Yahoo's Famed Anti-Spyware App Allows Spyware From Partners

from the how-nice dept

We didn't write about Yahoo's new "anti-spyware" toolbar that they announced last week, because it seemed to receive plenty of hype, and there were no real reviews of how it worked. There are so many so-called anti-spyware applications out there that don't actually stop spyware and adware for fear of upsetting marketing companies or out of worries that actually stopping spyware may make some applications stop working (upsetting the user), that we figured Yahoo's anti-spyware app (hype and all) probably wouldn't be much to bother with. It certainly looks like that may be the case. eWeek is now reporting that Yahoo tries to dance the careful dance of not upsetting certain companies who threaten to sue people who call their application spyware. Of course, the situation is even more complex because Claria (who you probably know as Gator - despite their attempt to change their name to shake that spyware label) is also a partner of Yahoo. So, it's really not surprising that the default setting for Yahoo's anti-spyware app won't actually remove services like Gator or WhenU. Instead, Yahoo's spyware remover claims these programs are "adware" and will only remove them if you click and extra check box each time you run the program. In other words, once again, you can't trust a provider of anti-spyware software, because they're playing both sides of the fence: partnering with providers on the one hand, and then offering weak removal products on the other. If Yahoo were serious about removing spyware from the computers of users they would refuse to partner with companies that used surreptitious tactics to be installed on computers. Instead, they want to look good to users in the front, while letting in spyware/adware from partners through the backdoor.
Hide this

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team


Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread


  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 2 Jun 2004 @ 1:58pm

    Isn't it obvious by their name ?

    Well what do you expect from a a YAHOO ?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Candide, 2 Jun 2004 @ 3:01pm

    Yahoo's Conflicted - Shouldn't Be In Search Biz

    Anyone notice that Whenu is back into Yahoo database barely 15 days after being removed for "cloaking?"

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Michael Jonford, 2 Jun 2004 @ 7:28pm

    Yahoo! will soon be Nohoo!

    Yahoo! will soon go the way of the Dodo. They are getting to be a joke.

    Google will dominate, as long as they don't get too greedy and intrusive with the banner ads.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    BC, 4 Jul 2004 @ 11:31pm

    YAHOO's own "Web Beacon Opt-Out Page" - that they

    I think this link should be included with ALL ISP vs. Privacy article's! I received a link to this page (AFTER becoming a paid Yahoo subscriber)concerning Yahoo's Web Beacons and subscriber's "privacy" policy. READ IT CAREFULLY!!! If you choose to "Opt-Out" of allowing Web Beacons from Yahoo - DO NOT click "Opt-Out" button again!!! (Slyly they ask if you want to opt-out of opting-out!!!)
    If the link doesn't work, got to Yahoo's privacy policy and choose link contained in text "Web Beacons."

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    antispyware software pro, 24 Apr 2009 @ 7:10am

    hmmmmm!

    Okay, will you say its advisable to download the yahoo app? because I use Spyware Doctor antispyware and is good.

    link to this | view in chronology ]


Follow Techdirt
Essential Reading
Techdirt Deals
Report this ad  |  Hide Techdirt ads
Techdirt Insider Discord

The latest chatter on the Techdirt Insider Discord channel...

Loading...
Recent Stories

This site, like most other sites on the web, uses cookies. For more information, see our privacy policy. Got it
Close

Email This

This feature is only available to registered users. Register or sign in to use it.