8 replies to this topic

[Coyote]

http://forums.tomcoy...showtopic=20626


This is a stunning development against the Anti-Spyware movement.

Aluria has joined with WhenU supposedly to market a spyware scanner....



http://www.whenu.com...u_solution.html

WhenU is committed to protecting consumers' privacy and consumer PCs against dangerous spyware. This is why WhenU has teamed up with Aluria Software, a leading provider of anti-spyware tools, to provide WhenU consumers with UControl.

UControl is the first product in the online advertising industry that provides a comprehensive scan of your computer and removes unwanted spyware programs, while continuing to provide the deals, offers and value consumers have come to expect from WhenU contextual products.


Using Aluria's technology, WhenU's UControl Spyware Scanner:

Rids your computer of dangerous spyware
Protects privacy and personal information
Prevents credit card theft
Increases system performance
Ends browser hijacking
Enables consumers to continue to receive relevant contextual advertising, special deals and offers
Innovation is the key to the survival of any industry, and WhenU looks forward to playing a pivotal role in this evolving field of consumer protection.

This product will be ready for download on November 1, 2004.

Due to this development, Aluria is no longer a part of ASAP nor this website, I would like to have any other ASAP list on your own forums removed as well concerning Aluria's involvement. I would also like to suggest blacklisting Aluria from all future corespondance in the Anti-Spyware community and make sure we get the word out that their programs can no longer be trusted.

[Coyote]

http://www.dslreport...23816~mode=flat

The plot thickens....

[little eagle]

guess will be fixing AOL

[Coyote]

http://www.eweek.com...,1706659,00.asp



"We're sticking our necks out there," said Rick Carlson, president of Aluria Software. He said desktop advertising is a legitimate business if it is held to standards, and Aluria has taken an approach not yet seen in the industry.
"We're protecting consumers in a different way; it's absolutely contrary to what others [anti-spyware firms] are doing," he said.


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Destroying their own reputation I would agree, that is a different way.

[Coyote]

http://www.spywaregu..._show.php?id=58



More to read on this

[suzi]

New and disturbing news on Aluria's deal with WhenU emerged today.

http://www.boston.co...ys_its_own_ads/

In addition, WhenU will start distributing a free advertising-supported version of the Aluria software later this month. The program will wipe out other spyware programs but display its own advertisements. Aluria will receive a portion of the revenues WhenU receives for displaying the ads.

(emphaisis mine.)

That's especially intersting because the eWeek article on Nov. 1 said this:

Rich Mogull, a research director at analyst firm Gartner, expressed skepticism about the agreement as well, noting that the real concern would be whether money exchanged hands as part of the deal.

"Absolutely not," Aluria's Carlson said when asked if there was a financial agreement in place. "That would tear apart the core of our business."

(emphasis mine)

http://www.eweek.com...,1706660,00.asp

So, Carlson is contradicting himself. That does nothing to add to my opinion of their integrity.

Then the icing on the cake:

Software entrepreneur Rick Carlson thinks consumers will welcome free software for purging their computers of annoying "spyware" advertisements -- even if the free software includes ads of its own.

Therefore, IMO, Aluria = Adware.

I posted about this on Aluria's forum.

http://www.aluriasof.../thread332.html

It will be interesting if they respond.

[wng_z3r0]

i am stunned what more can be said