90% of PC's have been infected by "malicous adware" - report

**getvisible** · 23-07-04

According to Dell, (DELL) McAfee (MFE) and others, spyware is now a bigger problem than computer viruses in terms of customer complaints.

so why does Dell use it? (is this still a valid question to ask?)

Its also interesting to see that from the survery by Claris of people that have got Gator instaled 74% don't recall installing this. Is TD still happy with their view that thier adware is requested by users and it is not malicious?

Can only get the cached version of the article here

Other interesting passages:

A common method is a message saying you need to download ActiveX to load the site. Don't. It's just a ruse to get you to click yes.

Sometimes the presentation is an outright counterfeit of a Microsoft agreement or some other recognizable document. A safe rule to follow: If you're not sure what it is, don't click yes. Cancel out of the program any way you can, even if it means rebooting your computer

As we know, adware companies offer affiliate progs and if these companies can not control the actions of their affilaites they run the risk of having their own business harmed just as traditional affiliates by use of spam email can harm the brands and perceptions of legitimate merchants.

**getvisible** · 23-07-04

Here's the chart about the reading of the contract on install:

**Qui Gon Jinn** · 18-09-04

any idea we can find this original article

**getvisible** · 18-09-04

Google says its linked to on this page but I can't find it.

**Rich** · 18-09-04

Theres a yahoo cache of the page here

**Qui Gon Jinn** · 18-09-04

Cheers Rich,

Is the image there as well.

**Rich** · 18-09-04

No, but you could take it of this page, or here's the page the stats came from: - http://www.pcpitstop.com/gator/Survey.asp

The menu at the top right of that page has links to some other info that might be useful for your press release thread and the top right of the home page has some links to other spyware articles.