Controversy

As you have probably read by now, malware is very difficult to define. Perhaps the greatest difficulty that arises centers around the gray area between malware and legitimate software. There are a number of reasons for this:

  1. Malware is often bundled with legitimate software
  2. Disagreement over whether beneficial (or at least, safe) software that is installed without permission still constitutes malware or spyware.
  3. There is a fine line between being invasive or destructive, and serving the purpose of the program.

Some have indicted reputable companies with creating malware. Software, whose legitimacy is unresolved, is usually classified as grayware. Some examples include:

America Online (AOL)

Perhaps more than any other large organization, America Online has been criticized for creating software that is increasingly invasive. Users and anti-malware advocates charge that AOL's software installs software without consent.

One of the preeminent characteristics of malware is that it is installed without permission. Of course, AOL itself is not installed without user notification. But many users don't realize that installing the AOL client means installing an AOL Toolbar in Internet Explorer and and an AOL Deskbar to the user's taskbar. Anti-malware organizations, such as StopBadware nearly blacklisted AOL for these two undisclosed parts of the installation. They also criticize AOL 9.0 for installing QuickTime and RealPlayer, also without proper notification. Further, uninstalling AOL never truly rids the user of all of the files. Because the uninstallation is rather unclean and results in many files that are left behind, StopBadware nearly classified AOL as spyware. AOL worked to reform these issues, however.

While using AOL, users may realize that AOL proposes a trove of other options. Take, for example, AOL Port Magic, which as AOL explains on their help web site "is an application which helps your internet gateway (router) manage the flow of data traffic in the most efficient way possible, without requiring you to access your router's advanced configuration settings." At the point where AOL and their affiliates attempt to take control of a large number of aspects of your computer, many stealthily, many wonder if AOL should be classified as badware, and some vehemently advocate it.

AOL Instant Messenger (AIM)

AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) faces no fewer allegations. AOL Instant Messenger utilizes a large amount of third party software, which raises the issue of bundled software. AIM came under scrutiny after third party software used to play games, "WildTangent," was detected by many anti-spyware programs. While AOL assured customers that WildTangent was not spyware, and this issue was resolved, it again raised the issue of third party software installed without consent.

AIM has also been scrutinized for installing "Viewpoint Media Player," which is used to enable "Super Buddy" icons. Users question why, first, AOL needs to install another media player when most users already use Windows Media Player or Quicktime; and second, why AOL would install Viewpoint without properly alerting users that the software was being installed.

Windows Messenger

Windows Messenger is not installed, so it cannot be considered Adware in the formal sense of the word. However, the program has been classified as an annoyance. Ars Technia writes that "Some people may have noticed text messages popping up on their displays trying to sell something (often a program that will stop the messages from popping up). These may appear any number of times a day. Such messages come through a little known part of Windows called the Messenger Service. This is not the same as the Internet Messaging (IM) program. The vast majority of users do not need this on."

GAIN (formerly, Gator)

Claria is a legitimate corporation with big name advertisers and offices in both the Europe and the United States. Gator Advertising and Information Netowrk Publishing (i.e. GAIN) is made by Claria. Unlike grayware like AOL, however, GAIN comes with a utility that will display bundled programs and provide solutions for uninstalling these programs. However, GAIN does not come with an uninstaller itself. Further, GAIN's privacy statement exposes that Claria is paid for presenting advertisements, and also anonymously collects information on the user's computer to sell to other companies. Even more shockingly, Claria states "We also associate the anonymous information we collect with a particular computer through a randomly generated anonymous ID number. Gator changed its name after a lawsuit, and remains very controversial.

Resources

Bray, Hiawatha. "Group hits AOL for spyware sins." The Boston Globe. August 29, 2006. <http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2006/08/29/group_hits_aol_for_spyware_sins/>

Bangeman, Eric. "Is AOL 9.0 malware?" Ars Technia. August 28, 2006. <http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060828-7606.html>

"Grayware." Wikipedia. Accessed April 15, 2007. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grayware>

Baratz, Adam & McLaughlin, Charles. "Malware: what it is and how to prevent it." Ars Technia. November 11, 2004. <http://arstechnica.com/articles/paedia/malware.ars/>

Adware Report. <http://www.adwarereport.com/mt/archives/cat_news.html>

Mr. Tech. "AOL Contains Spyware?" Accessed April 15, 2007. <http://www.mrtech.com/news/messages/3497.html>