I got this off Slashdot.org

"For example, if you buy a CD from an affiliate of Amazon.com, say some charity, the software fools Amazon into crediting the commission to Morpheus, not the charity! The story quotes a LimeWire Developer who admits 'While I agree that this is really a bit of a scam, it is a way for us to pay salaries while not adversely affecting our users.' The insidious part is the stealware program remains even if you delete the original P2P software. And you supposedly gave your permission when you clicked through the EULA." "

There has gotta be some kind of lawsuit coming for this....

"We all heard about spyware, well now Kazaa, Morpheus and LimeWire are sneaking a new type of nastiness onto your computer, software that - without you even knowing it - redirects commissions for online purchases you make from other vendors you make back to them. For example, if you buy a CD from an affiliate of Amazon.com, say some charity, the software fools Amazon into crediting the commission to Morpheus, not the charity! The story quotes a LimeWire Developer who admits 'While I agree that this is really a bit of a scam, it is a way for us to pay salaries while not adversely affecting our users.' The insidious part is the stealware program remains even if you delete the original P2P software. And you supposedly gave your permission when you clicked through the EULA."

STEALING from charities! Unbelievable.

I paid for the full version and would really like to know if LimeWire's been monkeying around with my web traffic. This is a serious, serious breach of trust that causes me grave concern. I used Morpheus but dumped them when they switched to spyware. I picked LimeWire because I thought that if they were trying to build a real business by selling software they wouldn't play dirty tricks on their users. This is a real disappointment. I recently got email trying to get me to pay for LimeWire again - I was considering it, because I do use the software from time to time and appreciate the updates, but this really makes me think twice.

I guess it's back to clunky open-source stuff - it's not as pretty as the Windows-based GUI clients, but those guys aren't trying to interfere or observe my behavior when interacting with other software & businesses.

The PRO version doesn't contain any ads or the LimeShop stuff. That's why you paid for it (and the support also, I guess).

And, if you feel like going back to open source stuff, you might as well stick with LimeWire, since it _is_ open source.

If you install the free version, you're presented with the option of installing LimeShop -- you can always disable it [which I do], and the software isn't installed.

The fact that this practice is limited only to "Limeshop" or the free version of Limewire does not justify its underhanded nature.

I am a supporter of Limewire (I paid for the pro version and use it regularly). I know that the offending software is not installed on my machine. I don't care.

Unless Limewire either:
1. fully refutes these claims and proves them false, or
2. explains their extreme lapse in judgment & makes concrete plans for preventing future breaches of ethical conduct, I (and many others, I suspect) will be converted from a believer in this company into a crusader against it.

Limewire must speak up immediately on this issue.

Also, Limewire's investors can hardly be thrilled by Lime staff members making such statements to the press. A company striving for legitimacy within and differentiation from a field of software-makers who are largely seen as simply piracy-enablers would be wise to get its story straight for the press.

It's time to quit acting like dorm-room developers and figure out how to make a workable business plan that doesn't involve skimming off of someone else's plate, and to talk about your software without having to say "we're running a scam".

Either *********hour is over, or this company's days are numbered.

I hope Limewire survives.

It's time to quit acting like dorm-room developers and figure out how to make a workable business plan that doesn't involve skimming off of someone else's plate, and to talk about your software without having to say "we're running a scam".

Either *********hour is over, or this company's days are numbered. - godbug (I like that one)

I am getting frustrated with limewires tactics, I fully beleive that "limewire updates" are really a ??Simple little update?? and a new trick to "trick" users. That is sad to me, godbug addresses this concern, but I have purchased limewire, I have been with gnutella, and morph.

This spyware doesn't have to be installed for them to make money, they can do it without our knowledge as the Limewire Developer stated. So why are we even concerned with these stupid subjects.

Lets just leave everything up to "dorm-room developers", just as the consitition was made by everyday folk. I am sure Limewire Developers can make our machines perfect. SO let them do whatever they want. They have justification on their disclaimer and agreement. Just look at it, they CoverTheirAs quite well. So just leave them alone and let them do what they please.
THank you for your time. - Lets see what happens next ..

Come on, this is not really news. We know about LimeShop/TopMoxie/eTraffic since it was firstly bundled at the beginning of this year. it is a proxy which all URLs in your browser are routed through. it has the ability to change these URLs on the fly, which means it could change "amazon.com/somecharity" to "amazon.com/limewire", which would lead to amazon paying limewire instead of the other affiliate. Greg Bildson called this a bug, however, for it would be only supposed to redirect you if no affiliate at all was specified (at least that is how i understand his post on the GDF). He said that LimeWire had contacted TopMoxie several times and asked them to solve that problem. Obviously they didn't solve it.

go to www.lavasoft.nu

download the free program Ad-aware

install and run -- it will remove all the spyware crap

of course the spyware people HATE this program..

good luck