Adware and spyware growth is increasing at an exponential rate, in-spite of everyone's best efforts to slow the scourge. In August there were approximately 450 adware families & more than 4,000 variants according to McAfee.
McAfee also reports that adware and spyware distributors are abusing the affiliate marketing programs of legitimate companies. Every time a see an affiliate posting on forums trying to get more affiliates to promote download programs that spread this crap, I see RED. I also blast them in public for stooping so low and warn them that the adware they spread can come back to bite them in the pocketbook and steal commissions from other programs they promote. Some wake up and say they didn't realize what they were spreading and stop. Others say they don't care about anything else as long as they get paid per download. Here's a report from Infomatics:
<blockquote><strong><a target="_new" href="http://www.infomaticsonline.co.uk/vnunet/news/2163969/celebs-bigger-sex-adware-war">Celebs Bigger than Sex in Adware War</a></strong> "The emergence of lucrative online affiliate-marketing business models, and the widespread ease with which adware and spyware can be spread, have made them prominent features in the threat landscape," said Jeff Green, senior vice president of product development at McAfee."
"From 2003 to 2006, we have seen the number of adware families rise by more than 1,000 per cent," said Green."</blockquote>
DON'T PROMOTE ADWARE & SPYWARE!
Many affiliates don't realize that programs like FREE SCREENSAVERS are riddled with spyware.
McAfee also reports that adware and spyware distributors are abusing the affiliate marketing programs of legitimate companies. Every time a see an affiliate posting on forums trying to get more affiliates to promote download programs that spread this crap, I see RED. I also blast them in public for stooping so low and warn them that the adware they spread can come back to bite them in the pocketbook and steal commissions from other programs they promote. Some wake up and say they didn't realize what they were spreading and stop. Others say they don't care about anything else as long as they get paid per download. Here's a report from Infomatics:
<blockquote><strong><a target="_new" href="http://www.infomaticsonline.co.uk/vnunet/news/2163969/celebs-bigger-sex-adware-war">Celebs Bigger than Sex in Adware War</a></strong> "The emergence of lucrative online affiliate-marketing business models, and the widespread ease with which adware and spyware can be spread, have made them prominent features in the threat landscape," said Jeff Green, senior vice president of product development at McAfee."
"From 2003 to 2006, we have seen the number of adware families rise by more than 1,000 per cent," said Green."</blockquote>
DON'T PROMOTE ADWARE & SPYWARE!
Many affiliates don't realize that programs like FREE SCREENSAVERS are riddled with spyware.
