IT News from
Enterprise Product Reviews from
Enterprise Software News from
IT Security News from
Enterprise Storage News From
VoIP News from
IT Management Insights from
Business News from
SEARCH

April 04, 2006 (4:06 PM EDT)

NY Attorney General Files Spyware Suit

By K.C. Jones , TechWeb Technology News

The New York State Attorney General's Office is suing Direct Revenue, claiming the company secretly installed millions of pop-up ad programs and sent ads through secretly installed spyware.

The state's top prosecutor filed the lawsuit Tuesday, seeking a court order forcing the company to stop and requesting an accounting of the company's revenues. The lawsuit also requests ""appropriate"" monetary penalties.

New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer claims the company and its distributors offered free games, browsers and enhancement software to lure customers into unknowingly downloading code that linked their computers to the company's servers, which then downloaded the spyware.

During an investigation, Spitzer's Internet bureau also recorded silent ""drive-by-downloads,"" or instances of bundling, which occurred on 21 Web sites without notice, according to a statement Spitzer released Tuesday. The spyware tracked Web behavior, delivered sequential pop-up ads, was difficult to detect and remove and reinstalled itself, according to the statement. The lawsuit states that computer users were directed to go to a Web site, mypctuneup.com, and turn off their firewalls before ""uninstalling"" the software.

VX2, Aurora and OfferOptimizer are among the applications used to target consumers.

The lawsuit names CEO Josh Abram, Alan Murray, Daniel Kaufman and Rodney Hook. It states that they knew about and participated in the schemes while holding a majority of the company's stock. An e-mail allegedly sent by Abram states that ""we will not get caught.""

The lawsuit states that the company and its individual defendants violated New York State business law, which prohibits false advertising; its penal law, which prohibits computer tampering; and its common law, which outlaws trespassing.

Spitzer has aggressively pursued Internet fraud cases.

Ari Schwartz, Deputy Director of the Center for Democracy and Technology praised Spitzer's actions.

""The practice of forcing consumers into downloading software they neither want nor need has threatened the essential trust that lies at the heart of Internet communication,"" he said through a prepared statement.

Direct Revenue could not be reached immediately for comment. The online marketing company has said recently that it strives to follow online advertising best practices and that it tries to educate consumers.

<A HREF=""http://as.cmpnet.com/event.ng/Type=click&FlightID=98276&AdID=166476&TargetID=6527&Segments=118,679,902,1411,3108,3448,4993,8879,13986&Targets=347,2625,2878,4161,6527,10071&Values=34,46,51,63,77,87,92,102,140,205,222,227,373,442,479,1311,1405,1766,1785,1830,1925,2299,2310,2352,2604,2678,2762,2767,2942,3235,3552,4080,5196&RawValues=&Redirect=http://www.bmighty.com"" target=""_top""><IMG SRC=""http://i.cmpnet.com/ads/graphics/as5/tr/blank.gif"" WIDTH=125 HEIGHT=125 BORDER=0></A>

   Try TechWeb's RSS Feed!
(Note: The feed delivers stories from TechWeb.com only, not the entire TechWeb Network.)
SECURITY WHITE PAPERS AND REPORTS
Auditing: What You Need to Know
All companies must go through a formal auditing process to ensure they're meeting various compliance demands. In theory, this exercise will help them understand where their security holes are and how to make appropriate improvements. But how do companies ensure their auditors understand specific IT security issues and requirements? We find out.

Using QUALYSGUARD to meet SOX compliance & IT control objectives
As a guideline to achieve SOX compliance, the SEC has mandated that organizations use a recognized internal control framework—specifically the recommendations of the Committee of the Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). This document shows how CobIT provides the actionable framework for compliance with COSO.

Regulatory Compliance and Critical System Protection: The Role of Mission-Critical Power and Cooling in Data Integrity and Availability
This white paper addresses the regulatory compliance issues that impact business continuity planning and how mission-critical power, cooling, and monitoring strategies support business continuity.

Keeping Up Your SOX Compliance - And Turning IT into a High Performer by Improving Change Control
Learn how to sustain ongoing SOX compliance efforts by recognizing & implementing the IT controls that deliver long-term competitive advantages as well as meeting SOX requirements. This paper provides guidance to improve your Sarbanes-Oxley program efforts and highlights key information on Tripwire and to the many ways we can support your efforts.

Get more done in more places on the Sprint Mobile Broadband Network.

How does your pay rate? Check the InformationWeek Salary Survey

Free starter kit for wireless email from Motorola Good Technology Group

Control costs and increase productivity with MFPs

Get detailed process roadmaps for your ITIL journey

Related White Papers

CAREER CENTER
Ready to take that job and shove it?
SEARCH
Function:

Keyword(s):

State:
SPONSOR

RECENT JOB POSTINGS
CAREER NEWS
If you're thinking about establishing yourself in Second Life -- or are wondering whether you should -- we've got five rules that will help your new venture be a success.

The global defense and tech company is seeking tech professionals skilled in Web site development, general software development, database administration, digital manufacturing, SAP/ABAP, complex CAD/CAM and PLM activities.

Advertisement






Specialty Resources

Featured Microsite

Related Links


Microsites

Featured Topic

Additional Topics

Crush The Competition

TechWeb's FREE e-mail newsletters deliver the news you need to come out on top.

Techencyclopedia

Get definitions for more than 20,000 IT terms.