Aluria Software Gone Bad?

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What the Tech > Discussion > What the Heck?

Aluria Software Gone Bad?

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Coyote

Oct 29 2004, 05:36 PM

Post #1

AntiSlyware.com
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Group: Malware Expert
Posts: 984
Joined: 10-May 03
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Operating System: ...

http://forums.tomcoyote.org/index.php?showtopic=20626

This is a stunning development against the Anti-Spyware movement.

Aluria has joined with WhenU supposedly to market a spyware scanner....

http://www.whenu.com/whenu_solution.html

QUOTE

WhenU is committed to protecting consumers' privacy and consumer PCs against dangerous spyware. This is why WhenU has teamed up with Aluria Software, a leading provider of anti-spyware tools, to provide WhenU consumers with UControl.

UControl is the first product in the online advertising industry that provides a comprehensive scan of your computer and removes unwanted spyware programs, while continuing to provide the deals, offers and value consumers have come to expect from WhenU contextual products.

Using Aluria's technology, WhenU's UControl Spyware Scanner:

Rids your computer of dangerous spyware
Protects privacy and personal information
Prevents credit card theft
Increases system performance
Ends browser hijacking
Enables consumers to continue to receive relevant contextual advertising, special deals and offers
Innovation is the key to the survival of any industry, and WhenU looks forward to playing a pivotal role in this evolving field of consumer protection.

This product will be ready for download on November 1, 2004.

Due to this development, Aluria is no longer a part of ASAP nor this website, I would like to have any other ASAP list on your own forums removed as well concerning Aluria's involvement. I would also like to suggest blacklisting Aluria from all future corespondance in the Anti-Spyware community and make sure we get the word out that their programs can no longer be trusted.

Guest_Bozodog_*	Oct 29 2004, 06:33 PM Post #2
Guests	Oh, crap... another way to stuff us with unneeded, unrequested stuff we don't want.... n00bs beware! Or should I say spywrare killers, "buck it up" another bunch of trash to be removed...

Coyote View Member Profile	Oct 29 2004, 08:16 PM Post #3
AntiSlyware.com Group: Malware Expert Posts: 984 Joined: 10-May 03 From: Great Country Of Texas Member No.: 5 Operating System: ...	http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,11723816~mode=flat The plot thickens....

little eagle View Member Profile	Oct 30 2004, 04:28 PM Post #4
spyware hawk Group: Malware Expert Posts: 11,570 Joined: 20-March 04 From: sky Member No.: 3,163 Operating System: XP & 2000	guess will be fixing AOL

Coyote View Member Profile	Nov 2 2004, 07:46 AM Post #5
AntiSlyware.com Group: Malware Expert Posts: 984 Joined: 10-May 03 From: Great Country Of Texas Member No.: 5 Operating System: ...	http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1706659,00.asp "We're sticking our necks out there," said Rick Carlson, president of Aluria Software. He said desktop advertising is a legitimate business if it is held to standards, and Aluria has taken an approach not yet seen in the industry. "We're protecting consumers in a different way; it's absolutely contrary to what others [anti-spyware firms] are doing," he said. ============================ Destroying their own reputation I would agree, that is a different way.

Coyote View Member Profile	Nov 3 2004, 03:18 PM Post #6
AntiSlyware.com Group: Malware Expert Posts: 984 Joined: 10-May 03 From: Great Country Of Texas Member No.: 5 Operating System: ...	http://www.spywareguide.com/articles/article_show.php?id=58 More to read on this

suzi

Nov 7 2004, 01:02 AM

Post #7

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Member No.: 1,306

New and disturbing news on Aluria's deal with WhenU emerged today.

http://www.boston.com/business/technology/...ys_its_own_ads/

QUOTE

In addition, WhenU will start distributing a free advertising-supported version of the Aluria software later this month. The program will wipe out other spyware programs but display its own advertisements. Aluria will receive a portion of the revenues WhenU receives for displaying the ads.

(emphaisis mine.)

That's especially intersting because the eWeek article on Nov. 1 said this:

QUOTE

Rich Mogull, a research director at analyst firm Gartner, expressed skepticism about the agreement as well, noting that the real concern would be whether money exchanged hands as part of the deal.

"Absolutely not," Aluria's Carlson said when asked if there was a financial agreement in place. "That would tear apart the core of our business."

(emphasis mine)

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1706660,00.asp

So, Carlson is contradicting himself. That does nothing to add to my opinion of their integrity.

Then the icing on the cake:

QUOTE

Software entrepreneur Rick Carlson thinks consumers will welcome free software for purging their computers of annoying "spyware" advertisements -- even if the free software includes ads of its own.

Therefore, IMO, Aluria = Adware.

I posted about this on Aluria's forum.

http://www.aluriasoftware.com/forum/thread332.html

It will be interesting if they respond.

Guest_Joey1_*

Nov 10 2004, 04:36 PM

Post #8

Guests

Aluria 'spyware' grading system.
/\
||
Under 'Behavior':

QUOTE

Company will not alter the normal appearance of a website in any manner without the explicit consent of the webmaster or owner in an effort to present advertisements to a user or present contextually related links to advertisements. Pop-ups, in any form are acceptable, so long as they meet above criteria for branding and removal
Company will not provide software that is deceptive in nature such as installing an application to remove or prevent spyware/adware but installs adware of its own.

(emphasis mine)

"It now appears that the Aluria scanner is actually bundled or integrated into the WhenUSearch Toolbar. In other words, by removing the WhenUSearch toolbar, other anti-spyware vendors will effectively be removing a competing anti-spyware product." -Eric Howes

I wonder what they'll change, the adware-scanner or their grading system.

wng_z3r0 View Member Profile	Jan 23 2005, 07:50 PM Post #9
Soaring higher than ever ^_^ Group: Visiting Staff Posts: 1,000 Joined: 28-December 04 Member No.: 21,299 Operating System: Windows xp SP2	i am stunned what more can be said

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