Symantec ask court to rule Hotbar.com as adware

[moneoa]

Symantec has filed suit in defence of its right to produce tools that classify programs from Hotbar.com as adware. Symantec is not seeking damages as part of the suit. Instead the security giant is asking a court to rule that certain Hotbar program files are indeed adware and can be treated as computer security risks.
"By asking the court for clarification on this issue in our favour, we hope to continue alerting our customers about the presence of these program files, protecting them against possible security risks," said Joy Cartun, senior director of legal affairs for Symantec. "Through this effort, we're trying to ensure that our customers have more control over the programs that run on their computers."
The suit was filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Division this week days after TRUSTe, the online privacy group, revoked Hotbar.com's right to display its seal of approval.
Hotbar.com distributes a variety of Web browser toolbars with changeable "skins", email tools and screensaver programs, many of which are designed to appeal to children. These tools come bundled with packages that deliver targeted pop-up ads. Hotbar.com's distribution practices have put it at odds with some security vendors. Last month the firm fired off a legal letter to anti-spyware firm Sunbelt Software asking it to stop classifying its wares as adware. Sunbelt is sticking to its guns by insisting that Hotbar.com's wares meet its classification for adware.

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[ejonesss]

wouldnt it be easier just to add hotbar to the virus defs than to sue.

unless by making them a virus makes it legal for norton to add it by lifting the secrets from hotbar.

if i was norton folks i would just full out violate the dmca and reverse engineer hotbar by looking for installed spyware and adding it to the defs

[Signa]

its a real shame that norton's program has become SO bloated over the years. i had an older version once and it worked great till it said it didnt want to run properly on XP ( actually it was MSblast that made me upgrade). i like the spyware removal, because its just one step short of being a virus, but the whole antivirus prog is reaching a point IMO of being close to the very software it protects you from.

other than that, its good to see symantec trying to fight for us people, and not being exploited by companies with software like hotbar and gator

[Auggie2k]

Thought hotbar was adware, came up in every anti-adware program I have, very annoying I must say!

[R.S.BROWN]

Adaware And Spybot Search And Destroy Consider It As Adware/spyware.

[ejonesss]

i think one reason to bloat software is for inter os compatibility.

instead of writing a seperate version for

dos,win 3.x,95,98,2000,me,xp(whistler),xp(longhorn)

there is just 1 version.


also another way to be compatible is to not use os specific code for example

lets say the vbs basic version 1.0 does not have the repeat command so a script kiddy will have to count to 10 by

set count to 1
set count to 2
set count to 3
set count to 4
set count to 5
set count to 6
set count to 7
set count to 8
set count to 9
set count to 10

vbs basic 2.0 has the repeat command so the script kiddy will do the same thing

repeat with x = 1 to 10
set count to x
end repeat


vbs 1.0 requires 10 lines of code

vbs 2.0 requires 3 lines of code.

to stay compatibile with all versions a script kiddy may want to use crude code that had to do for vbs 1.0 thereby being able to do the job so only write the code once and never make new versions.



also there is no need to buy a new norton or renew subscriptions each year.

just un install and remove all traces folders and registery keys

then re install and presto you got another year via a loophole

[Signa]

im sure that was directed at me ejoness, and i should say that i guess i have a different definition of "bloated." wether its right or not, what i consider "bloated" software isnt how many lines of code it uses or how many megs of space it takes on your HD.

what i meant is that it does more and more for you that you dont nesscessarlily want. look at windows' evolution. first it started as a convienent way to manage your PC with 3.1 and even 95. now they are packaging MSN messenger with XP.

look at the way most freeware progs feel when you use them. they usually are nothing more than quick, simple apps that do exactly what you downloaded them for, and ONLY that. virtual dub doesnt do photo editing, RATDVD doesnt have a virus scanner in it, and spybot doesnt chat with other ppl on the internet.

'course these exadurated examples are far-fetched, but norton used to only find viruses. now its a worm-blocking firewall (which doesnt stop asking about and games that connect out when im playing them, forceing me to shut norton down all together), finds spyware, and automatically updates itself. sure, they are all good things, but some times it makes me wish i didnt have it on my PC.

and i know that you dont need to buy a new version every year. thats just what "they" want. and ppl do, because they dont know any better.