Is Adware legal?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Chris
  • Start date Start date
C

Chris

Is spyware legal? and if so why? It is more of a nuisence then viruses at
times, and it can control your computer to a state where is can be unusable.

How come people who write viruses get busted and companies who create
spyware don't, even though their address and contact information is often
known.

just wondering, also anyone ever try billing these ad agencies for their
time in trying to remove their spyware
 
Chris said:
Is spyware legal? and if so why? It is more of a nuisence then
viruses at times, and it can control your computer to a state where
is can be unusable.
Click to expand...

It's legal if they showed you an End-User License Agreement which explained
what the product does, and asked for your consent to install, and you gave
your consent.
 
After serious thinking Robin Walker [MVP] wrote :
It's legal if they showed you an End-User License Agreement which explained
what the product does, and asked for your consent to install, and you gave
your consent.
Click to expand...

But maybe "unwished" ?

Do you ever help any user to remove unwished programs like Aurora
and Spysheriff, all users click "YES"...........
 
As far as I know (and I am not sure I am right about
this), they get away with it in the end user licesnse
agreement of programs you chose to download, meaning, in
the text of the agreement it will say you consent to
receiving other information and/or programs in the
future. Most people dont pay attention to this and are
only thinking of the program they want to download and all
the little nasty things they are unintentionally
consenting to receive.

The real interesting thing would be to drill down and see
which "legitimate" companies are receiving compensation
for agreeing to allow spyware/adware prgorams to ride
along with their software surreptitiously (as part of the
license agreement) .
-----Original Message-----
Chris said:
Is spyware legal? and if so why? It is more of a nuisence then
viruses at times, and it can control your computer to a state where
is can be unusable.
Click to expand...

It's legal if they showed you an End-User License Agreement which explained
what the product does, and asked for your consent to install, and you gave
your consent.

--
Robin Walker [MVP Networking]
(e-mail address removed)


.
Click to expand...
 
Hi Chris,
Your header asks "Is Adware legal?"
Yuppers. When you just click that mouse to accept a EULA, you get the whole
package, including the fine print.

Your message asks a different question: "Is spyware legal?"
That could depend on just what jurisdiction and venue are examining it. If
it's not asked for, or wanted, or directly accepted by you, feel very
strongly that it is badware, and should be off your machine. Yes, they
should get locked up.


Ron Chamberlin
MS-MVP
 
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