Spyware removes Ad-Aware ...

[LanSite]

Taken from Ars ...

War escalates between spyware and spyware removal
Posted 4/23/2002 - 6:11PM, by zAmboni
Programs which scan computers for sneakily installed spyware cause headaches for the spyware companies because they directly interfere with their business model. Spyware doesn't work if it is found and deleted from a hard drive. Well it looks like spyware is fighting back and is trying to reverse this trick. Programs which contain spyware are now deleting anti-spyware during installation.
On installation, third party media player RadLight deletes files in the default directory path for Ad-Aware, a program which specifically seeks out and destroys installed spyware. RadLight doesn't try to be too sneaky though, it does warn about what it will do in its EULA.

When installing RadLight, a document is displayed explaining that the program comes bundled with two "small optional programs from other companies." The programs include WhenU.com's SaveNow browser shopping "companion" and New.net's Web navigation plug-in.
According to the document, "You are not allowed to use any third party program (e.g., Ad-aware) to uninstall application bundled with RadLight. Such programs will be removed."
Many companies are now sneaking in clauses in hard to read EULAs which many users skip when installing programs. Installing a program is one thing...but having an install delete a program or file is a different thing. Ad-Aware is not taking this lightly and has likened RadLight to "viruses and Trojans". They have also alerted Download.com which has subsequently removed the RadLight from their pages. The report stated a cached version of the RadLight download page from Download.com showed it had been downloaded over 750,000 times.

bastards

[aversion]

Originally posted by LanSite

bastards

indeed

[stevy99]

dang, where will this end?

oh well..

[Hellsbellboy]

guess I won't be using RadLight.

[nordberg]

i'll take the radlight with my chip implant please

this is only a problem if you are using these obscure 3rd party tools, right? i don't think i'll really worry until the big guns are using this sneaky technology.

[Mike-Edwards]

Originally posted by LanSite


bastards

You got that right!!

[gerbick]

so, you're telling me that I'm going to have to have a spyware remover remover?

it's a conspiracy, I tell you.

[]v[orpheus]

Just great, I'm one of those who don't even bother reading those EULA!

We must fight back!

[novex]

thats just stupid...

[mrxypaxn]

Originally posted by gerbick
so, you're telling me that I'm going to have to have a spyware remover remover?

it's a conspiracy, I tell you.

One word: Illuminati!

[aversion]

Originally posted by nordberg
this is only a problem if you are using these obscure 3rd party tools, right?

as lanny said, 750k people downloaded radlight from download.com alone. Not a huge percentage of net users but still a hell of a lot of people, these guys use your information to target ads and create stats on what you do, this is a far larger user base than gallup ever uses!!