Spyware: "no threat" - you must be kidding

**getvisible** · 11-10-05

According to Sunbelt Sofware [Worcester, UK] looking at 171,720 scans using their CounterSpy software, Spyware is still a massive threat. The below lists the number of instances of spyware threats found:

IST.ISTbar 13,899 found 9%
Claria.DashBar 11,716 found 7%
AvenueMedia.DyFuCA 11,620 found 7%
ABetterInternet 8,419 found 5%
IST.SlotchBar 8,398 found 5%
iSearch.DesktopSearch 7,801 found 5%
ABetterInternet.Aurora 7,228 found 5%
WebSearch Toolbar 6,948 found 5%
IST.SideFind 6,566 found 4%
180search Assistant 5,811 found 4%

Full article here

So according to their study, one could assume 7% of pc's are affected with Claria? (maybe a higher percentage than PC's as a whole as those who feel the effects of spyware are more likely to dowload anti spyware software) But 7% to me is a shocking figure. Futhermore, 4% for 180 Solutions and all the other crapp that's up there.

Could all the networks please reconfirm their spyware stance? If they accept spyware, behavoural advertisers etc. I just get a sneaky feeling that some networks have allowed them back on.

**Qui Gon Jinn** · 11-10-05

Interesting Post.. Would you like a thread started up the the affiliate lounge requesting an update from all networks on their current stance & what they are doing to monitor the continuing situation & demonstrate that proof by example?

**Paul Fellows** · 11-10-05

Those are certainly interesting figures. As you probably know we monitor the number of people who have this software installed and our figures are generally a fair bit higher than those. Lets hope yours are correct :-)

As far as a network stance is concerned, we still keep our zero tolerance policy on affiliates promoting our programmes through this software. This is formalised in the following 2 statements.

# affiliates can expect to earn on sales that you'd expect to earn on
# merchants only pay out on sales they expect to be paying out upon

Clearly the use of software goes against thes principles as the affiliate has done nothing to deserve the sale.

Definitively monitoring the use of this software is not simple but traffic generated in this way has a fingerprint which is easy to spot. In short, we do know when people try.

Seeing these patterns is not difficult especially when you consider that these methods do lead to a lot of sales. It is my opinion that all networks know when affiliates traffic is being generated in this way.

**getvisible** · 11-10-05

Cheers QGJ, think that'll be a great idea!

It's about time this topic was front of mind again.

**Qui Gon Jinn** · 11-10-05

Thread in affiliate lounge has been set up.

**Zanox** · 11-10-05

Its a constant battle against these applications though as we stated before we work to a no spyware/adware standard in the UK. We also have a dedicated report address for affiliates which is adware@zanox.com

As we detailed in our last post its naive for any network to suggest that they are 100% adware or spyware free but theres no reason for not looking for signs of it and taking action when you find it, which is why we do have our own in house adware monitor and routinely boot people who break the rules.

For us the problem is not so much the companies themselves but affiliates that use them as a means of advertising. Whilst we shut them down when we find them they do spring back.

Would be nice some day if the offending people could be held to breach of contract between them and the network, but i think with the nature of this business that might be deemed too far? What do other people think about it?

Regards to all