitimate advertiser, and the spyware makers benefit. You aren't affected directly in the slightest.

Pop-up blocker

[bedelman]

I don't have a strong view on pop-up blockers. I often use Google Toolbar. But in XP SP2, IE's internal pop-up blocker works fine too.

One key insight: Pop-up blockers don't stop spyware-originating pop-ups. Pop-up blockers stop pop-ups that load through a web browser, i.e. as a result of JavaScript code within pages users request. But pop-up blockers do nothing to stop full Windows programs (e.g. spyware) installed on users' computers.

Re:Capital S?

[AndrewM1]

It's a noun, being used to collectively refer to all Spyware programs.

From Wikipedia [wikipedia.org]: "Common nouns may be capitalized when used as names for the entire class of such things." In this case, Spyware is being used as a name for an entire class of such programs, and is thus capitalized.

Re:Thats an interisting article.

[Wicked Zen]

Then you didn't understand it. Blockbuster/Netflix isn't installing the spyware. They are the ones being robbed because of spyware you already have on your computer.

Re:Here's a question or few for you

[azrider]

Question:

How would the merchants detect that Zango or other spyware makers have hijacked organic traffic or a legitimate affiliates cookie?

Answer:

By:

1: RTFA (and Mr. Edleman's reply to you question)

2: Duplicating his methodology.

If you (as a merchant) find that the same thing is happening, contact the FTC (among others), as well as a competent (and hopefully trustworthy) attorney.

It is your responsibility to ensure that your ad vendors are living up to their part of the bargain before paying them

Re:Thats an interisting article.

[Lockejaw]

Blockbuster/Netflix isn't installing the spyware.

No, they didn't, but they're paying to advertise via spyware.

Re:Thats an interisting article.

[raju1kabir]

How can Higaran's idiotic response be moderated "Insightful"? He managed to read a very clear article and come away with an interpretation that was almost completely the opposite of what it said. It does provide some insight into the sorry state of education these days, but definitely not into the topic of this post.

There is no spyware on the Blockbuster or Netflix websites.

There is spyware that may get loaded onto your computer by companies like Zango, which then intercepts your visits to Blockbuster/Netflix, and inserts a cookie that scams Blockbuster/Netflix out of commission $$.