FTC Finally Throws The Book At Zango

from the install-this! dept

Fri, Nov 3rd 2006 11:58am — Joseph Weisenthal

Could it be that the long saga of Zango, formerly known as 180 Solutions, coming to an end? The company, as you'll recall, is one of the most notorious and relentless distributors of spyware, which like many others in the business has made some half-hearted attempts at cleaning up its act. But it seemed like only a matter of time before the law would eventually catch up to it, particularly since the FTC recently started cracking down on spyware vendors. Today comes the good news that Zango has agreed to a substantial fine from the FTC with the promise that never surreptitiously install software on users' computers. The terms of the deal, and definition of spyware, seem pretty direct so it's doubtful that the company will be able to find much wiggle room, though we imagine they'll try, no doubt claiming that this time it's reformed for real. Still, it's hard to imagine that without the sneaky installs the company will have much of a business to speak of.

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15 Comments

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James, 3 Nov 2006 @ 12:28pm

AWESOME !!
In fact, ... I'd love to see us finance parts of the gov't w/massive fines from these and the spammer a-holes.

Well, that.. and perhaps public-stonings for any company that sends unsolicited spam.
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Chief Elf (profile), 3 Nov 2006 @ 12:44pm

It's in their nature...
Perhaps Zango surreptitiously installed some loopholes into the agreement.
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Anonymous dude, 3 Nov 2006 @ 12:52pm

Re: AWESOME !!
Like Micro$haft would be near the top of that one, James
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Anonymous Coward, 3 Nov 2006 @ 1:05pm

Re: Re: AWESOME !!
M$ is at the bottom of the list. I asked for the WGA popups!
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chuck, 3 Nov 2006 @ 1:07pm

yeah right,
So they pay a fine but they reformulate as an offshore corporation and get back to work. Our government needs to put them in a Club Fed Pokey at their own expense, or they can go to a state prision and get what they've been doing to us for the last 10 years.
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not chuck's freind, 3 Nov 2006 @ 2:06pm

Re: yeah right,
go to prison to get crap installed on their computer? interesting.
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Anonymous Coward, 3 Nov 2006 @ 2:58pm

Re: Re: yeah right,
I think he was referring more to getting it up the rear
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Anonymous Coward, 3 Nov 2006 @ 8:51pm

Re: Re: Re: yeah right,
I thought he meant eat spam....
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New victim, 5 Nov 2006 @ 6:46pm

Zango crime
Got a new laptop, and these bastard found their way in and I can't get rid of them. I am not that savy in computer to find out how to un-install or delete their directories.

Any help is appreciated
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just me, 5 Nov 2006 @ 9:43pm

A fine on these people is not enough. It is no more than a slap on the hand to them. The abusers online need to spend some time in jail. Then hit them with fines that make them cry.

I am worried that most of the spyware vendors, and so on will leave the Country, and head to places that either don't care, or don't have the resources to stop them.

Many give up on their computers, and either sell them, or give them to other family members because of the malware online.

It use to be you could take about a month to learn enough about computers, and you could go ahead and purchase it, and learn as you go.

You can't do that anymore. Now days, you have to have full security software on your computer, and you have to know enough in order to run the software. Or your computer can be compromised within minutes of going online.
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Mike, 5 Nov 2006 @ 10:07pm

Re: Zango crime
You can uninstall in by going to Add/Remove programs and selecting the Zango Search Assistant.
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Mike, 5 Nov 2006 @ 10:08pm

Re: Zango crime
You can uninstall in by going to Add/Remove programs and selecting the Zango Search Assistant.
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weebit, 5 Nov 2006 @ 11:29pm

Re: Zango
Mike

I wish it was that easy.
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PJ, 6 Nov 2006 @ 10:23am

Deleting Zango
This link should help you remove Zango: http://www.dslreports.com/faq/8428
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Ben Manoochehri, 10 Nov 2006 @ 7:45am

Re: Deleting Zango
Thank you so very much.
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