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Legal Issues

by Joseph Weisenthal

Fri, Nov 3rd 2006 11:58am





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.  
    identicon
    James, Nov 3rd, 2006 @ 12:28pm

    AWESOME !!

    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 | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  
    identicon
    Chief Elf, Nov 3rd, 2006 @ 12:44pm

    It's in their nature...

    Perhaps Zango surreptitiously installed some loopholes into the agreement.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  
    identicon
    Anonymous dude, Nov 3rd, 2006 @ 12:52pm

    Re: AWESOME !!

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

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  4.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Nov 3rd, 2006 @ 1:05pm

    Re: Re: AWESOME !!

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

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  5.  
    identicon
    chuck, Nov 3rd, 2006 @ 1:07pm

    yeah right,

    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 | link to this | view in thread ]

  6.  
    identicon
    not chuck's freind, Nov 3rd, 2006 @ 2:06pm

    Re: yeah right,

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

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  7.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Nov 3rd, 2006 @ 2:58pm

    Re: Re: yeah right,

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

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  8.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Nov 3rd, 2006 @ 8:51pm

    Re: Re: Re: yeah right,

    I thought he meant eat spam....

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  9.  
    identicon
    New victim, Nov 5th, 2006 @ 6:46pm

    Zango crime

    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 | link to this | view in thread ]

  10.  
    identicon
    just me, 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 | link to this | view in thread ]

  11.  
    identicon
    Mike, Nov 5th, 2006 @ 10:07pm

    Re: Zango crime

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

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  12.  
    identicon
    Mike, Nov 5th, 2006 @ 10:08pm

    Re: Zango crime

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

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  13.  
    identicon
    weebit, Nov 5th, 2006 @ 11:29pm

    Re: Zango

    Mike

    I wish it was that easy.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  14.  
    identicon
    PJ, Nov 6th, 2006 @ 10:23am

    Deleting Zango

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

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  15.  
    identicon
    Ben Manoochehri, Nov 10th, 2006 @ 7:45am

    Re: Deleting Zango

    Thank you so very much.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


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