Is it legal for your AIM client to spam your buddies?
Tags :Technical
I came across this article that shows a program
installed by users, mostly by those not sure they are actually loading
it, into your AIM client that sends spam IM's under your IM name.
The program, which
appeared yesterday, spreads by appearing to be a recommendation from an
AIM user that encourages contacts to visit a Web page to download a video
game....On visiting the site, users are prompted with an Internet Explorer
security warning asking them if they wish to install and run the program
"News Player Applet."
Now here is the catch, buried in the EULA
they add a little something extra.
However, buried in
the software's accompanying End User License Agreement (EULA) is a statement
that AIM users who download it explicitly give their permission to send
marketing messages to their Buddy List contacts. In this way, the program
can spread itself by sending links to the Web page -- while seeming to
come from a known contact.......
The program's EULA indicates that it
was designed by Cambridge, Mass.-based PSD Tools LLC. The Terms read, in
part, that "...the Software will interoperate with your current instant
messaging client so as to permit the automatic sending of advertising messages
originating from your Computer to your contact or 'buddy' list regarding
Content offered by PSD Tools or its suppliers."
Does anyone think that this is a bit fishy
in the way they are using the hidden program in the EULA to update itself
to send advertising to your buddy list, from you!! After reading
more information on it, it seems that it can update itself and send even
more from your id. You can get the full
article on this, and information
on how to find and uninstall it.
blog comments powered by Disqus
On Saturday, February 14th, 2004 by Chris Miller
