Must Read: No niche for iPad: Why I returned mine

Topic: Malware

Rogues are easy to spot

Summary: I was sent some interesting screenshots of pop-up advertisements for antispyware apps delivered via 180Search. The pop-ups were triggered at various Web sites, including PC-Tools, maker of Spyware Doctor, Google, and even Download.

Wayne Cunningham

By Wayne Cunningham for Spyware Confidential |

I was sent some interesting screenshots of pop-up advertisements for antispyware apps delivered via 180Search. The pop-ups were triggered at various Web sites, including PC-Tools, maker of Spyware Doctor, Google, and even Download.com. I detect various conflicts of interest. First, what legitimate antispyware app would use spyware to advertise itself? The ones that came up in the advertisements were PestBot, Privacy Defender, and The Shield. The first two are listed on the Spyware Warrior’s Rogue Antispyware Products site. Also, The Shield and Privacy Defender are made by the same company, some questionable outfit called PCSecurityShield. I really hate companies like these. They probably don’t code their own software, instead licensing some code and using scare tactics to sell a few copies. How can the people behind these companies sleep at night?

Okay, enough of that particular rant. The other conflict of interest would be in 180Search serving up advertisements for antispyware tools. Unless these tools don’t detect 180Search, which is probably more likely. I’m not going to bother testing them because, frankly, you can tell by their advertising tactics they are no good.

Topic: Malware

Kick off your day with ZDNet's daily email newsletter. It's the freshest tech news and opinion, served hot. Get it.

Talkback

3 comments
Log in or register to join the discussion

  • My Tattooed Dentist and Other Rogues

    He didn't install spyware, malware, or a virus in my mouth. Instead, through his boring boring boring yakking about his tattoed legs, I began to suspect that he was installing PermanentBoredom (tm) into my brain.

    Gubba Gubba, is what I said as i ran out of his Ft Collins office.
    republicanseattheirdead
    Reply Vote

    • Why is Bush the worst president in my lifetime?

      Because he has stolen our liberty, our money thru his give-it-to-the-rich tax breaks, his attempts to steal our social security, thru his ruining of the environment, ain't that enuf? And his stupid pronunciation of "new-clear" as "new-kyou-lahr". What a moron!
      republicanseattheirdead
      Reply Vote

    • Incompetence In the Social Security Administration

      I think they give potential Federal employees for the Social Security Administration an IQ test and if they "pass it" they are denied employment! They simply have no intellect, no creativity, no compassion, no caring, no sense of humor, no ethics. They are meat-automatons, following 'rules' they dimly understand. Stupid, arrogant, with weirdly flat voices, showing no interest or concern for older Americans.
      It is a total shame. "Compassionate Conservatives" ... have you heard that lying phrase from our lying arrogant rich uncaring president? Is that like "military intelligence"? One of those phrases which are self-contradictory.

      Ahhh, what a great time to become a Canadian.
      republicanseattheirdead
      Reply Vote
CNET Join | Log In | Privacy | Cookies Close