The CNET AntiSpyware Workshop- A Year Later

It seems the Direct Revenue suit is finally providing validation for what anti-spyware researchers knew all along. Their practices were bad mojo.

Take this excerpt from Bill Pytlovany’s Blog the maker of cool app called WinPatrol.

Death Threats for A Better Internet

If most of your Emails are death threats and every sentence contains the F-word or worse, you might think your company is doing something wrong. Not so for Direct Revenue, LLC, the folks behind “A Better Internet” and MyPCTuneUp.com. They just archived them, smiled a “teethy grin”, and said, “its not spyware, it’s advertising software”. They even drove one customer to write, “i got a knife to my throat and if i get another pop up tonight i am going to kill myself”.

Shocking! I wonder if they got a pop-up for a knife set? That would be contextual.

Bill, who I had the pleasure to meet at the CNET Conference last year was kind enough to grant me permission from some of his photo archives he took at the event. For me it spurred a walk down memory lane…and I wanted to share one to capture the moment.

The Anti-Spyware Workshop, hosted by CNET Download.com on May 3rd, provided an opportunity for the industry’s key players to come together for a day of active and open dialogue about the current and future state of anti-spyware. Listen to the audio transcript of the conference here.

Release 1.0 requires registration to login for the audio archives.

I do recall this photo well, standing in line to get my turn to ask a few “questions” and make my statement to the effect that this isn’t kindergarten- what do you want- a do-over?. You will find Dave Methvin of PcPitStop fame, Ben Edelman as himself, yours truly now at Facetime Security, and researcher Eric Howes now at Sunbelt.

I do recall Eric and I, while in line, quietly debating why it was 2005 and we were still talking on the various merits of creative nomenclature which seemed to be the crux of the panel. Adware, Spyware, Mysteryware, Foistware, Scumware, Shopping Applications, Crapware, Consumerware (That one is from Aluria I think) and the endless *wares. We really thought we should have gotten over this by now and let the evidence, of which there are mounds, speak for itself.

During our quick and quiet diatribe Ben and Dave were showing some revealing slides documenting, beyond a doubt, typical sleazy practices. Esther Dyson seemed a bit perturbed since one of the panelists (Claria), prior to the slideshow, said something to the effect that we don’t distribute that way anymore. (Not that it matters in my book- I still think ALL of these companies, claiming reformation or not, have much to answer for their past behavior. It must not be swept under the rug.)…Then came the damning slideshow with commentary from Dave (who is hardcore with a razor wit) and Ben (the scholastic approach).

The irony of it all is that Daniel Doman (Chief Technology Officer for Direct Revenue), if I recall correctly, stood up on this panel with a straight face. Now it is April 2006 and I guess Direct Revenue will be attending panels of a different sort. Of course when people like Mr. Doman go head-to-head with Chris Boyd you probably start wishing for a mere panel.

So we walk down memory lane from “open dialogue” a year ago to the Spitzerville of today. Once again I ask merchants and managers, I implore them- look at who you are partnering with. Figure it out. I know it isn’t easy but ask yourself- even if it were legal (and that is not clear)- is it really ethical? Because it is your dollars that power this calamity.

Yes numbers matter, and the pressure mounts, but at the end of the day is it really good for your most valued asset-your customer?

Are you treating them as you yourself would like to be treated?

Late Entry: Another researcher informed me that that Mr. Doman was actually one of the more ethical partners in the “business” based on the documents and argued against some of their worst practices. My advice would have been to simply resign.