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1.  

   

   Alex Austin (profile), Jun 21st, 2006 @ 12:12am

   
   

   Popup ads are good.

   They're a convienient reminder of things I need to do (Run Spybot, Ad-Aware, etc) and technologies to keep on top of (and off my customers' computers).

    

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2.  

   

   zoso, Jun 21st, 2006 @ 1:36am

   
   

   or just run firefox and be safe :D

    

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3.  

   

   Jack, Jun 21st, 2006 @ 4:20am

   
   

   Good - Claria *is* spyware.

   Several years ago before spyware and adware removal became mainstream, Claria's Gator spyware was definitely one of the most annoying, invasive, and stealthy spyware out there. It installed without user intervention and by all means, invaded your PC and computing experience. I'm glad Claria has finally decided to do the right thing and get rid of Gator. Unfortunately, this is too little too late. If I had my way, the company should be shut down for illegally installing software on computers in a very much automated-hacker style.
   
   Bad Claria, Bad.

    

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4.  

   

   Anonymous Coward, Jun 21st, 2006 @ 5:32am

   
   

   Why is it not illegal to produce spy/ad/malware? There is not a single good thing that comes from it. In fact all it can do it transmit your information across the internet, leave your system vulerable to attack, and can ultimately ruin your PC. Some people (obviously people that make these malicious softwares) try to akin it to junk mail. Well junk mail doesn't have to potential to ruin your mail box. Just take out of your mail box and throw it away, thats it.

    

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5.  

   

   Just Me, Jun 21st, 2006 @ 5:36am

   
   

   Re: Firefox

   Certainly Firefox (Opera, Linx, etc.) are much better at blocking unwanted behavior than the alternative, but I would not necessarily call them 100% effective. Every once in awhile I still manage to get new windows popping up with a blipvert, even though I have full shields and it is configured to not allow pops and open new windows as a tab.

    

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6.  

   

   Mr. K., Jun 21st, 2006 @ 7:07am

   
   

   Intrusive ads ruin the internet

   The negative effects of adware, spyware, etc. aren't limited to just the user's computer. It taints their whole experience of the web. They feel a loss of control over their own computer. The problem has gotten so bad that people are reluctant to try new software for fear of getting ads or viruses. It's holding back progress. So I have no sympathy for Claria (Gator) and even their attempt to whitewash their image is just pathetic, marketing trickery - strangely appropriate for a maker of adware.

    

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7.  

   

   ehrichweiss, Jun 21st, 2006 @ 8:59am

   
   

   Re:

   "Why is it not illegal to produce spy/ad/malware? There is not a single good thing that comes from it."
   
   There's a strange parallel between what you say there and the DEA's drug scheduling system. Schedule I drugs are described as "having no benefit whatsoever". The only problem is the idiots scheduled marijuana and LSD under Schedule I along with heroin, methamphetamine and crack cocaine so if we were to schedule software, the monkeys who write and ratify the laws would undoubtedly schedule Linux along with adware/spyware.
   
   Good point though.

    

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8.  

   

   Panic, Jun 21st, 2006 @ 9:47am

   
   

   umm, how does LSD have a benefit? I understand your point about marijuana being schedule I, but LSD has no medicinal purpose...

    

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9.  

   

   Anonymous of Course, Jun 21st, 2006 @ 10:28am

   
   

   Re: Groovy

   Bah!
   
   LSD showed some promise for use in
   therapy for mental disease and for
   research in understanding mechanisms
   of the brain. It was also used to help
   terminally ill people cope with their
   impending demise among other
   possible benefits.
   
   Heroin isn't much different than morphine.
   
   Meth was used as a diet pill and was once
   an ingrediant in contact cold capsules.
   
   Even crack cocaine could be useful in some
   circumstances.
   
   As mister Lillly said a drug without any side-effects
   isn't much of a drug.
   
   I have mixed feelings on this, people shouldn't
   abuse drugs but the cure (the war on drugs) is
   worse than the disease.

    

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10.  

    

    Tommy Jefferson, Jun 21st, 2006 @ 12:16pm

    
    

    If altering your brain chemistry and conciousness are illegal, alcohol should be banned. I can find no medicinal value for that intoxicant.
    
    Promote liberty and personal responsibility.

     

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11.  

    

    jeff, Jun 21st, 2006 @ 12:28pm

    
    

    anyway

    back to claria, i'd buy it for 20 bucks as a sort of museum piece, kinda like how there're nazi/ss museums.

     

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12.  

    

    Joshua McLaughlin, Jun 21st, 2006 @ 2:45pm

    
    

    Quit surfing crap sites. It's the best way to keep spy,ad,malware and unfunny animated e-cards far-flung away from your system.
    
    Also, quit forrwarding dim-witted rubbish from your e-mail. Trust me, people don’t enjoy receiving enormously untrue garbage that’s been fact check by an ape and requires the intelligence of a grease stain to deem as fact.
    
    I love you grandma but enough is enough!

     

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13.  

    

    Erik M, Jun 22nd, 2006 @ 11:21am

    
    

    Re: Re: Firefox

    Sadly, the main reason why Firefox is not so vulnerable to malware is that it is not nearly as popular as Internet Exploder...at least not yet. If Firefox had half the browser market share, you'd better believe they'd have a lot more trouble with malicious software than they do.
    
    It's a bit like the old "Macs NEVER get viruses" argument. They don't get them because most virus writers don't waste time creating viruses that will only affect a relatively small percentage of computers in use. Malware/Spyware/Adware writers are pretty much of the same mind. They want to hit the most users humanly possible, so they write their garbage for Windows PCs and Internet Exploder.

     

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14.  

    

    jhRrPowq43, Jul 5th, 2006 @ 3:52pm

    
    

    jhRrPowq43

    Ol4uBPfh1ZJ oRJjApKuK5 If72vmYAUJ6jGi

     

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