Sunbeltblog comments
As a good friend would say: "Pfffffffft". In other words, you can't change a tiger's stripes or is it remove the spots from a leopard? Either way, Ben's comment regarding the video/packet log proof of non-consensual installations, as well as the EPIC complaint filed last Saturday with the FTC against ASK (PDF: http://www.epic.org/privacy/ask/...ser_011908.pdf)
carry a lot more weight for me than some LS marketing person indicating they are negotiating with IAC to clean up their act.
As you said, Alex, "there is only one reason to bundle a toolbar, and that’s for money" and from the way vendors have been handling it, it doesn't appear as though there's much money unless the toolbar install is pre-checked.
Correction to the EPIC complaint link.
http://epic.org/privacy/ask/
epic...aser_011908.pdf
I can only say that I am astonished and dismayed at yet another antispyware company going down this path
I have no problems with a toolbar in a browser, provided it is installed with user's consent and knowledge of the full facts. I do do not see the need for any antispyware program to have any search functionality inbuilt so no toolbar is needed
No one in their right mind fires up their antispyware or antivirus program to search for something, they use their browser, IE or Firefox or Opera in most cases
I can only assunme that LS & others see $$ signs or € Signs Or £ signs or what ever other currency they work in & think oh good, quick profits in an ever harder and more competitive market
What has happened to the idea of an Antivirus or Antispyware program being above all suspicion and doing the job it is designed for. Removing unwanted Cr@p from a users computer, not putting it on
And I meant to say that an antispyware program or any other program has no place in adding any toolbar to any browser
that choice should be down to the user if he/she wants to add additional functionality s/he can do it from the toolbar home page
I do act as an affiliate for google toolbar & have a link on my pages inviting users to install it if they think it worthwhile
If Ask had a worthwhile search engine that actually found what users search for, I would have little difficulty in also having links for it, BUT, I find that the ASk search engine doesn't fit my needs at all and never finds what I need to search for & nor do many other search engines with toolbars
Alright, I'm uninstalling Ad-Aware. I will have nothing to do with this.
You know what, I think we should protest by refusing to use these products. Or not. Whatever works best.
Actually, maybe we shouldn't protest. I don't know. Don't be mad at me.
Mark -- you need to get out more.
I've never trusted Ask/IAC/whatever they want to call themselves, and stopped trusted Lavasoft the second the WhenU debacle started - this is yet another reason not trust them.
Cheers LS for making this an easy decision.
Mark -- you need to get out more.
Yeah, I should :P. I didn't anger you, did I? I guess protesting is a stupid idea.
Mark, I was just having a bit of fun. No biggie, really.
What's next...Microsoft to include the Ask toolbar as mandatory part of Windows? This is crazy and there is no justification for it except for the quick money hit.
That's what I'm afraid of.
One would think that looking at all the negative publicity virtually each and every vendor got from adding a toolbar, any toolbar they would say 'hey, this seems to be something most people don't like'.
But it must be the bean counters running the show. Maybe these vendors need to be pointed towards the recent decision by BillP, developer of WinPatrol and his decision not to bundle a toolbar from the very same ask.com folks.
I think that's a perfect example of why NOT to include one. But apparently not everyone is as humble as Bill and happy with what they already have, but look to steal as much as they can from anyone any way.
Pity. Looks like I may be removing yet another affiliate from my current roster.
is the forum link down for everyone else as well? anyone got a mirror?
Maybe Windefender should list lavasoft as an adware!!!!!!!!
Personally, I have no problem with the bundling if the product is free and they are doing this to get some revenue. I wish they wouldn't of course but if it's this or stop the product...
What pissed me off was SpySweeper from Webroot adding it and opting in. When my subscription runs out later this year I will not be renewing. I don't pay for a product to have this crap added.
Hear hear to TeMerc's comment above.
When I first started training in malware removal, Ad-Aware was used a lot. Infact, it was probably the first removal program many of today's more experienced removers used at the time. And certainly before specialised tools started to be programmed.
These days money talks and companies are going down this path. It's a shame and a change of the times in this area.
This is why I like to see independant programmers produce their own programs. You tend to get a better deal as they are still in this field for the same reasons when they started.
Any guesses to what program will take the same leap? Because I suspect more will follow. And more and more programs will tend to be ignored by free support forums.
http://billpstudios.blogspot.com...-with-
your.html
The love of money is the root of all evil. The Bible has it right. These toolbars are bundled all for the money, but you knew that already.
Man. This is getting out of control. The other day I updated CCleaner and I THINK they automatically bundled the Yahoo T.B. w/o asking! I sure don't remember UNchecking or checking the option. Maybe someone could clarify but all I know is you won't be able to trust hardly anyone soon.
At least Sunbelt will never do this. Right?
@ColoradoChris : CCleaner has been doing this for some time now. They do have a version w/o the toolbar though.
"Getting into bed with someone in the hopes of making them more moral"
I couldn't agree more 
In other words, "no priest ever reformed a whore by jumping in bed with her" 
Commenting by HaloScan
