NMA: IMRG addresses retailer concern over spyware

**taramoar** · 26-08-04

Just received the Aug 26 edition of New Media Age:

IMRG addresses retailer concern over spyware
By Susie Harwood

The Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG) is preparing to kickstart an initiative aimed at addressing the growing problem of spyware.

The industry body said a large number of members have expressed concern about spyware, which sits on a user's PC and can track their movements online, serve up ads or redirect them to other sites.

Retailers are worried about consumer perception, and also because they often rely on affiliate networks to drive traffic to their sites, which can be hijacked by adware firms posing as affiliates.

Andrew McClelland, IMRG project manager, said that the group has put together a steering committee that will meet on 9 September to discuss the best way forward.

''The industry has lacked a body looking at this area,'' said McClelland. ''We will look at modifying the code of conduct for IMRG members to take into account the outcome of the initiative.''

A recent audit by US firms Webroot and Earthlink revealed that on average every PC has 28 spyware programmes installed on it.

However, Paul Wheatley, MD of ShopperUK.com, which is part of a group of publishers putting pressure on affiliate networks to ban spyware, claims that a number of online retailers are working directly with adware/spyware companies.

''We want the IMRG to change its code of conduct so members can't work with spyware,'' he said.

**Supercod** · 26-08-04

Good stuff

... Affiliates are important, we do have a voice... We are just lucky we have good guys on this forum like Paul to stand up for us all and make sure we all have a secure future in affiliate marketing free of the spyware parasites

**Malcolm Cowley** · 26-08-04

Yes well done Paul for keeping the momentum on this going your doing a great job for everyone.

**taramoar** · 26-08-04

BTW, the article was front page...

**betterHalf** · 26-08-04

28 bits of spyware????? do u think they r including cookies in that, or are they serious - 28 exe's dll's whatever???!!! unfrigginbelievable!

in case anyone fancies checking their pc free and online, here's a mirror to the xblock checker...

http://www1.spywareinfo.com/xscan.php

**Qui Gon Jinn** · 27-08-04

I am very surprised that only one network I am aware of is a member of the IMRG.

**Rich** · 27-08-04

For those that are interested: - IMRG Members

Unfortunately there are quite a few companies on that list that I would connect with adware.

**Marc Gear** · 27-08-04

Originally posted by betterHalf
28 bits of spyware????? do u think they r including cookies in that, or are they serious - 28 exe's dll's whatever???!!! unfrigginbelievable!

exes, dlls, folders, registry entries, active X controls, dialers, ini's, log files and possibly even tracking cookies

the XP service pack 2 IE blocked the active X control in that page. When i installed it found several n-Case remenants I hadn't removed after installing it (folders & registry entries etc)

**Qui Gon Jinn** · 28-08-04

In the list I see TD as the only network.

Why, oh why are the other networks not members is a little disappointing.

There aren't many more better opportunities than the IMRG to sensibly discuss this topic & build rapports with major brands at a very senior management level and move internet marketing forward.

However my personal feeling / opinion, well concern, is that TD's membership within the IMRG like discussions on spyware might not be an honourable one or even trying to acheive the same objective as a vast majority of retailers by clamping down on spyware. TD's possible objective impo is could be totally different, more opportunity to spin and lure unsuspecting retailers to the dark side of internet marketing.

Something I and others will be vigilantly keeping an extremely close eye on.

I suspect they want to see how other retailers are reacting in the marketplace by presenting very convincing spin & rhetoric to passify retailers that spyware is misunderstood & is the victim of unwarranted negative press. If TD could sell sand to the Arabs, this is like taking candy away from a baby.

Then probably TD report directly back to 180 solutions, WhenU & Claria and further plan their strategies from there.

Basically, I think TD are tryng to find ways to co exist in the marketplace by working with spyware, however please remember TD are in total denial & will not refer to spyware as spyware but as adware...yawn

All of this, is of course conjecture & opinion even conspiracy, make your mind up. I do hope I am wrong but nothing in my mind has proved to the contrary yet. TD have set their stall out and nothing will change their stance. It's up to industry bodies from IMRG to the DTI to make things right. And if not acted swiftly upon, it's the consumer who could blame retailers for not being open & honest. An open policy is the best policy, the industry will have to take a little bruising (meaning profit margin) in order to mature. But if the consumer is seen has having to act first, then the consequences could be more problematic.

Oh, by the way this powerpoint presentation was anonymously passed to us, make of it what you Will..

**Rich** · 28-08-04

Arghhhh!

Slide3

Sometimes the advertising component is separate from the developers software, but are installed together. This could mean that the adverts are continually popping up even if the developers software (adware) is not even running.

Hang on so adware is the free program that the user wants and the component that is bundled with it that shows popups is.. what?

At least the content of that slide is taken from a site that clearly lists Claria, B-Case etc as spyway rather than adware.

Slide4

A user downloads a “plug-in” which sits on their desktop and has the ability to “follow” them around all browser sessions. The piece of software can only see activity within a browser – it does not have the capability of viewing any files stored on the hard-drives or within their other programs.

Wrong. Iexplore.exe and explore.exe are heavly independent and any BHO added to iexplore will also receive events from explorer - in any case its a library running in a trusted space so has full access to the file system - else how do they load config files off the drive?

Slide5.

Allow the affiliates to generate qualified traffic to the client’s site without the traffic being unfairly taken by the adware partners.
...
By disallowing any delivery of pop ups from “brand” keywords.

WTF? So as long as popups arn't shown when a user searches for a brand name it won't have any effect on the brand owner, anyone running PPC or the search engine???

SWOT = Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats incase I'm not the only one that didn't know.

Slide8

Encouraging use of Adware blockers which can also block legitimate trackers.

At least this is kind of admitting they a blocked by Norton partly because of supporting Adware. New merchants might think, hmm tracking might be blocked, so we don't have to pay commission, cool.

Sigh