September 1, 2005

Yahoo! criticised for supporting spyware

by brian_turner

Internet giant Yahoo! has been criticised by anti-spyware Ben Edelman for funding spyware companies with its Yahoo! search marketing advertising programs.

In one example, Ben Edelmen calculated that Yahoo! paid the company Claria – originally known as infamous spyware company Gator – over $50 million in advertising revenues in 2004.

Search engine watcher Danny Sullivan used the report to call on Yahoo! to allow it’s advertisers to opt-out of specific programs, not least to help avoid potential liabilities in being seen to directly support adware and spyware installed on users machines.

The timing of the report by Edelman could be critical, as a US court judge today set a precedent, by ruling that people affected by spyware can sue the spyware companies, as well as their advertisers.

Story link: Yahoo! criticised for supporting spyware

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