See you later, anti-Gators?

[Linda Buquet]

Gator-Haters? Careful what you say on your site!
From ZDNET today

In an effort to improve its corporate reputation, adware company Gator has launched a legal offensive to divorce its name from the hated term "spyware"--and so far its strategy is paying off.
In response to a libel lawsuit, an antispyware company has settled with Gator and pulled Web pages critical of the company, its practices and its software. And other spyware foes are getting the message.

LINK CORRECTED:
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104_2-5095051.html?tag=zdfd.newsfeed

What do you think?

[Linda Buquet]

Come on you guys. I know many affiliate marketers have very stong feelings about Gator and Gator-type advertising. It's OK to share your opinions about this article - just don't use the Sp*w@re word! ;-)

[rlrouse]

If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck...

[mm99]

Your link did not work. I hate anything that has to do with spyware, hands down. Gator has long been associated with the stuff

In recent news, I read that a couple of teens have been hired to trace down the idiots running xupitor. That's one that is really giving users every a real hard time. We used to have quite a time with it here at the university. I hope they catch those sobs.

peace...Paul

[redcircle]

If it were just "adware" then they would not be gathering information on me just serving ads. Really I don't mind banner ads in applications that I use. It's the popups that I cannot deal with. If they just used banner ads and not popups they would not have such a bad rap.

[cpr-tx]

Fun is having your computer taken over by an ad campaign. Several times my wife clicked on an innocent looking box and got the gator... I once had a window pop up that asked if I wanted my computer's clock set to the atomic clock and not thinking I replied yes and ended up with a 2 month odessy with precision time! It got to the point of making Explorer unusable. In a rut I downloaded Netscspe and after a bit found Ad-aware by lavasoft, the software cleaned my registry and lo an behold explorer started working again. I think that any company that has gator/precision time type programs ought to re-assess delivery, performance and deletion techniques.

[alienzhavelanded]

I think I'd tell them to meet me in court and laugh at them the whole way there. PCPitstop is a bunch of wimps.

The Martian

[valk97_goose]

Gator has already done irreparable damage to their name. I like many consider them a non destructive VIRUS and will never have anything to do with them or their product(s).

[mikmik]

I can hardly wait until they - meaning Gator among others - decide to take on the big people (with money for lawyers). I'm talking about some anti-virus vendors that already list Gator as a known TROJAN!

I've made more money as a tech restoring computers to usability from Gator and Jupiter infestations than any hardware work times two.

I could go on, but suffice it to say that when I install an OS or fix an alraedy present install, everybody is more than happy to have anti-spyware defences and silencers automatically included on their systems. I always get extra money and very hearty thank-you's (and god status in some eye's ;o} when done...

[minstrel]

I have to agree with all of the above. Gator practically invented spyware/hijackware.... and now all of a suddenly they object to being labelled as such? Maybe they've reformed and now want to recover from their reputation as "web whores" but I have a hard time believing that. More likely scenario? They've noticed their revenues falling in time with their reputation and they're looking for someone to pin it on.

As someone earlier hinted, if it crawls like a snake, acts like a snake, and looks like a snake... best guess? it's a snake...

[t94xr]

Gator has gained a bad reputation with me due to the fact that most programs it associated with force you to install it otherwise the programs dont install.

If Gator wants to retain their credibiility by sueing PCPitstop they'll have to sue everyone else for saying bad things about them.

Gator is one of the worst things i've seen next to Bonzi Buddy! Oh without forgetting Kazaa Media Desktop (not Kazaa Lite).

I support all Anti-Gators and wish them all good luch and ridding the world from cheap and useless programmed appz.

[Markll]

I think they opened a big can of worms by litigious.
Some consumer advocates should take a close look at practices of Gator some state attorny general should initiate a class action based on time lost and damage to comsumers computers.

Also go after the companies using Gater for advertising.

[ssamuel]

From now, I'm just going to call it "annoyingware." They can't refute that in court. Their software *is* annoying.

[minstrel]

The story notes that, in addition to launching litigation against companies like PitStop, Gator has been quite busy in dourt trying to defend itself against numerous well known companies suing them, although no details as to progress or outcome are provided.

However,I don't know whether anyone noticed this rather scary little gem tucked into that Gator story:


Meanwhile, the courts have smiled on a company that operates a similar ad network. Last month, WhenU survived a legal challenge brought against it by moving company U-Haul after WhenU served ads for U-Haul's competitors on top of U-Haul Web pages.

If I understand this correctly, this is telling me that if someone uses software to bring up ads for competitors when anyone clicks on my website, as far as at least one court is concerned this isn't an infringement on my rights?

Does anyone remember the Third Voice campaign of a few years back? This was an early warning sign but it got a reaction from consumers, advocates, and website designers and webmasters that pretty much put Third Voice off the map. I think perhaps it will take a similar mobilization against scumware like Gator. Unfortunately, in spite of recurrent warnings and huge financial losses, I don't see most people becoming more aware of threats to security or privacy - sadly, complacency seems to rule, until the person suffers a crash or significant slowdown or loss of functionality in his or her own system.

[kiumars]

Hello,

When there is a sign of Gator the challenge is to get rid of it. Adaware can not remove it and better than Adaware, BPS Spyware can detect it but can not remove it. Now this is the solution:
First unstill if there is “Precession Clock” and “Date Manager” already installed. These two programs will install Gator back after deleting from registry.
Now, you can run Spywatch inside the folder named “Spyware Adware Remover” created by BPS Spyware/adware after installation. Usually this folder will be created on your desktop. Then, look after detected items named Gator. Carefully watch the path of entries ends with Gator and make a note of them.
Now, go to start menu and choose Run. Type regedit and you find 5 items named:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
HKEY_CURRENT_USER
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
HKEY_USERS
HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG
Follow exactly the pass and locate the Gator folder. Right click and choose delete.

You can also use other programs like:
Registry medic
Registry healer
Registry First Aid
Registry Mechanic

However, be careful with registry keys as they are case sensitive.

Best regards,
Kiumars

[SCFROMDC]

First, most average users have no idea what is going on behind thier backs, some of my clients are terrified to see how much spyware is lurking on thier pc's....so no, until the population catches up with the technology, and know what they are agreeing to, it should ALL be banned.
Secondly, spyware has been a MAJOR pain for people like me, there are incompatability issues that are horribly destructive to a users pc. Example: I have several 98 clients that would not boot after IE6 updates, and out of those that didnt, the common factors were, G@tor, My Search Bar, etc....it's all crap, and useless, and that includes all the real player junk too. The longer Im in the buisness, the more I think everyone should leave it to microsoft. My media player doesnt conflict with ANYTHING. If people knew what they were sending to these companies, and sooner or later they will, this would be a much larger topic.
This is no different than the do-not-call list. My home is my private domain, and so is my pc. Dont try to trick me.It's disgusting, and doesnt have a thing to do with FREE SPEECH...."can I run a couple wires and a speaker into your house and advertise my band. anytime I feel like it? NO? Im gonna do it anyway!!"....thats not free speech...thats invasion of privacy, pure and simple. Wake up.
And keep your spyware crap to yourself.
LONG LIVE SPYBOT, ADAWARE, and anybody else out there that is helping to educate the public on this disturbing problem, disguised as free-speech.

[alienzhavelanded]

kiumars said: When there is a sign of Gator the challenge is to get rid of it. Adaware can not remove it and better than Adaware, BPS Spyware can detect it but can not remove it.

Spybot Search & Destroy gets rid of it =)

The Martian

[Karen Hudgins]

Hi All,
I think it may come down to us, the consumers getting rid of this software. If we do not use it, as most of us are already desensitized to the ads or so annoyed we close them right away, the ads will lose their effectiveness and advertisers will pull the campaigns from Gator and similar companies. I would also ask Affiliate Managers and the Major affiliate networks to stand against this as well. In so many ways, this software is killing ecommerce. Ford Motor company recently decided to cancel their account with WhenU stating that why would I practice this and promote these methods when a competitor could turn around and do the same to me? These companies are here to stay unless we make them ineffective. As the affiliate manager of ABCLeads, we are strongly against the use of this type of predatory software. I hope you will all pass along the message that this advertising will eventually harm, not help, everyone involved.

[ptellep]

I whole heartedly agree with previous posts. I make a quite a bit of money removing Gator from company machines.

Thanks Gator! If it weren't for your wonderful product, my pockets would be filled with only lint!