WDDA - Are they Spying on you for Profit?

Internet Connection Misuse & Abuse
excerpts by Steve Gibson, Gibson Research Corporation

For many years, the big problem has been software viruses written by malicious teenage hackers finding their way into our personal computers to set up shop with their own agendas. But today we face a new and even more insidious threat: Internet companies, whose apparent "business model" is the exploitation of consumer trust and ignorance, are sneaking their spyware systems into our machines for their own purposes.

Anonymous Surveillance for Profit
Steve Gibson, Gibson Research Corporation

Targeting, profiling, and tracking individuals across the Internet is UNETHICAL unless the individual has given these companies explicit permission to do so. Absent explicit permission, surveillance represents spying which should be prevented, banned, and outlawed. Moreover . . . following up on the point I made in my note above, it might very well be that a compelling legal case could be made to support the contention that the custom selection of web site advertising content based upon profiles gained through stealthful surveillance is tantamount to subliminal persuasion — and therefore unlawful.
Subliminal Persuasion is Against the Law.

..... What I object to, is that WITHOUT ASKING OUR PERMISSION — and without our knowledge — the users of a specific personal computer's Internet browser are under continuous surveillance — even if 'cookies' are disabled or being blocked — as they move throughout the web. Internet browsers are being individually monitored and tracked as their users move around the Internet and dossiers profiling their activities are being compiled without their permission for the sole purpose of influencing them without their knowledge. That's what my objection is about. How do you feel about being watched while you surf and having profiles assembled about you without your knowledge or permission?

The SERIOUS New Spyware Threat ...
Steve Gibson, Gibson Research Corporation

NetZip's "Download Demon" was purchased by Real Networks and renamed "Real Download". then Netscape/AOL licensed it from Real and called it "Netscape Smart Download."
By watching the "packet traffic" flowing out of one of my machines while downloading a file through the Internet, I verified the rumors which you may have heard regarding these programs: All of these programs immediately tag your computer with a unique ID, after which EVERY SINGLE FILE you download from ANYWHERE on the Internet (even places that might not be anyone else's business) is immediately reported back to the program's source, along with your machine's unique ID *and* its unique Internet IP address.
This information allows them to compile and create a detailed "profile" about who you are based upon the web sites you visit and the files you have downloaded.
Perhaps you don't mind being watched and tracked as you move around the Internet ... and having every file you download reported along with your unique ID and IP address. But the idea of this being done WITHOUT YOUR KNOWLEDGE, seems invasive to me in the extreme. And even if you carefully read the program's license, you might not be aware that this is going on or that "you agreed to it" when you accepted their terms!
More than 14 Million people are already using the original NetZip Download Demon. NetZip knows the exact number, since every copy of their program "phones home" to report on what their users are doing! And I'm sure people are downloading Real Network's ReadDownload and Netscape's SmartDownload like crazy.
A Class Action lawsuit was recently filed against Netscape/AOL because of this privacy invasion, so perhaps the PC industry will begin to receive the message that this sort of secret spying and profiling is not okay with the rest of us, even if it is buried within a lengthy license agreement. You decide........

The File Download Utilities from Real Networks,
Netscape/AOL, and NetZip *ARE* Spying On Us!
by Steve Gibson, Gibson Research Corporation

.....I verified the rumors which you may have heard regarding these programs: All of these programs immediately tag your computer with a unique ID, after which EVERY SINGLE FILE you download from ANYWHERE on the Internet (even places that might not be anyone else's business) is immediately reported back to the program's source, along with your machine's unique ID *and* its unique Internet IP address.

On Aug. 04, AOL announced that they would remove the feature from Netscape's SmartDownload that would allow them to collect data on what files were being downloaded from the Internet, and who was downloading them. Although AOL plans to disable the feature, and claims that "...we've never used or accessed any information about SmartDownload users or files...", there are still several issues at hand here. First and foremost is the fact that AOL did not deny the allegations that their SmartDownload feature is 'eavesdropping' on users of Netscape. Second, regardless of the fact that AOL claims to not have accessed the collected data, they do not deny that such a database exists, nor have they expressed any intention of destroying the already collected data, or said that they will refrain from collecting further data until the 'fix' for SmartDowload is available, and in use by all AOL and Netscape users.
It is the opinion of the WDDA that AOL, and any of the other companies that are spying on Internet users and are, or have been collecting data without express permission, have violated the public's trust and should be informed in no uncertain terms that this type of behavior will not be tolerated. Our thanks go out to Steve Gibson and people of his caliber for protecting the public interest.
For more information on this story, see the articles below and be sure to click on the 'Internet Issues' button on the sidebar for links to other companies that are taking a stand for Privacy.

The WDDA finds these types of practices abhorrent and totally unethical. In fact, companies found to be using 'SpyWare' without a full public disclosure will be banned from Membership in the WDDA (see our Ethics Policy by clicking HERE, then hit your browser 'back button to return to this page).
Join us in a campaign against 'SpyWare' and salvage your Right to Privacy, and the Right to a Full Disclosure by Software Companies as to the actions of their products.

For a list of KNOWN SpyWare Programs (probably by no means complete) - Click Here
To read what Steve Gibson has to say about 'SpyWare' (in it's entirety) - Click Here
To Download 'OPTOUT' - a free program that will audit your computer for 'SpyWare' - Click Here
For a list of 'Privacy' related Web Sites and articles - Click Here
To join the free WDDA Email NewsLetter on this and other Internet related topics - Click Here - and be sure to include your full name, email address and request to be included in the list