Comment User Awareness is Key (Score 2, Interesting) 373
As many on this board are aware, PC Pitstop launched a major awareness campaign about Gator and its activities. Gator in turn sued us, and we finally settled and the terms of this agreement are confidential. However, we'd like to post our opinion about Gator's recent name change.
We believe that the only solution to this problem is one of awareness. When a user sees a Gator Active X, it must be eventually engrained into their heads to click NO. Gator is indeed clever, because by changing names, it makes an awareness campaign more difficult and also expensive. By analyzing the recent moves, it seems that Claria is comprised of three organizations:
GAIN Publishing - This organization contains the software packages eWallet, Precision Time, Date Manager, and Weatherscope, and also the GAIN network. GAIN Publishing is also responsible for selling the advertising on the GAIN Network. Note: It seems that recently Gator/Claria has changed the name on their Active X certificates from Gator Inc to GAIN Publishing.
Search Scout - Search Scout is a product of their relationship with Overture. This organization is responsible for managing the Overture relationship, and also determining in which situations Search Scout will over ride the user's browsing experience. Note: We have recently discovered that Search Scout pops up not only when Google or other web searches but on specific sites. For example, I was listening to Gateway's earnings conference call, and Search Scout popped a full page window, with the title "Looking to purchase a computer?".
Feedback Research - It seems that this is a new organization. It seems that the purpose of this organization is to run targetted surveys to users of the GAIN network. We recently have found (and have screen shots) of a survey that Feedback Research is running to users of the Google Toolbar.
Claria is a smart company. Their name change is good evidence that they are trying to keep ahead of the rising anti Gator sentiment on the internet. So we just need to be smarter. Here are a few ideas to hopefully spur more awareness:
1. Companies UNITE. One thing that I have learned from slash dot is that the impact on company's productivity and expenses is more measurable than to individual consumers.
2. Know the beast - I hate to say this. But I want to encourage everyone to install Gator on your PC to know what it is doing. It is clear that Gator/Claria is constantly changing its tactics to its environment, and the more eyes watching their behaviour the better. Of course, uninstall the software before it gets to be too aggravating.
3. Tell everyone you know - No one is protected against Gator. It can show up on anyone's computer at any time. So everyone needs to know about Gator.
4. Tell your company not to advertise with Gator and/or Overture.
We believe that the only solution to this problem is one of awareness. When a user sees a Gator Active X, it must be eventually engrained into their heads to click NO. Gator is indeed clever, because by changing names, it makes an awareness campaign more difficult and also expensive. By analyzing the recent moves, it seems that Claria is comprised of three organizations:
GAIN Publishing - This organization contains the software packages eWallet, Precision Time, Date Manager, and Weatherscope, and also the GAIN network. GAIN Publishing is also responsible for selling the advertising on the GAIN Network. Note: It seems that recently Gator/Claria has changed the name on their Active X certificates from Gator Inc to GAIN Publishing.
Search Scout - Search Scout is a product of their relationship with Overture. This organization is responsible for managing the Overture relationship, and also determining in which situations Search Scout will over ride the user's browsing experience. Note: We have recently discovered that Search Scout pops up not only when Google or other web searches but on specific sites. For example, I was listening to Gateway's earnings conference call, and Search Scout popped a full page window, with the title "Looking to purchase a computer?".
Feedback Research - It seems that this is a new organization. It seems that the purpose of this organization is to run targetted surveys to users of the GAIN network. We recently have found (and have screen shots) of a survey that Feedback Research is running to users of the Google Toolbar.
Claria is a smart company. Their name change is good evidence that they are trying to keep ahead of the rising anti Gator sentiment on the internet. So we just need to be smarter. Here are a few ideas to hopefully spur more awareness:
1. Companies UNITE. One thing that I have learned from slash dot is that the impact on company's productivity and expenses is more measurable than to individual consumers.
2. Know the beast - I hate to say this. But I want to encourage everyone to install Gator on your PC to know what it is doing. It is clear that Gator/Claria is constantly changing its tactics to its environment, and the more eyes watching their behaviour the better. Of course, uninstall the software before it gets to be too aggravating.
3. Tell everyone you know - No one is protected against Gator. It can show up on anyone's computer at any time. So everyone needs to know about Gator.
4. Tell your company not to advertise with Gator and/or Overture.
