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."
Well... (Score:5, Interesting)
Active? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Claria's "users" (Score:3, Interesting)
I noticed my dad had it at one point too (although I think he may have installed Kazaa). Anyway, he now runs Ad Aware regularly, and he is absolutely paranoid about cookies (me, I just allow them, then batch delete then every week or two).
-a
Just another reason to give the Internet to the UN (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:When Pigs Fly... (Score:5, Interesting)
You have an excellent point. I was going to post asking if Gator and other adware were really still extremely common. It's been a long time since I had Gator (Claria?)-ware on my computer. But you're right most people don't read anything they are asked on a computer. The only reason I have not gotten this stuff is because I have taken steps to prevent it. (Using ad-aware, using pop-up blockers, the obvious stuff) I guess many, many people have not took the 'obvious' steps.
stock games (Score:5, Interesting)
I think there's maybe six or seven financial investment companies that haven't been sanctioned by the SEC in the last two years for unethical activity. You can't trust the American media to even let you know when your investment company has been fined $200M for insider trading. The best source for really finding out how sleazy Wall Street is is through England's Financial Times [ft.com], which doesn't pull any punches. If you have an IRA or any money in funds, keep a close eye on it. These rich fund managers are making a fortune off the pennies most working people scrounge up and think will be there for them in the future.
I never really dabbled much in the market until recently when I had a broker "friend" make recommendations for me. After I lost a bundle, I set up my own account on E*Trade [etrade.com] and started doing my own investing - I beat my broker's ROI by 14% within six months. I'm pretty convinced these days most people in the financial community don't know anything, but that doesn't mean a bunch of people won't make money in this Gator IPO, but it will probably be at mutual fund holders' expense.
My advice to people is take control of your finances and invest in companies you believe in. Pull your money out of funds so you're not unwittingly financing SCO or Gator -- you'd be surprised how often you're in bed with the devil through your IRA.
Re:Revolutionary equation (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:i interviewed with Gator a few months ago (Score:3, Interesting)
URL. more private submissions should use POST or better yet https.
Re:When Pigs Fly... (Score:5, Interesting)
"Always trust content from 'Click Yes To Enter LTD'?"
And in the blurb:
"By clicking yes you agree to have software installed on your computer that will dial up a premium rate phone line at a cost of 1.50 GBP a minute. You can disconnect by clicking on the Disconnect button or the connection will automatically disconnect after 13.33 minutes."
Oh yeah and the source of this was a popup for some flash game site that said 'When the certificate pops up click yes to be able to play our huge selection of games! It came up when I was on www.cooking.com looking for a recipe for good roast potatoes. Obviously I prevented myself from downloading this crapware, but I still won't be visiting that site again.
Re:They should be in jail (Score:3, Interesting)
No Exceptions.
If they have a decent uninstaller and don't try to reinstall themselve's automatically (they act like a good citizen), then don't remove them.
Re:users or victims? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:They should be in jail (Score:1, Interesting)
EULA's are not legal documents or law abinding.
I sincerely hope this is true. However, I should have been more specific. The EULA I was referring to was Kazaa's [kazaa.com].
Please note the details of Sections 7, 8 & 9. They are, respectively:
7 Sharman's Right to Run Advertising without Payment to Users
8 Links to Third-Party Sites and Channels
9 Third Party Software
Also of interest to me are Sections 10, 12, 13 & 14.
From what I understand, unless an individual selects an option to accept during the installation of the program/s the software will not install. Hence, if they successfully installed the software then there exists an agreement between the two parties.
Like anyone who knows what this software does, I am as against it as the next person.
Re:Then Why does Ad-Aware exist? (Score:1, Interesting)
I almost bought this argument, until I thought, "Wait a minute, if freeware companies can make software that does this, surely big names like Norton or McAfee can get away with it."
I continue to wonder the same thing. I don't know why companies like AdAware are not being sued by those who lose money from Anti-Spyware/Adware software. Maybe it is because that until Claria's IPO announcement most of those companies were trying to fly under the radar? Again, this is just speculation.
What's the difference between Spyware and a Virus? (Score:3, Interesting)
Why is it that a company can get away with what a script kiddie would get thrown in jail for?
And are they still going to threaten to sue people who call Gator, excuse me, Claria Spyware?
And might as well throw out a stupid-patent joke out there.....
Do they own a patent on using computer viruses to make money on the internet?
Re:When Pigs Fly... (Score:2, Interesting)
Microsoft only does that when they have copied thier programs and try to implement them.
If Microsoft is going to do this you can be guarented the spyware will be installed on the sistem with every fresh install but this time it is part of the actual os (internet explorer) and you cannot remove it.
I don't know if that would be any better or not. I think it would be the most compeling reason to switch to linux if it ever happend.
Re:Why isn't there a freeware version? (Score:4, Interesting)
Such programs are really only a shade away from being a legalized virus. Unfortunately there's already legislation brewing - which, like most recent laws, will either be ineffective, make life more difficult for legitimate developers, or shackle us with even more Draconian copyright laws.
My own solution would be to make the CEO of any spyware/adware company personally come over and remove the software from anyone's PC who didn't want it.
Do you smell something? (Score:1, Interesting)
Here are some reasons why Claria can do well in this IPO: It's been some time since a very successful high-tech IPO has occurred (pre bubble?). The name Gator (which has a stink, see above) and has been washed clean as a company with no past (Claria); they can post their revenue, client base, etc. and with no background as Claria, it will make them appear to be one of those grassroots startups who is ready to bust at the seams.
Re:APPLE ADVERTISES WITH GATOR (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:When Pigs Fly... (Score:5, Interesting)
No... What they have is a risky business plan that is working well right now. The courts have never decided where to draw the line on the insidious behavior of foistware. I think it's pretty clear that if you download some software and in the clickable EULA you agree to have Gator installed as a payload, they have a right to install their junk on your machine. However, the only time I've been infected with Gator is through an ActiveX exploit. There was nothing that I agreed to, and there was no notification that their stuff was being installed. I didn't even realize it until later on when some of the "utilities" that are supposed to make people like Gator were automatically installed. The "fun" I had cleaning this all up and installing Ad-aware and Spybot S&D is what finally convinced me to never use IE again unless it was on my corporate intranet. And I firmly believe that given a real test in the courts, this will be classified as breaking into a private computer system and/or malicious hacking. Once this happens, you can expect them to die a quick death from the subsequent lawsuits.
Re:I don't think so - Invoice Gator? (Score:3, Interesting)
1. Persuade judge to install a program that does some frivolous thing (eg. changes wallpaper every hour) and bundles gator along with a 45 page EULA from hell.
2a. Watch them skip EULA without reading it.
OR
2b. Time how long it takes for them to read and fully understand EULA.
3. Convince judge that such EULA's are a crock and no ordinary person would bother reading and comprehending such an EULA, especially for such a frivolous , free, program.
4. Profit from lawsuit.
Re:They should be in jail (Score:3, Interesting)
Yes they generate a ton of traffic and can bring a lan to its knee's just alike a real virus.
IT does so by reporting all your keystrokes and internet sites. IE becomes unresponse particularly as the spyware watches what you do and reports to the master which sites you visit.
ALso it does report any text with a "@" in it. So yes you do get spam by typing in any email address.
Enough of these spyware's can halt a system and bring it down to its knee's just like worms and trojan horses.
If teenagers go to jail for installing keyboard loggers in library computers, why can't these guys?
will spyware-removal companies be sued? (Score:2, Interesting)