Gohdan
join:2004-02-11
Maryville, TN | reply to Daemon
Re: WeatherBug software is NOT spyware or adware I just switched to Gaim. I installed the non-beta version of AIM and I saw nothing about an option to install anything else, but Sygate did throw up the warning in this link:
»www.atmaweapon.org/images/AGN/aimspyware.gif
What innocent reason is there to connect to WildTangent without prior notice? |
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| reply to Daemon
Re: AIM now bundling weatherbug... ugh ----------------------------------------------------------
Once you have that click-trail, you'll presumably deliver targetted advertising.
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For all of you who are concerned about WeatherBug.com being spyware, yet again, I need to insist (and concur with Omidius) that we do not collect any usage data, or any click trails. In fact, we don't even (to the best of my knowledge) target advertising, with the one exception of when you register, you get to choose which advertiser you would like to sponsor your installation.
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First off weatherbug is nothing more than a spyware program that directs your computer to homeland security... YEP GOOD OLE HOMELAND SECURITY. I have no beef with the gov't, its just I don't like being spied upon when the real terrorists no how to get around it. Blah. Homeland security just means more invasion into the privacy and little if any effect on terrorism. THE NEW SCARE.
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We do not report any usage data to Homeland security, either of our product or of anyone's browsing habits. Personally, if you want to look at the Westminster Dog Show Swimsuit Edition website, I could care less, and honestly so could the government. That aside, the sheer volume of weather data we deal with is more than enough to handle without worrying about finding out what 30+ million users are doing at any one time. Do you have any idea how much data 7000 weather stations produce in 24 hours when reporting every 3 seconds?
Second, while we do have a relationship with Homeland Security, it is to provide our weather data, and not any information on users. Period. Specifically, in the event of a biologic/radiologic/etc. attack, wouldn't you kind of like to know where the fallout is going to be so you WON'T be there? The National Weather Service simply cannot provide the level of accurate data that we can (we have 5 times the weather stations they have and ours are constantly reporting, not delayed)
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Check out the magazine 2600 vol 20 #4 winter 2003-2004. Or for further proof check out »starlight.pnl.gov/. Read the language of the privacy statement you'll understand if you do. It's simply packet switched networks. So use a sniffer and find out for yourself if you don't believe my claim.
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GodKhaine, have you ever run a webserver? This is standard logging data (I take it you're referring to the gathering of IP information yadda yadda) that IIS can provide. Shoot, you think THAT's being reported. Heck, even if we did, we'd be reporting it to a government that has trouble upgrading from a 40 year old computer to streamline it's tax filing system, and couldn't audit its way out of a paper bag. |
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 brandonSome truth included in this post.Premium
join:2003-03-31
Hurley, MS | reply to omidius
Re: WeatherBug software is NOT spyware or adware said by omidius:
We have taken a hard stance against the spyware/adware claims to date and maintain as such.
So has GAIN/Claria.
But to be fair, I don't think weatherbug is spyware. A lot of you are ignoring what he is saying. They don't use your zip code for target advertising--they use your zip code TO GIVE YOU THE WEATHER IN YOUR ZIP CODE! (GASP!) They don't use cookie click trails, and while you get ads, it's NOT TARGETED ADVERTISING. In the weatherbug install, you select who you would like to "sponsor" your installation. You get ads from THAT company only. I think every couple of weeks or so, you get a request to change advertisers (it's on one of the computers at work). So, it isn't really spyware, nor targeted adware. Just adware.
That said, I won't be installing it on my computer any time soon. I can see the window just fine from my computer chair.  |
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brandonSome truth included in this post.Premium
join:2003-03-31
Hurley, MS | reply to Daemon
Re: AIM now bundling weatherbug... ugh Also just ran an install of the current non-beta version of AIM, .3391. Option to install weatherbug and option to install wild tangent were both auto-checked. After unchecking them, I installed and ran adaware.
No spyware detected. |
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| reply to Khellhound
Re: yes, WeatherBug is NOT SPYWARE Agreed. Been using weatherbug for years. No problems at all. The only anoying thing for me is that when you want to close the app to the toolbar, you have to do it twice. Plus you get a pop-up on the first close. Weatherbug is a great app, and I even stole their radar maps to use for the weather gadget in gnome on my linux desktop. |
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| Also, I used a sniffer to look at what they send. Nothing weird, and the targeted advertising is based on what you reply when setting up the program. It DOES NOT track your web surfing. |
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 khc987
join:2001-08-22
Jacksonville, FL | reply to Khellhound
said by Khellhound:
No, WeatherBug is NOT spyware...
Yes, we do have advertisers. No we don't spam you with loads of pop-ups...In fact, the most I've ever seen is ONE on close.
If you don't like the advertising, we have an ad free version for $20 per year...that's less than $.50 per week...
I happen to like Weatherbug and dont think of it as spyware. Spyware to me is getting ads without you asking for them. At least with Weatherbug I get to choose which ad i get to look at for a couple of weeks. However I cant see paying $20.00 a year to have it without ads and dont really need the extras. |
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| Ad-Aware won't pick up the WildTangent anymore because it was removed from the R300 ref. file (and up). R299 was the last to contain WildTangent data.
Note that even though these items are not installed, the installers are still copied to the Hard Drive in the C:\Program Files\Aim\Sysfiles folder. C:\Program Files\Aws\WeatherBug is also created during the install. |
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| reply to Daemon
Re: AIM now bundling weatherbug... ugh sorry you don't like WeatherBug, but it's NOT spyware.
why don't you go to www.weatherbug.com/notspyware where we offer 4 FREE downloads to some of the most popular ANTI-spyware programs. if we were spyware, I guess that would be pretty dumb. let's see- spybot, adaware, spykiller, pest patrol, webwasher, spysweeper. nope, none of them list WeatherBug. neither does kephyr.com or spyware-guide.com
it's only folks on bulleting boards like this, maybe working for our competitors, who continue to spread this myth. and it's getting tiresome. folks, 30 million people (before AIM), 6500 schools, some of the largest universities (maryland, wisconsin, byu, texas, penn= you've heard of those schools, right??) all use our weather stations. and the dept. of homeland security relies on our LIVE, LOCAL weather if God forbid there's another terrorist attack. because unlike other free programs, we have 7000 stations- most other free programs have a few hundred, all at airports, that only update once an hour. wow, that's not live, nor is it local.
the choice is yours- if you want other weather programs from the airport, that's your choice. BUT DO NOT CALL US SPYWARE when every major, reputable anti-spyware tracking program doesn't list us.
thanks!
jay hoffman
manager, customer support, WeatherBug |
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| Personally, I have nothing against WeatherBug...
...though for me, I would rather just look at the thermometer hanging conveniently outside my window than use valuable system memory to run yet another tray app...  |
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| reply to Khellhound
Re: yes, WeatherBug is NOT SPYWARE what is GodKhaine smoking? WeatherBug in the event of another terrorist attack, is the only company in the USA with thousands of LIVE, LOCAL weather stations. PERIOD. THAT is why it is part of the dept. of Homeland Security Initiative. The National Weather Service (where many 'free' weather programs get their weather from) only has a few hundred, almost all are at airports, and they can update as rarely as once an hour. WOW GodKhaine, that sure would be useful if God forbid someone released some stuff into the air, like a chemical or biological agent. Gee, let's hope they released right near the airport and during the exact time each hour that the NWS sites update their data so we can tell which direction the wind is blowing.
OR for those of you who want to live, the Dept. of Homeland Security Initiative would instantly be able to track the wind direction and determine disperson based on one of the thousands of exclusive WeatherBug stations (yes, we also include ALL the NWS stations as well as our own 6500 or so sites).
As for me, I'll take LIVE and LOCAL wind instead of the wind direction an hour ago at the airport 30 miles from here.
what's next- is he going to say that because WeatherBug sends out Amber Alerts when a kid is kidnapped this is also spyware. give us a break.
Paul is alive. Elvis is dead. even conspiracy theorists need to check the facts. |
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DaemonPremium
join:2003-06-29
San Francisco, CA Reviews:
 ·Comcast
| Hey, as the OP, I thought I'd jump back in.
Weatherbug used to, or maybe still does, pop up those activeX 'do you want to install this great software! click yes!' popups that gator also uses. I hate those with a passion as they can be accidentally clicked if they happen to appear over a link you were going to click. it's also misleading as it's the same thing flash player uses to install itself, but weatherbug is not required for the website. It's guilt by association.
That turned me off to weatherbug.
Weatherbug also slowed a friend's computer quite noticably. Granted, it was an older version than now, but I've already lost faith.
When I originally posted, I assumed that AIM had you install weatherbug automatically without prompting, but it doesn't ,which is a step forward. What it doesn't make clear is that Weatherbug will deliver advertising to your computer. If you tell AOL to make that explicitly clear on the install page (NOT buried in a EULA), and they do it, I will remove my 'ugh' from the topic title.
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-Ryan
Find me in the networking and Microsoft help forums |
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| reply to Daemon
Re: AIM now bundling weatherbug... ugh If you are told that an app will server you ads, then I have no problem with it. Hey, I can use it or not use it.
If an app servers ads or sends info out of my system and they didn't bother to mention it, it's spyware and trashed as soon as I find out.
Do I actually give a tinker's damn about who knows what websites I go to? Nope. Long as I don't get popunders, popovers, etc I don't care about an ad now and then for something useful but not useful enough to part with cash to have the 'noads' version.
I don't use Weatherbug anymore because they don't cover my home area. If they did, I would. |
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 jdongEat A Beaver, Save A Tree.Premium
join:2002-07-09
Rochester, MI
kudos:1 | reply to Daemon
and I was wondering why WeatherBug was starting to show up universally in Spybot scans at my school....
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WASTING TIME spelled backwards is... |
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 TraftonSteve RocksPremium
join:2003-02-18
Tacoma, WA
1 edit | reply to weatherbugja
Re: yes, WeatherBug is NOT SPYWARE Sorry for what may amount to revival, but I wanted to reply to this.
said by weatherbugja:
what is GodKhaine smoking? WeatherBug in the event of another terrorist attack, is the only company in the USA with thousands of LIVE, LOCAL weather stations.
I know what you mean by this, but it still sounds funny if you don't know the background. 
said by weathbugja:
PERIOD. THAT is why it is part of the dept. of Homeland Security Initiative. The National Weather Service (where many 'free' weather programs get their weather from) only has a few hundred, almost all are at airports, and they can update as rarely as once an hour. WOW GodKhaine, that sure would be useful if God forbid someone released some stuff into the air, like a chemical or biological agent. Gee, let's hope they released right near the airport and during the exact time each hour that the NWS sites update their data so we can tell which direction the wind is blowing.
This is a useful service, but not any reason to put something on one's computer that does not contain spyware. Although I am all for this sort of setup with the DHS, usign WeatherBug does not make this program any better. Although this is nice of AWS to do, and generally they seem to be within the more ethical of companies whose software phones home, it still doesn't make their software spyware-free.
said by weathbugja:
OR for those of you who want to live, the Dept. of Homeland Security Initiative would instantly be able to track the wind direction and determine disperson based on one of the thousands of exclusive WeatherBug stations (yes, we also include ALL the NWS stations as well as our own 6500 or so sites).
As for me, I'll take LIVE and LOCAL wind instead of the wind direction an hour ago at the airport 30 miles from here.
WeatherBug does not maintain these stations, per se. Many are school sites which are accessable via other venues. AWS simply collects all the information together into one place.
said by weathbugja:
what's next- is he going to say that because WeatherBug sends out Amber Alerts when a kid is kidnapped this is also spyware. give us a break.
I have no idea what you mean by this. WeatherBug displays adds and supposedly phones information back home. This is a tad different than displaying Amber Alerts. That would not be spyware, but rather a useful service. Spyware is used for marketing purposes. You can't really compare the two uses.
said by weathbugja:
Paul is alive. Elvis is dead. even conspiracy theorists need to check the facts.
Paint me stupid, but who is Paul? I don't think it is any conspiracy theory. WeatherBug's usefulness should be weighed against its privacy implications. I can understand why some people would find that the pros of using it outweigh the cons. I personally find alternatives for any program that phones home if I can. Besides, WeatherBug's automated stations don't provide useful information such as sky conditions |
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| said by Trafton:
said by weathbugja:
Paul is alive. Elvis is dead. even conspiracy theorists need to check the facts.
Paint me stupid, but who is Paul?
Paul McCartney. You know, "Paul is dead" ... |
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