Gator Files for IPO to Raise $150 Million 460
michalas writes "Wired reports on the IPO filing of adware/spyware kings Claria who have recently changed their name from Gator.
Claria on Thursday filed for an initial public offering to raise $150 million to continue developing its 'behavioral marketing platform.' Claria had a net income of $35 million on revenues of $90 million in 2003. In addition, Claria said it has 43 million active users and 425 advertisers."
When Pigs Fly... (Score:4, Insightful)
Of course, then they'll have their money for development except by that time every person with a computer will have purchased a share of stock to keep that crap off their system...in which case there would be no reason for them to continue development of the software, and really have no reason for them to continue to exist as a company.
Heck, where do I sign up for that?
I remember seeing a comment earlier about how Microsoft buys up companies and shuts them down or kills off the technology. Maybe MSFT could do us all a favor, buy them out, and shut them down? It's probably one of the few humane things to do...
I don't think so (Score:5, Insightful)
Claria's "users" (Score:5, Insightful)
I think 'infected computers' would be more likely. Whenever I tell people I can make those pop-ups stop by running Ad-aware, they are more than happy to remove themselves from this list of 'active users.'
Cosmetics... (Score:3, Insightful)
Nice name. But, a frosted dog turd is not a wedding cake; it is still a frosted dog turd. I hope whatever stock they have drops like a brick.
425 Advertisers (Score:5, Insightful)
Crime pays on Wall Street.... (Score:4, Insightful)
Sometimes, crime does pay. Even if Gator is made illegal by state laws, they'll still be functioning until such laws are enforced. Simply passing a law won't make them go away.
Anybody got a current quote for what SCOX is going for while we're at it?
Let's play the name game... (Score:5, Insightful)
People think you can't keep your promises? Call yourself Verizon or Verisign... "Vari-" meaning "truth"
You're stuck in the drug business trying to make people get high? Call yourself Altria... "alt-" meaning high
People confused about complex multiple rate plan options? Call yourself Cingular... kinda sounds like "singular" where there's only one option.
You're main product requires confusing people into aceptng it to work? Call yourself Claria... even though there's nothing clear to users about what they're getting themselves into.
43 million active users (Score:5, Insightful)
At any rate, how can someone "use" Gator/Claria? Their "users" are simply presented with ads and such. Are you a "user" of the ads you see on Television? No. You are an audience member, and a very passive one at that. Amazing. Simply amazing.
Re:I don't think so (Score:4, Insightful)
What, you thought that uninstaller actually did anything?
Re:When Pigs Fly... (Score:5, Insightful)
The sad fact is that most people don't read _any_ text in any box that pops up on the screen. They just zero in on the "yes" "no" "cancel" boxes and randomly pick whichever one they think will make the pop-up go away the quickest.
I mean, they were _trying to read_ something. They can't be bothered to change their train of thought and deal with this new mumbo-jumbo that just appeared on their screen.
T
They should be in jail (Score:5, Insightful)
I have seen it first hand.
My gf's pc and at work where I assist students in a university computer lab.
My gf's computer use to take 20 minutes to boot and would reboot every 30 minutes or so and was highly unresponsive. Especially IE.
McAfee anti virus showed no viruses? I then ran ad-aware and it found 600 objects and tons and tons of spyware.
After that it was fine.
Second, spyware installs backdoors( tell me that does not sound like a worm)so hackers can see your keystrokes and get things like credit card numbers, etc. God forbid anyone doing the taxes with these worms aka spyware ridden systems. Hackers can easily do identity theft.
So I ask slashdotters now. Why is gatorsoft legal? If this thing was called A.mydoom or something the FBI would hound them.
THis is pure fraud, it steals computer cycles, causes break-ins, etc. Its a worm in my book. It may not copy itself to other systems but it sure acts like one. Hmmm I bet if gator soft did email itself over the address book then it could get even MORE customers. lol
This and Divx need to be brought down.
stock holders (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:From an investment standpoint... (Score:5, Insightful)
Virus?? (Score:5, Insightful)
Which leads me to my point.... why doesn't Symantec (Norton) classify Gator as a virus. It has all the hallmarks of a virus (hell... Blaster was LESS destructive. It just rebooted your machine), and no legitimate use. How isn't it a virus?? Just because the company's legit at the moment, does it really make it okay?
Can anyone answer me?
users or victims? (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Let's play the name game... (Score:3, Insightful)
Take a look at Valujet. They had serveral crashes and then changed their name to Airtran. Why? Because people associate Valujet with poorly maintained planes that crash. What is Gator known for? Annoying intrusive spyware. Take a look at Claria's website and note how clean and, well, "clear" it is. Again, they're trying to change their image. I hope people who decide to invest in this company keep Gator in mind when looking at Claria. It's the same management running the new company.
On an unrelated note, check out Claria's home page [claria.com] when redirected from their original page [gatorcorporation.com]. It features a red bubble not seen from claria.com which 404's. Not a very professional sign.
SCO showed the way (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Virus?? (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Well... (Score:5, Insightful)
The ads popping up on desktops might give us a clue as to whom is paying for ads as well...
Re:They should be in jail (Score:5, Insightful)
it comes in without telling what it is, it stays stealthy and twists what the user is doing. on top of that it's doing it for financial gain for somebody!
every virus scanner software maker should add spyware to the takedown list.
Re:Claria's "users" (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:I don't think so (Score:5, Insightful)
Why isn't there a freeware version? (Score:2, Insightful)
You could even profit: write/test it in secret, after their IPO place a bid that their stock would drop, and then advertise/release your free version. Eh?
Re:Best IPO in a long while (Score:2, Insightful)
Yeah. And AIDS is fine by me, coz I'm in a steady monogamous relationship - hence reasonably safe.
Honestly, what kind of sorry excuse for a human being are you? Actively wishing pain for other people because they don't share your taste in something as boring as an operating system?
Congratulations. You've actually made me feel quite depressed about the world.
The quickest fix (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:From an investment standpoint... (Score:5, Insightful)
Depends on what you mean by "support," but probably, yeah I would. As long as they were forthright and honest about what risks were entailed in using their products.
Yes, i have principles, it's called a belief in freewill and the right to make your own choices. If someone wants to use a cancer causing product, and they've been told upfront that the product may cause cancer, it's their life to do with as they wish.
I support drug legalization, but i don't think drug education is a bad thing either, as long as it's _real_ education, but "facts" the government is trying to brainwash you with.
Oh, and have you heard about the new chemical they've found in cooked starches that they think causes cancer? Am i supposed to boycott all baked goods producers because of my principles?
And as long as we're talking about principles, how about those "principled" health activists that are trying to force resturants who sell french fries to add a cancer warning but who don't seem to be urgent to get companies to label bread and pasta in the same fashion? They want to get people off of french fries but apparently have no problem supporting companies that make products with the exact same chemical in them but which are considered healthier in other aspects.
Re:Fighting fire with fire (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:i wonder (Score:3, Insightful)
You know, I have a problem with people who gripe about "secret stuff" being installed on their computer "without their consent" even though, had they read the EULA, they would have known exactly what was being installed and what it does.
While I am not a fan of Gator or any of those damn spyware crapware programs I have to wonder why a company is so wrong installing spyware on your computer because you were too lazy to read the EULA? If they don't HAVE a EULA or it's deceptive then that's a different thing but I'm talking about EULA's that clearly spell out what happens in the program and where users just don't take the time to read it.
Why do we call Gator unethical and sleazy (which I do) when if we wrote a program that told the user "Accepting this EULA will format your entire hard disk" and the user didn't read it we'd be saying "stupid user"? When a company meets its responsibility of disclosure and the users are too lazy to read it then how is that the companies fault?
Re:List of afvertisers at Harvard (Score:5, Insightful)
Now I have to boycott: Alstate insurance, Sun and Apple.
Why coulden't it have been McDonalds, Wal*Mart and Microsoft? They're easy to boycott - unless you happen to like stale food, crappy junk and buggy software.
Re:Why isn't there a freeware version? (Score:5, Insightful)
That's the problem when you have spy-/ad-ware masquerading as legitimate software being offered third-party to a nearly computer illiterate culture. Let's face it, the majority of the people who own computers don't upkeep them like they should, and so Gator and their ilk can claim members. If the general populace knew enough to do basic maintenance, it would slash these farcical "active user" numbers, not to mention make my job easier.
Re:When Pigs Fly... (Score:3, Insightful)
There is one old, effective solution (Score:4, Insightful)
Gator/Claria survives by delivering an effective way for advertisers to reach consumers. You cannot punish Gator/Claria directly - some other company would simply take its place.
Rather, let us organize a boycott of any advertiser who tries to sell his product via spyware of any kind.
Writing to any company that advertises via spyware, and telling them that you will not be using their products any more is a good idea. Telling everyone you know about such companies may also be effective. The best thing would be pressure from consumer groups to government so that advertisers are forced to adhere to a code of conduct that excludes spyware.
Finally, spyware companies will find that the only clients they can find are the same criminal rings that pay for worms, trojans, and viruses, and this is one commercial sector that will find it hard to lobby governments for protection.
Boycott the bums into behaving properly!
Re:When Pigs Fly... (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:When Pigs Fly... (Score:3, Insightful)
This little oversight has been patched by PopUpCop [popupcop.com]. While the Google toolbar already protects us from most pop-up windows, the pesky software installation prompts only go away with something such as this.
The less than $20 pricepoint might be just in the budget of a childcare center too.
Jouni
Re:Claria's "users" (Score:3, Insightful)