[guest]

http://forums.tomcoy...showtopic=20626

Eric Howes' commentary here:
http://www.dslreport...23816~mode=flat

This is a stunning development against the Anti-Spyware movement.

Aluria has joined with WhenU supposedly to market a spyware scanner....

http://www.whenu.com...u_solution.html
Note: it is in IE-SPYAD and hpHOSTS file

Quote

WhenU is committed to protecting consumers' privacy and consumer PCs against dangerous spyware. This is why WhenU has teamed up with Aluria Software, a leading provider of anti-spyware tools, to provide WhenU consumers with UControl.

UControl is the first product in the online advertising industry that provides a comprehensive scan of your computer and removes unwanted spyware programs, while continuing to provide the deals, offers and value consumers have come to expect from WhenU contextual products.


Using Aluria's technology, WhenU's UControl Spyware Scanner:

Rids your computer of dangerous spyware
Protects privacy and personal information
Prevents credit card theft
Increases system performance
Ends browser hijacking
Enables consumers to continue to receive relevant contextual advertising, special deals and offers
Innovation is the key to the survival of any industry, and WhenU looks forward to playing a pivotal role in this evolving field of consumer protection.

This product will be ready for download on November 1, 2004.

Due to this development, Aluria is no longer a part of ASAP.

It is suggest blacklisting Aluria from all future corespondance in the Anti-Spyware community and make sure we get the word out that their programs can no longer be trusted.

This post has been edited by YoKenny: 30 October 2004 - 08:05 AM

[hewee]

Wow that it bad to hear they put a knife in are backs.


http://www.whenu.com...u_solution.html
Note: it is in IE-SPYAD and hpHOSTS file

Yea the site is in my host file also.

Well was just over at aluria and see they have what they should not have.
I think everyone should tell the BBB and have them taken away from the BBBOnLine Reliability.

[Donna]

Users of AOL Spyware Protection and other sites that is powered by Aluria Software should be aware too that the spyware protection that they are using.. will not flag WhenU any longer as "Adware"

In Rogue/Suspect Anti-Spyware Products & Web Sites page, we can see the following products and domain is powered by Aluria Software:

[Donna]

Aluria Software LLC’s stand on WhenU

Quote

We wanted to publicly address the concerns that have surfaced this weekend over our recent decision to work with WhenU and certify them as Spyware Safe. Aluria has and always strives to be at the leading edge of spyware removal and the industry as a whole. Aluria was a founding member of COAST, the Consortium Of Anti-Spyware Technology vendors, and was instrumental in lobby congress on the HR2929 bill.
We in the spyware industry have several avenues available to us as to how we can combat spyware and protect our consumers. Traditionally the standard method has been to just detect companies and remove them. Very rarely was consideration given to working with any of these companies to assist them with becoming compliant with our standards and criteria.

We believe that by working with these companies and assisting them in becoming compliant spyware free applications the same service is provided as if they were removed with our software and software the consumer wants that may be ad supported is able to remain functional.

We have worked with WhenU successfully to assist them in changing their distribution methods and business model. They are required to follow a strict list of more than 20 criteria of allowed and disallowed behavior and are required contractually to adhere to this list. Any deviance from these methods opens WhenU to litigation from Aluria Software

More in http://www.aluriasoftware.com/forum/showth...p=1054#post1054

[hewee]

More here too at http://www.spywarein...ives/1104/4.php

[gdhopcroft]

Donna, on Nov 5 2004, 05:07 PM, said:

Aluria Software LLC’s stand on WhenU

Quote

We wanted to publicly address the concerns that have surfaced this weekend over our recent decision to work with WhenU and certify them as Spyware Safe. Aluria has and always strives to be at the leading edge of spyware removal and the industry as a whole. Aluria was a founding member of COAST, the Consortium Of Anti-Spyware Technology vendors, and was instrumental in lobby congress on the HR2929 bill.
We in the spyware industry have several avenues available to us as to how we can combat spyware and protect our consumers. Traditionally the standard method has been to just detect companies and remove them. Very rarely was consideration given to working with any of these companies to assist them with becoming compliant with our standards and criteria.

We believe that by working with these companies and assisting them in becoming compliant spyware free applications the same service is provided as if they were removed with our software and software the consumer wants that may be ad supported is able to remain functional.

We have worked with WhenU successfully to assist them in changing their distribution methods and business model. They are required to follow a strict list of more than 20 criteria of allowed and disallowed behavior and are required contractually to adhere to this list. Any deviance from these methods opens WhenU to litigation from Aluria Software

More in http://www.aluriasoftware.com/forum/showth...p=1054#post1054<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well, it is definitely an "interesting" approach and shows distinctive evidence of "thinking outside the square".

In fact, so far "outside the square" that, surely, Aluria can understand our undoubted reluctance to "get on board" with this new approach of theirs.

But, hey, I'm an "old dog" who can be taught "new tricks", especially as I neither use nor rely on Aluria's software. Who knows, may be WhenU can be taught "new tricks" too.

I'm gonna take great delight (either way) in watching what happens on this one.

[securitywonks]

You can read some of my thoughts on this latest developments here:

http://www.securityw...php?showtopic=9

-------
let us see how this go, while we need to do all required as much possible to minimise their damage to innocent users

This post has been edited by securitywonks: 08 November 2004 - 11:24 AM