So far I haven't seen any proof for gator (&c) being an evil spytool, as some people like to state. Surely, I wouldn't install it (for a couple of reasons), but I don't believe those tools are as dangerous as you think. I've not seen any log-files that actually indicate Gator is doing any worse than tracking which websites you visit and how often you visit them.

If you are so afraid of spyware (paranoia?!), - don't use proprietary software.

Great! Thanks for your efforts to summarize the story making it nice to read.

Carlo

That's more than enough to qualify it as an "evil spy tool" in my book. Not to mention it opens up holes enabling it to install even more slimeware without the user knowing. That's clear trojan behavior, and in a non-commercial program might land the "developer" in jail.

Let's ask it another way - why should any user allow such parasites on their system? What benefit is there to offset the potential risks? Would you want to give yourself pinworms just because they don't really hurt you too much? Would you eat free food if it was knowingly infected with tapeworms? Would you be happy if such food only had a vague reference to "extra added proteins" on the label? "Proprietary" products in other industries could never get away with this kind of abuse.

It's sort of become the V.D. of the software industry. These days, If you're not very careful what programs you go playing around with, you may find yourself with a case of something nasty.

I'm sure these developers would love for people to start thinking of parasitic software as "normal" and acceptable (or at least inevitable). However, commercial software has existed successfully for years without resorting to such sleazy tactics. It's no more than just a poor excuse for lack of financial planning - anyone can be popular by giving stuff away. They could try shareware or donations *before* going with this stuff, but once "the spyware hits the fan" they can kiss any user loyalty goodbye. I find it odd that they seem so surprised to discover betraying their users actually has negative consequences!

Vendors who embrace spyware are shouting their failure to the world - it's the last gasp of dying companies and a red flag to any potential VC. The Gators of the world, like vultures, will be sure to pick the bones clean.

From http://www.simplythebest.net/info/spyware.html

Gator helps you to fill out forms and remember usernames and passwords of sites you frequently visit. You may even have credit card information readily available when you wish to purchase something online. A very dangerous thing to do. Your personal information is stored on your computer in an encrypted file. Gator accesses this personal information, using your IP address. Gator targets consumers based on site visitation and historical behavior. Gator provides aggregate statistics about its customers, traffic patterns and related site information to third-party vendors. As banners from sites you visit are being served, Gator will show their advertiser's banners instead.

Trickler (a modul of Gator) is an "install stub", a small program that is installed with the application you really wanted. (Gator almost always appears on your system due to installing OTHER software, and not the installer available from Gator's website.) When installed, Trickler inserts a Run key in your Registry so that it is silently and automatically loaded every time you start your computer. Trickler runs hidden and very slowly downloads the rest of Gator/OfferCompanion onto your system. It is suggested that this "trickling" activity is intended to slip under the user's radar, the steady, low usage of bandwidth going unnoticed.

Yeah so does M$ IE & Netscape/Mozilla, I guess you're using it anyway?

So does M$ Passport except for the small difference that Gator saves your information on your hard drive and not on some server in Redmond.

Do you know how many ad-providers do the same thing as Gator, except for that they are operating from the server side? Did you ever wonder why they (if you let them) store zillions of cookies? Any commercial website trys to acquire user information. And some or quite successful at doing so. Even some ISPs are known for selling statistical information about their users behaviour online...

So what's the big deal?

First of all its not only Gator...

I know how much spytools exists...

Do you really want to compare cookies and spytools???

Cookies don´t download exe code, they don´t connect to the internet without permission...

Do you will tell us now if somebody kills a man its ok for me that I kill one too?

John it seems you know that spytools aren´t "good" that is the reason why you don´t install them but many newbies don´t know what is going on... they believe internet is funny and all people are lovely... but the truth is internet is a risk today, so we have to inform newbies about the risks... and than every user can decide what they want... but without this knowledge they are helpless...

So tell me John where is your problem? If you don´t care about these tools don´t read our posts, don´t comment them...

If spytools are such a good thing why "you" don´t install them?

Morgwen

Simple, they aren't out for linux, they eat up bandwidth by downloading ads and they usually try to display the ads they downloaded to me.

However, I don't believe Gator (&c) is truly harmful.

Yes,

simply the best way, its no problem for you, but you suggest all "windows" user to install this crap... Gator and other spytools are a really security risks... but only for windows users...

John if you believe they are harmful, I know thousands of people who said they "might" be really dangerous... and many of this people aren´t idiots, some of them are really good programmers...

So if you don´t have a problem with this tools use them or not but lets us do our support!

Morgwen

BTW, ad aware has also detected spyware on Radiate Advertising, a program that comes with Go!Zilla. Since Gator is also promoted by Go!Zilla, i'm not quite surprised. I agree, leaving all your personal info and passwords in an encripted file is a dangerous thing to do. Anyone could enter your computer, take that file, and do a mess in your computer, email account or whatever. I uninstalled Radiate Advertising and I couldn't get Go!Zilla to work any more. But the truth is I never liked the last version.

Ivan
"In the dark we make a brighter light"

If I don't belive in a problem, there is no problem?

No, there is a big difference between cookies which will be send back to one webpage and a hidden systematic data mining together with collected confidental private data and user profiles given to third parties. Last is what national secret agencies do = spying.

John is like a young cat. My teacher told me a story from her little cat when I was in school, her cat tried once to hide from my teacher by looking away. The cat thought, when I can not see someone they can't see me.