| It just amazes me how there are companies out | | | | of your rights. |
| there, claiming to be legitimate businesses, | | | | |
| who are distributing what can only be known | | | | Our elected officials don't know how to surf |
| as spyware, adware, malware, badware, and | | | | the web for the most part, let alone actually |
| viruses. These companies get away with it due | | | | understand what the definition of a virus is |
| to obscure clauses and legal double-speak in | | | | and how to legislate against spyware and |
| their terms of agreements, if they bother to | | | | malware. Software companies who write |
| have one at all. | | | | legitimate programs lobby them to make sure |
| | | | they do not pass any laws that regulate the |
| Some websites will download unwanted spyware | | | | sale of software. |
| and badware on your computer without any | | | | |
| consent from you at all. They claim that all | | | | Example: Name any other product or service |
| of this information gathering has a | | | | where you must pay up front for it before you |
| legitimate purpose and that people are | | | | even see the contract you must sign and agree |
| over-reacting. | | | | to before you can use it? |
| | | | |
| Some people do not know what a virus is. It | | | | Not only that, but large corporations support |
| is simply a program. Just like any other | | | | the use of malware, adware, spyware, badware, |
| program you download and use everyday. It | | | | and viruses that gather information from |
| must be installed onto your computer. The | | | | users without their knowledge. They in turn |
| difference between a virus and a legitimate | | | | buy that information to build their own |
| program lies in the purpose for which it was | | | | consumer databases and use that information |
| created. | | | | to sell you products. They pay to know what |
| | | | your habits are. As long as they are willing |
| A legitimate program was created to help you | | | | to pay for that information, companies like |
| perform a task. A virus was created to harm | | | | GAIN will continue to steal it from user's |
| your computer or steal information from you. | | | | and sell it to these companies. |
| The other difference is the first one is | | | | |
| legal, the latter is not. | | | | If you want to know how many programs on your |
| | | | computer are gathering information about you, |
| A virus is legitimately defined as an | | | | you will need to get some type of spyware |
| executable program, however, any script or | | | | detection software. There are several |
| macro should be included in that definition | | | | available, however, be careful, some of those |
| in my opinion. If they are written with the | | | | advertising the removal of spyware are |
| intent of causing harm to a user's computer | | | | actually installing it on your computer |
| or they are written and installed on a user's | | | | themselves. Make sure you do a search in your |
| computer in order to gather information on | | | | favorite search engine to find out about the |
| that user, then they are no better and no | | | | brand of software you are thinking of |
| different than a virus, and should fall under | | | | downloading. |
| the same laws that apply to viruses. | | | | |
| | | | If your computer is infected with Gator or |
| If these programs like GAIN, Gator, and | | | | GAIN, you may have to use anti-virus software |
| WinFixer are so legitimate, why are the | | | | to remove it. Many of the anti-virus |
| techniques they use to install it on a user's | | | | companies have removal instructions on their |
| computer so sly? Why are they using these | | | | website. If GAIN were a legitimate company |
| sneaky tactics, such as downloading it onto | | | | and legitimate software, it's highly doubtful |
| someone's computer without disclosing what it | | | | it would have to be removed by an anti-virus |
| actually is to the user in a clear manner? | | | | program. |
| | | | |
| Why do they write their malware, badware, and | | | | I hope this article has been helpful to you. |
| adware in such a way as to have it resist | | | | GAIN, WinFixer, and other programs that act |
| your efforts to remove it from your computer? | | | | in this unethical manner should be considered |
| Your computer is something you bought and | | | | viruses and held accountable for the harm |
| paid for. You have the right to decide what | | | | they do to your computer and liable for the |
| will be installed on your computer. Anyone | | | | time it takes to remove them. That's my |
| who writes a program that resists your | | | | opinion. |
| ability to choose to remove it is a violation | | | | |