Microsoft Downgrades Claria Adware Detections

Spinner

As many of our members predicted Microsoft has now quietly downgraded its Microsoft AntiSpyware detections for Claria. This news follows published reports of acquisition talks between Microsoft and the California based distributor of controversial Gator ad-serving software.

Anti-spyware activist Eric L. Howes, who serves as a consultant to Sunbelt Software, discovered the default changes during a recent test that included four Claria applications: Dashbar, Gator, PrecisionTime and Weatherscope. According to the results published by Howes, four different builds of the Windows AntiSpyware beta detected the Claria products, but the default recommendation was "ignore."

Source: Eweek

GHoosdum

I knew it... but still, it's galling. :shakehead

Ben

^Ben here, the downgradings come from spynet, microsoft gets all of it's spyware ratings from them.

All of the other "big" spyware removers also have the same removal policy as spynet now.

Me again

The change in Claria's status seems to be due to a change in their data collection policies.
Macafee also considers them not to be a threat.
This change seems to have begun in February of this year.

Press Releases:

February 15, 2005 -- Claria Assembles Team of Privacy Experts to Help Develop New BehaviorLink Advertising Network Model

http://www.claria.com/companyinfo/press/re...s/pr050214.html

February 24, 2005 -- Department of Homeland Security Appoints Claria's D. Reed Freeman to Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee

April 25, 2005 -- McAfee Finds Claria's GAIN Ad-Supported Software Does Not Present a Malicious Threat to Consumers

http://www.claria.com/companyinfo/press/re...s/pr050425.html

May 12, 2005 -- Claria to Speak at NAI Forum on Anti-Spyware Initiatives

There's also a privacy policy on their page that stresses user concent and anonymity.

Also, check MS' documentation about how spyware is defined:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/s...v/analysis.mspx

kanezfan

Claria/Gator is a turd. You can try to polish a turd but in the end you'll still have a turd. Unless they stop making software and get in the vegetable business, I'll never trust those assclowns. And no, I don't care if they're appointed to every congressional cabinet, a turd is a turd is a turd.