Dodgy tactics continue despite ruling.
Several researchers have complained that adware-fuelled media company
Zango
continues to use deceptive practices, despite the
recent case
brought against it by the FTC, in which it was fined $3 million and ordered to cease such activities.
During the case,
Zango
insisted that it had already cleaned up its act, and that none of the devious installation techniques it were accused of had been in use by the company since January this year. However, two separate groups of researchers have presented evidence that the practices continue, even after the legal settlement.
Spyware watchers Ben Edelman and Eric Howes have released a thorough
study
of
Zango
installation routines, clearly showing the lack of clear disclosure during installation and the absence of source data from pop-up ads. The study includes screenshots and video demonstrations of deceptions in action.
Elsewhere, the
Center for Democracy and Technology
(CDT) has sent a formal complaint to the FTC, including more evidence that the terms of the settlement continue to be broken and urging the FTC to insist
Zango
apologises for its earlier statement, and to monitor the company closely in future to ensure compliance. The complaint is available from the CDT website (PDF format),
here
.
Posted on 21 November 2006 by
Virus Bulletin
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