Microsoft Gives MVP Award to Adware Pusher

An anonymous reader writes "Ed Bott reports that Microsoft has given an MVP (Most Valuable Professional Award) to an individual known for peddling Adware via his Messenger Plus program." From the article: "So how did a guy whose primary business involves installing adware become an MVP? That's what Christopher Boyd, a Microsoft Security MVP better known as Paperghost wants to know. Boyd isn't the only MVP who has a history with Patchou. Sandi Hardmeier, a current MVP in the Internet Explorer category who specializes in the fight against malware, has written three long, angry pages about the messy adware that 'sponsors' Patchou's product."

Blame marketing

[growse]

It's probably because these 'awards' are dreamed up and given out by 'Marketing' folk who are too stuck up their own arse to waste time talking to technical experts to find out if what they're doing makes any sense.

Re:MVP

[Jherek Carnelian]

Most Valuable Professional? Isn't "Professional" a euphamism for prostitute?

Not in this case, because prostitutes get paid. MVP's give it away for free.

As best I can tell, MS gives the title of MVP to people who do a lot of free tech support for MS - they post a lot in whatever forums MS runs answering questions and generally sticking up for MS's good name.

I am not sure why these people feel the need to give away their personal time and energy to help out MS's bottom line, but MS is smart enough to exploit these sycophants by giving them an "award" of the title MVP which costs MS close to nothing in return and the MVP's seem very proud of this recognition, often listing it in their sigs and whatnot. Like a badge of suckeritude.

I think the reason one MVP is complaining loudly and bitterly enough about another MVP so as to make the front page of slashdot is precisely because the stakes are so small. (to paraphrase a well known rat-fink)

Re:Blame marketing

[Spiked_Three]

No they are not given out by marketting. They are given out by MS support to people who show knowledge about a particular Windows tech and share it. A person who is successful at writing adware and getting around all the roadblocks trying to stop them is probably fairly knowledgable.

The fact that he is abusing his knowledge is another story. Lump him in with all the smart people who hack DRMs.

That's not nearly good enough

[AdamKG]

I'm sorry, that's not good enough. Here's how I see it: if you are "forced" to bundle adware when you ship your software so you don't starve to death or whatnot, then don't fricken ship the software.

It's really that simple. There's no excuse/justification for it.

Re:Was worried there for a moment...

[Shemmie]

Have you used MSN Plus! / MSN Live Plus!? I ask, because I'm curious why someone who's spent a number of years writing high quality software for a large community and releasing his work for free, with the 'option' (read: you do NOT have to agree to install it) of a sponser program (read: adware) deserves to be beaten with something heavy and blunt?

MS is going to start selling anti virus/adware...

[Rix]

Products, right? Well, they need people writing viruses and spyware :P

Re:Was worried there for a moment...

[Anonymous Coward]

Excuse me, are you idiot? Considering a spammer a good professional is what should be worrisome, what kind of bussiness ethics they have?

Re:Astroturf?

[antek9]

If I look at the crusade this shill is on (my, dear Sphonix, enough already), you might be right on spot. One thing only: a most valuable professional wouldn't possibly consistently misspell sponsor, now, would he? ;)

Re:Was worried there for a moment...

[Guspaz]

Huh? I'm a user of MsgPlus. Every time I've ever installed it or an update, it has given me a CHOICE as to if I want to install the toolbar. There is an ENTIRE page of the installer dedicated to explaining what it is, and giving the option as to if you want to install it.

The guy's been working full time on a free product, and STILL gives the option not to install it. I don't know about you, but I trust somebody like him a lot more than the people at Debian who want to rename Firefox because the icon is free-as-in-beer instead of free-as-in-speech. At least Patchou is being reasonable.

Re:Was worried there for a moment...

[beuges]

I think you dont understand the difference between adware and spyware. Adware is advertising-supported software. How does trying to support your software via ads make you an asshole?