When you see this screen what will you do? -- despite supposedly resolving security issues with its digital wallet software, Gator corporation still finds its application being branded a "Trojan" by Symantec. Ironic, considering Symantec is one of the companies that have invested in Gator corporation.


The "digital wallet" called Gator seems to be spawned from a swamp as murky its reptile mascot. The windows application (labelled Adware/Spyware by unwanted links) has come under fire numerous times for both "devious" practices in the ad industry AND having a spotty security record.

Gator comes bundled with many software applications, and is also installed (with only a brief pause for the user to deny it) merely by visiting many websites that have chosen to be paid by Gator to include the installer links in their pages (the ad-supported community forum ezboard.com is one offender).

In-experienced users agree to the installation notice since it comes in the familiar windows form -- perhaps not understanding fully the dense pages of semi-legal text (hidden behind the links) to which they are then tacitly accepting.

As a result of these "Guerilla marketing" tactics, learned by the Gator execs from their stints at Excite and other "dotbombs", the software is installed on over ten million computers. While the application is marketed heavily as something helpful (we fill out your forms for you!), its main purpose is to track users shopping habits, and provide them with customized advertisements for products, which kick back fees to the Gator corp when purchased. (all this information is in their fine print).

Gator was recent target of the Interactive Advertising Bureau, who criticized the company for not properly informing users of the software's true function, and not providing adequate (and clear) means of uninstalling the application. Gator came under further criticism for its sly trick of replacing website advertisements with its own banners, sucking revenue away from websites without their approval or permission.

Gator filed suit against the IAB, claiming that the bureau's claims were unfounded. Last November the suit disappeared, and the two parties decided to take their spat to the backrooms after Gator disabled that feature, where they would work on more acceptable solution.

The Gator security problems were exposed last month by a security researcher who calls himself "Obscure". The vulnerability allows the application to be tricked into placing spyware and other assorted nasties on the user's PC. The technical specifications can be found at the Eye on Security website.

Gator claims they have resolved the issue, replacing the application installer with a replacement free of holes. Symantec is still listing the application installer as being infected with a trojan horse. The Gator home page does not mention or admit the security hole, rather they offer a software upgrade "for enhanced security".

Gator corporation has been making proclamations over the past few days about how it wants to spearhead new standards in the on-line advertisement industry. Their newly proposed rules, many of which Gator themselves have violated in the past, would require publishers to obtain consent for installing software or displaying ads, and include ways to opt-out or uninstall any such software.. The cynical may think that such rules are designed to "lock in" Gator and its installed base as the premier spyware app foisted on unsuspecting users, and "lock out" any of their competitors?

Wish to remove Gator from your computer? we clicked many times around their site until we found this FAQ entry: here. Follow it and be free!