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Is Yahoo Actively Supporting Adware? 176
conq writes "According to BusinessWeek, a report said Yahoo was actively supporting the companies that spawn pop-up ads. In early September, Yahoo engineer Jeremy D. Zawodny sounded off on his blog: "Do I like those [software installation] practices? Hell no. It's insulting and disrespectful.""
update the story submission takes Jeremy out of context which he
blogs about and says mean things about us.
Yahoo has been like this for some time (Score:5, Insightful)
More evil? (Score:5, Informative)
Yahoo is doing other evil stuff as well: [com.com]
Evil is yahoo becoming?
Re:More evil? (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:More evil? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:More evil? (Score:2, Funny)
Neither have I, but somehow those companies spreading misery keep putting the likes of Yahoo Serious, Pauli Shore, Paris Hilton, and the entire cast of the WWE in front of the cameras. It only makes sense if you assume great masochism on the part of the public at large which is not too hard given how many people still use Lynx and Vi right here in geekdom.
Yahoo Toolbar (Score:3, Informative)
Imagine my surprise the next time I popped into Internet Explorer to check something and a pop-up window didn't fire. Yahoo Toolbar had in fact been installed without my permission, and better yet didn't default to being one of the visible IE toolbars. Had I been, say, my parents, I would never figured out why the hell the Interwebs wasn't working.
An invisible toolbar I specifically requested not be ins
Re:More evil? (Score:2)
Helloooo geocities... (Score:2)
So, is it a mystery that Yahoo fell again in the "annoying u
Re:Yahoo has been like this for some time (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Yahoo has been like this for some time (Score:2)
Of course they are (Score:1, Funny)
Note CISCO not adding spyware to their PIXs.
*or are they*
Re:Of course they are (Score:2, Insightful)
They have nothing to tangible sell. The only way for them to make money is to sell data they've garnered and they users who they garnered it from.
Just to point out, you're treading on very thin ice there lad. There is a very popular search engine company who sell some search appliances but whose major revenue stream comes from the sale of targeted advertisements. Targeted? How?
Every time you visit one of this company's pages, you'll get a unique cookie (if you haven't already got one), that won't expi
Re:Of course they are (Score:2)
Have to remember to change the settings in flash if you want privacy. Eventually, even with flash disable, you'll have to click on one to navigate it...
In other news Jeremy D. Zawodny fired (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:In other news Jeremy D. Zawodny fired (Score:2)
Re:In other news Jeremy D. Zawodny fired (Score:3, Informative)
It is now a regulatory violation for public companies to release financial information early or via unapproved channels - all investors are required to have the same fair first shot at any such info. And what did this guy who got fired do? He blogged financial information early. It didn't leave Google with much choice BUT to fire him. Not very smart.
Nothing New Here (Score:1)
Re:Nothing New Here (Score:2)
Then stop using it.
Re:Nothing New Here (Score:2)
Re:Nothing New Here (Score:2)
Jeremys post in question.. (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Jeremys post in question.. (Score:2, Informative)
In CNet's article Yahoo IM users get more than they bargained for:
If you're one of the tens of millions of Yahoo users asked to upgrade your instant-messaging software this week, be on your toes: The update can open the door to unwanted PC houseguests--and setting changes--by default.
By accepting Yahoo's "typical" installation of YIM with Vo
Re:Jeremys post in question.. (Score:3, Insightful)
The real problem is even if the Yahoo execs aren't "evil", they have no good way out. If publicly-held company A is making money by taking over users' computers, company B's shareholders will want to know why company B isn't doing the same thing. And if company B's execs say they don't want to do it on something as flimsy as moral grounds, then company B's
What popups (Score:2, Insightful)
I use Mozilla and selected privacy options.
Re:What popups (Score:5, Insightful)
There's no good reason to put up with those popups.
Re:What popups (Score:2, Informative)
Re:What popups (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re:What popups (Score:2)
[Adblock]
http://img-cdn.mediaplex.com/ads/4340/21846/b2s_CE _425x600.swf?clickTAG=http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG= 12a75stt6/M=284479.5284529.6412204.1943910/D=group s/S=1705004750:MON/EXP=1094055520/A=2307276/R=0/*h ttp://altfarm.mediaplex.com%2Fad%2Fck%2F4340-21846 -6097-23%3Fmpt%3D1093969120645930 [mediaplex.com]
http://ak.bluestreak.com//adv/bellsouth/%5E46 [bluestreak.com]
Re: (Score:2)
It's True! (Score:4, Funny)
What the?!?!?
Re:It's True! (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:It's True! (Score:2)
Re:It's True! (Score:2)
So I don't update
Re:It's True! (Score:2)
meanwhile... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:meanwhile... (Score:1)
2) install adblock
3) block ad
4) ???
5% profit!!!
Re:meanwhile... (Score:1, Funny)
Re:meanwhile... (Score:2)
Re:meanwhile... (Score:3, Funny)
Ther [mozilla.org]e are ads on sla [mozdev.org]shdot?
What's next? (Score:1, Funny)
Re:What's next? (Score:2, Informative)
They are here to make money (Score:1, Insightful)
Don't see a reason? (Score:2, Funny)
Just look what happened when it was pointed out that the Emperor had no clothes. It destroyed an entire textile industry, embarrassed the nation, and undermined confidence in hucksters *ahem* businessmen with innovative revenue models. We can't undermine the economy in these fragile times! WHY DO YOU HATE AMERICA????
Re:Don't see a reason? (Score:3, Insightful)
To be fair, that textile industry had no textile workers. The fabric was 'spun' by marketers.
Re:They are here to make money (Score:2)
In Google's defense I can say that I've never experienced a pop-up from any of their sites. I've never had to actively work to not install their software. Their software has never done anything more than what I've asked it to do on my machines. With that said, I don't use their desktop search because it requires me to b
Re:They are here to make money (Score:2)
Trust Yahoo? (Score:5, Insightful)
What Rosenzweig fails to mention is that Yahoo, like most companies, will take advantage of that trust to the furthest extent they can get away with.
Trust us because we say our foundation is trust? I don't think so.
How about "Trust us because we take steps to prevent adware, not support it."
Or, "Trust us because we will never piggyback software and settings changes onto downloads from us that you choose to install."
Or, "Trust us because it's not in our financial interest to do bad things to you."
Unfortunately, none of these three possibilities are true... and until they are, I will not trust Yahoo farther than I can throw them.
"Don't be evil" and other corporate nonsense (Score:4, Interesting)
"Don't be evil" ring a bell? Everyone pretty much "believed" the head honcos at google when they declared that was the company's motto.
Dow's motto is "We Bring Good Things to Life", except they purchased Union Carbide after Union Carbide killed tens of thousands of Indian people when a chemical plant in Bhopal released methyl isocyanate. [google.com]
Last time I mentioned Bhopal [wikipedia.org] and Dow, someone said "hey, that was Union Carbide, not Dow! Dow just bought them!" Well- Dow management and shareholders didn't seem to have much trouble sleeping at night after buying Union Carbide for a song (Union Carbide after the disaster became next to worthless as a brand.) Dow pretty much turned into a industrial-disaster profiteer.
Re:"Don't be evil" and other corporate nonsense (Score:2)
Actually, that's GE's old motto, not Dow.
except they purchased Union Carbide after Union Carbide killed tens of thousands of Indian people when a chemical plant in Bhopal released methyl isocyanate
What would you have prefered to happen? Somebody has to end up owning that mess. Or are you suggesting that Union Carbide be left to rot until the value was zero as punishment? Either way, this is an amazing red herring.
Re:"Don't be evil" and other corporate nonsense (Score:2)
Red herring or not, it's not the case that someone "owns that mess." Thanks to the excellent corporate atmosphere in the US, Dow only has the assets, not the liability. There are various [bhopal.org] websites [bhopal.net] up in arms about it. Also a parody site http://www.dowethics.com [dowethics.com]
Re:"Don't be evil" and other corporate nonsense (Score:2)
Speak for yourself -- anyone that truly believed that chose to put the blindfold on themselves. However, it is possible to have a corporate philosophy that encompasses "do no evil." It may even be possible to be profitable, too. The question is, how well is that philosophy applied?
"Dow's motto is 'We Bring Good Things to Life'""
That's GE, Dow's slogan is "living
Re:"Don't be evil" and other corporate nonsense (Score:2)
Why should they? Perhaps they bought Union Carbide with the specific intention of FIXING the company... Making it safer, cleaner, etc. I don't know if that is the case, but that senario happens all the time.
When you buy a piece of land in the USA, do you have much trouble sleeping at night, knowing you got that land through the mass murder of millions upon millions of Native Ameri
Re:Trust Yahoo? (Score:4, Interesting)
That said, I don't trust Google either... I just distrust them less.
And it's not about choice here -- it's about informed choice. As we learn more about the business practices of Yahoo, Google, et al, then we gain the ability to make informed choices. But until every company comes clean about the things that like Yahho has been getting bad publicity about, we don't have real choice.
"Go wank google some more if you don't like it.
Go wank yourself before you make assumptions about what companies I do or do not like.
Bad Troll.
Re:Trust Yahoo? (Score:2)
When I see Google doing the same kinds of things as Yahoo, like in the article, then I will distrust them as much as I distrust Yahoo.
Re:Trust Yahoo? (Score:2)
I'm not disputing that. In this case, "whatever it takes" means gaining my trust... otherwise, they'll never get one red cent from me.
Proposed new name for Yahoo! (Score:1, Funny)
In other news, Yahoo! will be changing its name to "Realhoo!"
Re:Proposed new name for Yahoo! (Score:2, Interesting)
Here is the real issue...LEGALLY, what is Spyware? (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Here is the real issue...LEGALLY, what is Spywa (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Here is the real issue...LEGALLY, what is Spywa (Score:2)
Adware vs. spyware (Score:2, Interesting)
A common scenario would be a user clicking 'Ok' on an EULA which somewhere, buried in a heap of legal speak, mentions "includes <insert favorite crapware here> from <insert favorite crapware company here>". Whatever happens next, that user did agree to installation of this crapware, and could have know about it before installing (if he/she would bother to
Re:Here is the real issue...LEGALLY, what is Spywa (Score:3, Interesting)
However, just because it's illegal, doesn't stop people doing it. Lots of people transport beneficial plant products across imaginary lines; this is against the law in many countries, but enough of them are getting away with it for it to be worthwhile.
Windows fanboys bitch about it being "complicated" or "awkward"
Re:More complicated than that... (Score:2)
The problem with all of this is the click-through agreement. By using click-through agreements, spyware and companies that distribute it, are able to cloak themselves in legalese and create a (likely) defensable position whereb
Re:More complicated than that... (Score:2)
Not surprising (Score:1)
Re:Not surprising (Score:2, Insightful)
Can I trust Yahoo? I think not. (Score:5, Interesting)
Over the years, I have learned to have zero (0) trust in Yahoo.
From the Business Week article:
"Sure, no one issue will turn off Yahoo users in droves." One issue will definitely convince a large percentage of people never to visit Yahoo.
Another quote:
"... Yahoo risks tarnishing its reputation as a trustworthy Net player." Notice that doing an internet search is called "Googling". For knowledgeable people, Yahoo has a bad reputation. For others, Yahoo has no reputation at all.
Business writers write a lot of DISGUSTING nonsense about computer technology:
"To Yahoo's credit, it is leading industrywide discussions aimed at devising new practices for the adware companies." Here's another quote: "Yahoo also insists it does business only with adware companies that adhere to best practices..."
It seems to me that Yahoo cannot compete, so it is trying every trick to stay alive.
Not real news: AOL and Yahoo and MSN will merge. The combined company will be called CyberHell.
Re:Can I trust Yahoo? I think not. (Score:2)
Re:Can I trust Yahoo? I think not. (Score:2)
And I believe that we need a new term - Yahoodaling . Any takers for the definition? Suggested usage: "Boy, they really Yahoodled their users with that move!"
Yahoo's Reputation (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Yahoo's Reputation (Score:2)
Indeed, how can I organise the online protest against Chinese draconian government with all these pop-ups all over the place????
Comment removed (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Yahoo's Reputation (Score:2)
What? You think that just because they are a US company that they don't need to follow the laws in countries they do business?
No, I think there's a cost associated with doing the right thing. Sometimes that cost can be quite high. Whether you're willing to pay that cost says what type of person or what type of company you are. I think we now know what type of company Yahoo is.
Re:Yahoo's Reputation (Score:2)
I disagree with the ruling. I get annoyed at Chinese web censorship here in Shanghai. At the same time, it's not like China is the only nation to jail reporters for reporting (just ask Judy Miller, who kept her so
you're a fucking hypocrite (Score:4, Insightful)
I really, really doubt the police in China told Yahoo what the investigation was about; you know, police are like that. They just demand information, and the law compels you to obey.
Perhaps we should have a trade embargo against China? That is, logically, the only way to go following your logic. If you operate in China, you have to follow the law. If you don't follow the law, you can't operate in China. The law, in your opinion(and mine too, certainly), violates the peoples' civil rights.
So, how about we stop all trade with China. Seems to be working just wonderfully for the people in Cuba...
Look, Yahoo isn't personally accountable for the actions of the Chinese government. The authorities demanded information and Yahoo obeyed the law. Did they even know what the investigation was about? It's not like the executives at Yahoo said, "No let's see. Who's civil rights can we violate today?" Give us a fucking break.
This is a political matter that deserves attention. When we have some politicians that aren't mouth breathing shit eaters, maybe it can be properly addressed. And perhaps when we damand the same of ourselves that we demand of others, we won't look like fucking hypocrites.
Re:you're a fucking hypocrite (Score:2)
Re:Yahoo's Reputation (Score:2)
Good or evil, one thing is clear -- if you don't obey the law of the land, you aren't allowed to do business in that land.
Re:Yahoo's Reputation (Score:2)
Slather some more dead people on your face. Enjoy it!
Actvely? (Score:5, Funny)
I'm joking!
Yahoo! sucks (Score:2)
Re:Yahoo! sucks (Score:2)
You can even remove the annoying ads displayed in the right hand corner: http://weblogs.mozillazine.org/asa/archives/00718
The Yahoo toolbar is everywhere though, I noticed it even appears in the Plaxo toolbar for Outlook.
Re:Yahoo! sucks (Score:2)
How Yahoo Funds Spyware (Score:5, Informative)
How Yahoo Funds Spyware [benedelman.org]
I post screenshots and packet logs showing how Yahoo ads get syndicated into notorious spyware -- Direct Revenue, eXact Advertising, 180solutions, and some smaller players too (SideFind, Slotchbar, etc.).
Speaking of unrelated bundling... (Score:2)
Re:Speaking of unrelated bundling... (Score:2)
Gah! That sounds evil.
It's definitely not good when you have no choice but to install software you don't want to get software you need.
Meanwhile, Yahoo stamps their crap on Flickr (Score:4, Interesting)
Just wait till the rest of Flickr gets the Yahoo treatment.
http://37signals.com/svn/archives2/flickr_signup_
...perhaps not what the engineers want... (Score:2)
It's the same case at Microsoft, I've noticed. The engineers tend to be do-no-evil kind of folk yet market forces elsewhere dictate otherwise. Go figure.
Yahoo Owns Spyware Companies (Score:3, Interesting)
Zawodny's comments taken out of context (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Zawodny's comments taken out of context (Score:2)
No, but a popup immediately appeard underneath the article when I clicked on the link. Perhaps that is the real reason for the submission.
Twisted comments (Score:2, Informative)
Re:huh (Score:2, Funny)
Re:huh? (Score:2)
Also, to karma-whore even further, here [slashdot.org] is a more readable version of this page for those who object to slush-brown.
Re:huh? (Score:2)
Slush Brown? Not Slush Brown? (Score:2)
Possible differences in my assumptions you are making about people's (or at least my standard config). I read slashdot for information. Being a visually oriented person, I find extraneous graphics and colors, while pleasant, often interfere with with the specific task of getting the actual information I want as quickly as I want. So I normally run in low-graphics mode and have my standard browswer retur
Re:In a perfect world... (Score:2)
Indeed they could do that, but it's sufficient merely to stop using Yahoo and to influence their 1,000 closest friends to do likewise.
Re:In a perfect world... (Score:2)
You know, all I really want is to be a real peer on the internet. I will pay for the bandwidth, but I won't be raped for it. I wish I could get SpeakEasy where I live, but I can't - they are an ISP who truely understands what the internet is and why it grew like it has: because all nodes on the network are peers to one another.
Broadband service, while excellent from the point of view f
Re:Went to Business Weeks site and got a pop-up! (Score:2)
Re:Hello Kettle? Your Black! (Score:2)