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