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Posted by VanguardLH on March 9, 2008, 6:52 am
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"goarilla" wrote in message
>
> VanguardLH wrote:
>>
>> "Bud" wrote in message
>>>
>>> SpywareTerminator
>>> http://www.spywareterminator.com/
>>
>> You might want to read the license agreement presented during
>> installation regarding their Crawler "services", and read their
>> privacy "policy" at http://www.crawler.com/privacy_policy.aspx.
>> Crawler is the author of Spyware Terminator, and who really want
>> you to use their search toolbar so they can collect the ad revenue
>> through the redirects and ads in their search results. Crawler
>> "services" collect personally identifiable information about you.
>> I don't know if uninstalling the Crawler Toolbar (they called it
>> opting out) gets rid of all Crawler processes or behavior.
>
> isn't that the exact definition of spyware: eg software that spies
> on
> its users and sends sensitive personal information about them back
> to their creators.
Tis part of their Crawler toolbar which has you do web searches
through THEIR search engine. That way, as with Google, they can
present ads on their search result pages and collect ad revenue. As
with Google, they can and will record your searches (which can be
subpoenaed and used in court). Whether they give a gnat's fart about
you personally is probably insigificant but as part of their mechanism
to tailor their advertising. Supposedly if you elect NOT to install
their toolbar (which they try to hide during the install by calling it
something like Web Guard knowing it will lure users into including it
in the install) then no info is collected on you.
They provided you with a free utility, where "free" is defined by
their marketing group. You have motive in not having to empty your
wallet to get the utility. They have motive in generating ad revenue
or to hook a lure in your mouth for their commercialware. It's not
necessarily a bad tradeoff as long as the cost is actually realized by
both parties, and that includes you as the user of their product, and
as long as the actual costs are not hidden. Those costs are not
revealed when you read their description of their product on their web
page. Not until you read the license agreement, something rare few
users do, especially for "free" stuff, do you realize there could be a
cost.
I wouldn't have as much concern regarding their product if they were
upfront in describing its intent (from their perspective). However,
they know there are lots of users, like me, that won't bother with
adware no matter whether the ads be in my face or hidden in the use of
their product. If you dig, you'll find the cost of their free stuff
but they're hoping the majority of their users never do the digging.
How many users actually read the license, privacy policies, terms of
use, and other conditions regarding a product? Well, how many have
actually read the warranty that is in the manual that came with their
laundry washing machine or television?
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