  Happyrat6Google Is Your Best FriendPremium
join:2002-07-01
Disneyland | Call it crapware then... A duck is a duck is a duck... | |
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 |  NerdtalkerWorking Hard, Or Hardly Working?Premium,MVM
join:2003-02-18
Tucson, AZ | Re: Call it crapware then... said by Happyrat6:A duck is a duck is a duck... If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and looks like a duck ***news flash*** It is a duck! | |
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| |  Mac BridgerLate to the partyPremium
join:2001-01-11
West Newton, PA
 ·Cricket Broadband
 ·Comcast
| They said it themselves said by cydoor's threatening letter:
From time to time the partner application connects to Cydoor's servers in order to report aggregated performance records such as which ads were displayed, how many impressions they received, and which, if any, did the user click on.
Wow, I think you just admitted that it is spyware. Quit complaining and take your medicine.
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Your resident hillbilly expert. | |
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| | | | | Re: They said it themselves I was thinking the same thing. That is TOTALLY an admission of spying. Now of course that isint as bad as keeping track of someones browsing habits but it is still spying no matter how its put. | |
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| | |  en102Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA | The letter is also somewhat contradicting...
There is no installation, explicit or otherwise, of any Cydoor component on the user’s computer.
After installation, the partner application manages the various advertisements and their performance.
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| | | |  2tr
@cpe.net.cable.rogers |  Re: They said it themselves
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| | | said by Happyrat6:A duck is a duck is a duck... agreed, but you gotta love those Ad guys, always coming up with the slick wording...um, no this is not spyware you just have a case of MILD adware. I understand that the developers of freeware and all that goes under that title of free needs to generate revenue somehow, all I say is make sure you let the end users know what they are installing. Let us make the choice to screw up our PCs or not. | |
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|  DownLowNope...I Got NothingPremium
join:2001-04-25
Long Island | A piece of advice to Cydoor...
Don't just "urge" your partners to state upfront that their application is freeware but is supported by advertising" - REQUIRE IT. If you customers are guilty...so are you!
Unwanted software is just that..unwanted!
Quack!!
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Cleverly Disguised As A Responsible Adult! | |
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| | | | Re: Call it crapware then... You're missing a letter.
It's shitware.
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|  fireflierCoffee. . .Need CoffeePremium
join:2001-05-25
Limbo | Pleeeeeease, pretty please with sugar on top, stop telling people the truth about us. . .
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When people are free to do as they please, they usually imitate each other. | |
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| | spyware Personally, all those who complain about be classfied as spyware should give up. Even if we all call them another name , everyone will know the short to the point name spyware.
-illusion | |
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| | Crapware any time you download a program and can't get rid of everything when you remove it. It's spyware. "mild adware" is just pr talk for annoying app that never goes away and tracks your internet movement. | |
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DaemonPremium
join:2003-06-29
San Francisco, CA Reviews:
·Comcast
| depends on the definition of spyware I think the term spyware has transcended the original meaning, which was a hidden program installed that tracks your behavior and reports it to an outside source.
It's now been applied to any program that tracks your behavior and displays ads. Even if people know they are installing the program, they still don't like what it does or that fact that they have to install it to install whatever it came bundled with. Thus, it gets labelled spyware because it's irritating.
It's similar, in my opinion, to the label hacker. It transcended it's original meaning to include those cracking systems maliciously.
Sorry cydoor, I think it's going to be hard to change our collective psyches
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-Ryan
Computational Engineering Student looking for BioMedical/Computational BioEng internship. PM me if you know of any available! | |
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|  ThalerPremium
join:2004-02-02
Los Angeles, CA
kudos:3
 ·DSL EXTREME
| Re: depends on the definition of spyware said by Daemon:I think the term spyware has transcended the original meaning, which was a hidden program installed that tracks your behavior and reports it to an outside source. It's now been applied to any program that tracks your behavior and displays ads. I think you answered your question just there. Cydoor (and all the collective "adware" agencies) ARE spyware, as they are tracking your behavior with their software. Keeping track of how many ads I've seen, how many clicks I make, etc.? That's spying, my friend...and that's what spyware does.
It's no keylogger, but they admit that it is keeping information on my habits. Who knows what else it's doing that they're not telling me? It's not exactly like they have any credibility with the internet community.
said by Daemon:Even if people know they are installing the program, they still don't like what it does or that fact that they have to install it to install whatever it came bundled with. Thus, it gets labelled spyware because it's irritating. No, it gets labeled "crapware" and "malware" because it annoys the hell out of you AND makes your system unstable. The "spyware" tag gets earned for keeping track of any "habits" I might be having on my own damn computer.
So, Cydoor is spyware, crapware, and malware, all rolled into one. Sorry for the mistake Cydoor.  | |
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| | DaemonPremium
join:2003-06-29
San Francisco, CA Reviews:
·Comcast
| Re: depends on the definition of spyware said by Thaler:I think you answered your question just there. Cydoor (and all the collective "adware" agencies) ARE spyware, as they are tracking your behavior with their software. Keeping track of how many ads I've seen, how many clicks I make, etc.? That's spying, my friend...and that's what spyware does. It's not spying if I authorize or otherwise invite the tracking. (Otherwise, auditing services could be prosecuted for espionage) Thus, if the installer program makes it explicit that my habits will be tracked and I must agree to complete the install, it's not strictly "spyware".
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-Ryan
Computational Engineering Student looking for BioMedical/Computational BioEng internship. PM me if you know of any available! | |
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| | | ThalerPremium
join:2004-02-02
Los Angeles, CA
kudos:3 Reviews:
·DSL EXTREME
| Re: depends on the definition of spyware How do you "authorize" tracking when the damn things install via exploits and other unscruplous deployment methods where you don't even get the option to say no? Not to meantion that even on "legit" spyware installs, the agreement to "allow" spying is buried on page 1834 of the EULA, written in legaleeze.
If adware really wanted to be taken as "adware", then the advertisement and tracking methods should be published on page 1, right in the user's face...not just subsection Q of document reference packet 9B in the hidden help file in the install. However, chances are that if these activities were made known from minute 1 of installation, and they'd apparantly rather have uninformed miserable users than have customers who actually want their software "solution".
Stealth installs and deceptive EULAs do not amount to user concent, so they still are spying on these "customers", thus, spyware. | |
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| | | | DaemonPremium
join:2003-06-29
San Francisco, CA Reviews:
·Comcast
| Re: depends on the definition of spyware We're arguing the same thing here.
I agree completely with your above point. However, even if cydoor does exactly what you describe, the foul memory of spyware will keep it labeled as spyware, because the consumer won't see the difference.
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-Ryan
Computational Engineering Student looking for BioMedical/Computational BioEng internship. PM me if you know of any available! | |
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| | | | | ThalerPremium
join:2004-02-02
Los Angeles, CA
kudos:3 Reviews:
·DSL EXTREME
| Re: depends on the definition of spyware said by Daemon:However, even if cydoor does exactly what you describe, the foul memory of spyware will keep it labeled as spyware, because the consumer won't see the difference. It still meets my criteria for spyware, as they now admit (in plain english, in their own words) that buried within the software EULA, it allows them to track your habits. Maybe someday some other company will come along and truely make Adware in the pure sense of the word...currently though, it seems like every "no-spyware adware" vendor abuses that label with the stealth installs & f***ed up EULAs. | |
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 RickezGoinginsane
join:2000-09-02
Three Rivers, MA
·Comcast
| ad-serving technology as spyware "In regard with your article, I would like to bring your attention to your categorization of our ad-serving technology as spyware. I believe that this categorization is mistaken,..."
Anyone know of a good ad-serving technology remover?
Lets see theres Ad-Aware, aware of the ad-serving technology? AKA Spyware.
Are you reading this Orit Levy? We do not want your junk on our computers, that is the bottom line. | |
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| | Ok, you've convinced me, Cydoor. I believe you... NOT! | |
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 oliphantI Have 8 BoobiesPremium
join:2004-11-26
Corona, CA | So by their logic a peeping Tom isn't spying? Simply because the Tom doesn't know the name of the broad he's watching?
In every EULA buried at the 12,000th word is the fine print about how an app bends you over and F's ya. That's not the point. The point is a duck is a duck whether you know it's a duck or don't know it's a duck.
Any app that reports ANYTHING about the end user including performance statistics is spying whether it attaches a name to it or not.
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Don't get it, demand it! The Anime Network www.theanimenetwork.com | |
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 nikdoPremium
join:2002-02-26
Dacula, GA
kudos:1 | No, thank you No one will ever make me understand why the combination of owning a computer(s) and it being connected to the internet gives anyone a right to think this means I want to be a target for their advertising. The closest thing to an "excuse" they have is that it is part of an agreement for "free" software. Personally, I would much rather pay for software I require, and if I do decide to take advantage of an application that is free, then I will only choose one that I know contains nothing other than the function it was written for.
I paid for my computer.
I paid for my software.
I pay for my broadband every month.
I do not wish to pay or assist anyone who degrades any of the above. | |
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|  NezmoThe name's Bond. James Bond.Premium,MVM
join:2004-11-10
Coppell, TX | Re: No, thank you So well put nikdo... | |
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| vwtoys
join:2001-08-13
Torrance, CA | I think we should charge these adware (mild or not) companies for adwares in our computers. The usage of our system resources/bandwidth should be paid for by them. Why should I give them free data/information? It's only fair. | |
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| | ThalerPremium
join:2004-02-02
Los Angeles, CA
kudos:3 Reviews:
·DSL EXTREME
| Re: No, thank you said by vwtoys:I think we should charge these adware (mild or not) companies for adwares in our computers. The usage of our system resources/bandwidth should be paid for by them. Why should I give them free data/information? It's only fair. Because hidden deep within their EULA, you agree to not do that very said thing. Otherwise, I'd have a going rate of $500 a kilobyte for storing their software. :P | |
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 jjoshuaPremium
join:2001-06-01
Scotch Plains, NJ
kudos:1 | Who is making the classification? As a community, we're free to classify it however we want to.
Thanks for your opinion, Cydoor. It has been duly noted. | |
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| | Doesn't Make It Right So they think Adware is any better than Spyware? Ads might not spy on an individual, but it's still an invasion of privacy... and a huge nuisance.
When it comes to something going over your internet wire that is undesirable and unwanted, it doesn't matter what it's labelled as. | |
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| | | Re: Doesn't Make It Right Actually terminology, definitions, and user expectations do matter and do make things right. If you install an application that you know includes adware and if it is stated that information and user behavior relative to the ad placement will be tracked and sent to some party, then it is not spying in the sense of watching secretly.
However, in defense of the term spyware, we only need to go to the dictionary to see that it is broad enough to include observation for a specific purpose. | |
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 Grail KnightQui audet adipisciturPremium
join:2003-05-31
Valhalla
kudos:6 | And we all just fell off the Turnip truck! Keep an eye out they may be next to pass the TAC. | |
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 MrWhippitYou Big Dummy Gimmie Back My BandwithPremium
join:2002-04-04
Marlton, NJ | I know who could get this to work for him! Get BILLY MAYS!!
If anyone can make a product legit he can.
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Its all BALL-BEARINGS these days! | |
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 intellerSociopaths always win.
join:2003-12-08
Tulsa, OK | ad creatives? oh FOCK all of this slick marketing talk. You push shit onto people's computers, plain and simple. | |
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 TsumePremium
join:2004-02-23
Johnson City, TN
·Comcast
| I believe this is justified It isn't nearly as bad as most unwanted-wares to date, and it really doesn't steal very private information.
However, I do not believe that this should be removed from adware/spyware scanners. It should still be enabled for deletion by default, and be optional to disable scanning for it [I know you can do this in Spybot S&D].
They actually sent a nice letter, one that doesn't accuse or point fingers. If that is truely representing of the company, then I do believe this falls under Adware and not Spyware. To me, it's the same when it comes to scanning and deletion. It just isn't a big privacy risk. | |
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| | | Re: I believe this is justified "They actually sent a nice letter, one that doesn't accuse or point fingers. If that is truely representing of the company, then I do believe this falls under Adware and not Spyware."
------------------------------------------------------------
Uh...being nice changes what Cydoor is? No. Junk is junk is crap no matter what sort of "nice" marketing talk is spread on it. Adware...spyware...all junk/crap. Whether it's a privacy risk or not matters very little to me. It's the fact that it's obtrusive, unwanted and a pain in the ass to get out that makes this CRAP. Ok? Take a hike, Cydoor.  | |
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 newviewEx .. Ex .. ExactlyPremium
join:2001-10-01
Parsonsburg, MD
kudos:1
 ·Vonage
 ·DIRECTV
| Is Cydoor Spware? Poll
Do you consider Cydoor to be spyware? |
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See 7 replies to this post |
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| | Let readers respond DSL Reports should hold a contest; for readers to write a response letter. Everyone could vote for the best response letter to Cydoor. | |
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| Grail KnightQui audet adipisciturPremium
join:2003-05-31
Valhalla
kudos:6 | Re: Let readers respond I like the poll idea better.
Numbers seem to speak louder than words. | |
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| | jsouthJsouth
join:2000-12-12
Wichita, KS | Re: Let readers respond What if we all reply directly to any reply address on the email? I can see it now, a few thousand people telling them to sod off. Especially since this board has no financial ties to any anti-spyware company, so it's a matter of free speech.
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BTK is Caught!!!! | |
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 GlenQuagmireGiggidy Giggidy Giggidy GooPremium
join:2004-02-16
Grand Rapids, MI | Sh#$ware How about we call it shitware! | |
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|  TheJokerPremium,VIP,MVM
join:2001-04-26
Alexandria, VA
kudos:5 | Re: Just look at the demo from their site.... I wonder what that did look like. It wanted to use ActiveX, shame on it. Of course, it was blocked by my settings, courtesy of IE-SPYAD. Thanks Eric. 
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TheJoker | |
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 Titus PulloI came, I saw, I slept
join:2004-06-26
kudos:1 | Another rope salesmen "Cydoor provides all its publishers with a complete interactive advertising solution [...]"
Say no more ...
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"The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppose." -- Frederick Douglass | |
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 rogue_I Have A Secret WindowPremium
join:2001-10-17
Lake Hiawatha, NJ
1 edit | After reading that nice letter.... I come to the conclusion that Cydoor may NOT be spyware.
I wonder what Levy means when she says "consider it mild adware". The reason I wonder is why would someone refer to their product as 'mild adware' when, according to Levy, nothing is ever installed on a users computer from Cydoor in the first place.
Well, if nothing is ever installed on a users computer then how can all these respected AV products detect it? See, it's not out there to be detected if we are to believe Levy. So I guess that Symantec and ALL the others are just arbitrarily adding Cydoor for shits and giggles?
I think, like the BBr rep here thinks. Nice letter but...
Honestly, it appears that Cydoor's Levy is attempting to lay the blame on HER customers. They are the ones who should be notifying US, the computer user, about the ad content that will be endlessly pumped into our systems.
Toss her to wolves I say..
Sorry, I assumed you were male.
Single or married? I always wanted to give lovin' to a geek
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Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. | |
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See 6 replies to this post |
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Just look at the demo from their site....
