RFC: Spyware Press Release

[giveasyouget]

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ILLICIT SOFTWARE STEALS UP TO A THIRD OF CHARITY FUNDS RAISED ONLINE

Almost 35% of computers are infected with parasitic software termed
'spyware', 'adware' and 'scumware', it was reported today. As well as
posing a serious risk to the user's privacy and security, the software can
'steal' money from websites by altering the page viewed so the writer of the
software gets paid for the advertisments shown, not the owner of the
website.

The average infected user has 2-3 spyware programs installed without
their knowlege, and the worst case surveyed had 25 illicit programs
running on their machine.

This is a critical issue for a website like GiveAsYouGet.net, which
allows users to raise money for charity free when shopping online or
searching the web, by taking the advertising commissions earnt and
donating them to charity.

It also poses a threat to free information
sites such as The Guardian Unlimited, who pay for the content they
provide through the advertising displayed alongside.

The software, usually installed alongside free software without the
users' knowlege, or through tricking the user into installing it with
intrusive pop up adverts when surfing, poses a significant threat to the
users' privacy.

Once installed this software can track a user's behaviour online - for example
the sites they visit, the data they enter into forms (including phone numbers,
passwords and credit card numbers) and send it back to advertising companies
who will sell these details at a profit.

They also increase the amount of advertising a user will see, with
intrusive popups appearing when visiting websites that have been
targetted or that contain certain words. Often when viewing one website
adverts will be displayed for a competitor. Some of the software leaves
security holes in a machine making it easy for hackers to gain access,
others are simply badly written, slowing a machine down and making it
prone to crashes.

Worse still, some programs will disconnect the user from the internet
without their knowlege, and reconnect them to premium rate numbers
charging over £1 a minute, seriously (and embarrassingly) inflating the
user's phone bill.

While these programs are not detected by conventional virus scanners
there are two free programs that will quickly and easily remove any
trace of spyware. Spybot Seek & Destroy, availible at
http://security.kolla.de/ and AdAware, availible at
http://www.lavasoft.de/ are updated frequently to catch all the
variants of spyware on the net. Run weekly they can avoid a user
suffering the effects of parasitic software.

"These programs pose a real risk to Internet users, violating their
privacy and crashing their machines" said Jonny Platt, the owner of
GiveAsYouGet.net "It is a betrayal of the users' trust and it is
audacious that some companies are pushing this form of advertising in
such an agressive manner"

"By stealing revenue from sites across the web these programs threaten
many of the free information sites that make the Internet such a useful
resource."

"Fortunately on completing the research we have moved all our
advertising to agencies that do not support this form of advertising so
all funds raised for charity through our site are now safe."

Spyware will not affect conventional online donations by credit
card.

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

GiveAsYouGet.net (URL: http://www.giveasyouget.net/ ) is a price comparison service and search engine that
helps users find the best deal on the web and then donates the
commissions it recieves - from 3 to 25% of the order - to charity, at no
extra cost to the user. Additionally, simply by visiting sites through the
GiveAsYouGet search engine a user can raise money for charity without
buying a thing.

More information on Spyware and how to remove it can be found at
http://www.giveasyouget.net/spyware.php

The research was carried out in an anonymous survey of 62,330 computers
browsing GiveAsYouGet.net and a network of other sites between the 14th
and 28th of April. In total 21,683 machines - 34.79% - were infected with spyware
with a total of 51,581 instances of spyware installed. The average
number of applications installed on one PC was 2.38

The main companies profiting from intrusive advertising in the UK are: Claria
(Formerly Gator), 180 Solutions and WhenU

I'm thinking it's a bit too long. Rich I need to check the dates with u tho I guess it's not too important. I'm going to write another one without the charity slant too and see which gets picked up first. I've also sent it to my sister, a very non-technical press officer, to see if she has any comments and to check it's understandable to a non-teccy.

Any suggestions, additions, deletions would be welcome. It's likely to go out tommorow or friday morning.

[Qui Gon Jinn]

Looks good, why not also name the unethical networks who are profiting and stealing from charities.

Maybe

By the coercing of thousands of minors (children) and young teenagers into an illegal agreement / contract.

Good Luck to you and your charities on the press release

[giveasyouget]

sure, why not

Apart from WhenU , Claria and 180solutions
and CJ and Tradedoubler

..have I missed anyone?

[Qui Gon Jinn]

"Fortunately on completing the research we have moved all our
advertising to agencies that do not support this form of advertising so
all funds raised for charity through our site are now safe."

You're still a target whilst these network agencies allow these undesirable companies to utilse their network as conduit for exercising their business practises through macilicios software applications. The network by aiding an abetting receive their share of the SWAG with the override they receive - a Robin Hood in reverse scenario.

SWAG - double meaning also " <b> S</b>pyware <b>W</b>hich <b>A</b>re <b>G</b>uilty"

or

<b> S</b>oftware <b>W</b>hich <b>A</b>re <b>G</b>uilty"

[giveasyouget]

sorry qgj - i dont really understand how i'm still at risk after changing links (not that i had many td links to start with)

Is it with programs availible on both networks ie if a user goes to euroffice through my site they'll be redirected thru the spyware's link?

Or do you just mean I'll lose out to extra popups appearing etc?

(and to be fair I really should know before I start talking to journos )

[Qui Gon Jinn]

Three scenarios.

(1) If the program is on both an ethical and ethical network, and you change links to ones which are on an ethical network. But by the unethical network allowing the scumware company to operate, your cookies could still get overwritten by using their links from the unethical one as the program is on both networks.

(2) It doesn't stop you site own from being targeted if you are on their radar, even if just browsing your site, intrusive ads can still pop up.

(3) If linking to a merchant which is on an ethical network, the software can still detect this and intrudes with a competitor ad from a merchant of similar description on the unethical network.




Swapping links is a partial damage limitation exercise, but does stop the unethical networks coffers from filling so fast.

That is why the networks must be squeaky clean, once enough merchants switch networks and affiliates switch links, then the scales will tip enough that it's no longer financially advantageous to be associated with these software applications. Their brand identity will become mildew, bath grime.

While high profile retaliers have a brand identity which is always in a delicate / vulnerable position at the best of times. They at all costs would not want it diluted or tarnished by being associated with such applications or networks. Merchants will leave the networks in their droves. Sh** rubs of they they will get tarred with the same brush.

[Amos]

Hi all,

Quite new to this game (as you can tell by this being my first post here!) but have a few sites with 1000-2000 members. I was just wondering if there is a general press release somewhere here that could be sent to my members and for a lot of us all to do the same. If there is could someone let me know or does anyone else agree with the idea of a release that everyone is happy with to be posted on their sites?

Hmmm just read that back and doesn't exactly seem like perfect English! Oh well been up since 4:30 it'll have to do!