Legal Issues

Legal Issues

by Joe Weisenthal


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FTC Finally Throws The Book At Zango

from the install-this! dept

Could it be that the long saga of Zango, formerly known as 180 Solutions, coming to an end? The company, as you'll recall, is one of the most notorious and relentless distributors of spyware, which like many others in the business has made some half-hearted attempts at cleaning up its act. But it seemed like only a matter of time before the law would eventually catch up to it, particularly since the FTC recently started cracking down on spyware vendors. Today comes the good news that Zango has agreed to a substantial fine from the FTC with the promise that never surreptitiously install software on users' computers. The terms of the deal, and definition of spyware, seem pretty direct so it's doubtful that the company will be able to find much wiggle room, though we imagine they'll try, no doubt claiming that this time it's reformed for real. Still, it's hard to imagine that without the sneaky installs the company will have much of a business to speak of.

15 Comments | Leave a Comment..

 

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  1. AWESOME !! by James on Nov 3rd, 2006 @ 12:28pm

    In fact, ... I'd love to see us finance parts of the gov't w/massive fines from these and the spammer a-holes.

    Well, that.. and perhaps public-stonings for any company that sends unsolicited spam.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  2. It's in their nature... by Chief Elf on Nov 3rd, 2006 @ 12:44pm

    Perhaps Zango surreptitiously installed some loopholes into the agreement.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  3. Re: AWESOME !! by Anonymous dude on Nov 3rd, 2006 @ 12:52pm

    Like Micro$haft would be near the top of that one, James

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  4. Re: Re: AWESOME !! by Anonymous Coward on Nov 3rd, 2006 @ 1:05pm

    M$ is at the bottom of the list. I asked for the WGA popups!

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  5. yeah right, by chuck on Nov 3rd, 2006 @ 1:07pm

    So they pay a fine but they reformulate as an offshore corporation and get back to work. Our government needs to put them in a Club Fed Pokey at their own expense, or they can go to a state prision and get what they've been doing to us for the last 10 years.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  6. Re: yeah right, by not chuck's freind on Nov 3rd, 2006 @ 2:06pm

    go to prison to get crap installed on their computer? interesting.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  7. Re: Re: yeah right, by Anonymous Coward on Nov 3rd, 2006 @ 2:58pm

    I think he was referring more to getting it up the rear

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  8. Re: Re: Re: yeah right, by Anonymous Coward on Nov 3rd, 2006 @ 8:51pm

    I thought he meant eat spam....

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  9. Zango crime by New victim on Nov 5th, 2006 @ 6:46pm

    Got a new laptop, and these bastard found their way in and I can't get rid of them. I am not that savy in computer to find out how to un-install or delete their directories.

    Any help is appreciated

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  10. by just me on Nov 5th, 2006 @ 9:43pm

    A fine on these people is not enough. It is no more than a slap on the hand to them. The abusers online need to spend some time in jail. Then hit them with fines that make them cry.

    I am worried that most of the spyware vendors, and so on will leave the Country, and head to places that either don't care, or don't have the resources to stop them.

    Many give up on their computers, and either sell them, or give them to other family members because of the malware online.

    It use to be you could take about a month to learn enough about computers, and you could go ahead and purchase it, and learn as you go.

    You can't do that anymore. Now days, you have to have full security software on your computer, and you have to know enough in order to run the software. Or your computer can be compromised within minutes of going online.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  11. Re: Zango crime by Mike on Nov 5th, 2006 @ 10:07pm

    You can uninstall in by going to Add/Remove programs and selecting the Zango Search Assistant.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  12. Re: Zango crime by Mike on Nov 5th, 2006 @ 10:08pm

    You can uninstall in by going to Add/Remove programs and selecting the Zango Search Assistant.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  13. Re: Zango by weebit on Nov 5th, 2006 @ 11:29pm

    Mike

    I wish it was that easy.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  14. Deleting Zango by PJ on Nov 6th, 2006 @ 10:23am

    This link should help you remove Zango: http://www.dslreports.com/faq/8428

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  15. Re: Deleting Zango by Ben Manoochehri on Nov 10th, 2006 @ 7:45am

    Thank you so very much.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

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