In a Wired article, writer Annalee Newitz says the spyware/adware wars are over and spyware/adware has won. Newitz chronicles the rise and fall and rise again of the hated Gator/Claria as an example of how ever more money is being made by tracking your web surfing habits.
Whether it is Gator/Claria or Google, or Yahoo! the goal is the same - even if the mechanism used may or may not be different. What is different is that the watch dogs have been muzzled.
The mere use of the word spyware can lead to a law suit. Said legal threats have chilled the environment and made anti-spyware companies gun shy. Hence, these companies are no longer raising the alarm when these spyware/adware programs install themselves and begin phoning home.
I have no solution for this other than eternal vigilance because it appears we can no longer trust the watchdogs.
Have a Great Weekend, Everyone - Aloha!
