Gator (Allegedly Unethical Firms)

Gator Sites:

Traffick.com - Kicking the Gator Software Habit Traffick.com - Kicking the Gator Software Habit: Article by Cory Kleinschmidt explains how Gator's TOS violates user privacy, and suggests practical alternatives to this password-remembering software. (Gator) http://www.traffick.com/article.asp?aID=84 BizReport: Gator Chomps First, Sues Internet Advertising Bureau BizReport: Gator Chomps First, Sues Internet Advertising Bureau: Article on Gator's lawsuit seeking a gag order on IAB representatives, and a ruling that their software is legal. (Gator) http://www.bizreport.com/article.php?id=1990&width=800 EditorandPublisher.com: Stopping Unauthorized Alterations Of Web Sites EditorandPublisher.com: Stopping Unauthorized Alterations Of Web Sites: Examines Gator and other applications that insert ads or otherwise alter third party web sites. (Gator) http://www.editorandpublisher.com/editorandpublisher/features_columns/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1031119 news.com.com - Overture Signs Deal With Gator news.com.com - Overture Signs Deal With Gator: Article revealing that Overture Services has signed a three-year deal with Gator to display its sponsored search listings on pages that pop under those of rival and partner web sites. (Gator) http://news.com.com/2102-1024-995616.html Adage: Online Ad Vendor Gator Changes Name Adage: Online Ad Vendor Gator Changes Name: Rebranded as Claria Corp. (Gator) http://www.adage.com/news.cms?newsId=39066 Documentation of Gator Advertisements and Targeting Documentation of Gator Advertisements and Targeting: Research that uses reverse engineering techniques to learn more about how Gator targets sites. Includes a utility allowing users to determine this information for a given Web site. (Gator) http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/people/edelman/ads/gator/ Wired: Guerrilla Ad Banner Battle Looms Wired: Guerrilla Ad Banner Battle Looms: Report on the legal battle between the Interactive Advertising Bureau and Gator. (Gator) http://www.wired.com/news/ebiz/0,1272,46392,00.html Slashdot: A New Low for Web Advertisers: Pop-Up Downloads Slashdot: A New Low for Web Advertisers: Pop-Up Downloads: Report on Gator's pop-up downloads, followed by reader discussion of this and other tactics used by Gator. (Gator) http://slashdot.org/articles/02/04/08/1424246.shtml c|net Tech News: Web surfers brace for pop-up downloads c|net Tech News: Web surfers brace for pop-up downloads: Gator has turned to what it calls "one-click opt-install." In place of a pop-up advertisement, landing on a partner site pops up a prompt to download the software. (Gator) http://news.com.com/2100-1023-877568.html Wired: Judge Takes a Bite Out of Gator Wired: Judge Takes a Bite Out of Gator: Discusses preliminary legal injunction against Gator. (Gator) http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,53875,00.html ZDNet News: Gator sued over pop-up ads ZDNet News: Gator sued over pop-up ads: Report on lawsuit filed by publishers seeking injunction and damages for Gator's unauthorized advertising on their site's. (Gator) http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1106-940104.html San Francisco Chronicle: Screen grab / Web designers complain new ad programs hijack their sites San Francisco Chronicle: Screen grab / Web designers complain new ad programs hijack their sites: Article about the controversial Gator Companion Pop-Up Banner. Focuses on allegations that it is particularly harmful to smaller Web sites. (Gator) http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/08/30/BU156207.DTL PCWorld: Consumer Alert: Stealth Ad Invasion PCWorld: Consumer Alert: Stealth Ad Invasion: Don't look now, but your computer may be harboring software that lets unwanted advertising in. (Gator) http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,63345,pg,1,00.asp Let's skin this Gator! Let's skin this Gator!: Newsletter decrying predatory advertising. Encourages users to switch to alternative form and password managers that do not alter third party web sites. (Gator) http://cool.searchking.com/Newsletter8.shtml ClickZ: Gator Attack? The Best Defense Is to Join the Anti-Microsoft Offense ClickZ: Gator Attack? The Best Defense Is to Join the Anti-Microsoft Offense: Editorial asserting that Gator is a legal content filter that should be exploited as an advertising vehicle. Also asserts that Microsoft's browser monopoly is the true threat that should be fought by publishers. (Gator) http://www.clickz.com/media/buy_101/print.php/876451 InternetNews: Gator.com Sues IAB InternetNews: Gator.com Sues IAB: Report on federal lawsuit to protect Gator's Companion Pop-up Banner technology. (Gator) http://www.internetnews.com/IAR/article/0,,12_874391,00.html CNN: What's fair in online love and ads? CNN: What's fair in online love and ads?: Explains how Gator's software works, the controversy surrounding it, and how to remove it. (Gator) http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/internet/10/05/stealth.ads.idg/index.html c|net Tech News: Nobody's going to skin this Gator c|net Tech News: Nobody's going to skin this Gator: Interview with Gator CEO Jeff McFadden who defends their pop-up banners that intentionally cover existing ads on third party web sites. (Gator) http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1014-201-7054709-0.html ClickZ: The Scum of the Web ClickZ: The Scum of the Web: General article about "scumware" programs hiding in more popular, often free, programs. Mentions Gator's system. (Gator) http://www.clickz.com/media/media_buy/article.php/934701 InternetNews: IAB Lawyers to Recommend Action Against Gator.com InternetNews: IAB Lawyers to Recommend Action Against Gator.com: Internet Advertising Bureau representative calls ad replacing technology "a dirty trick...more likely, it is stealing...just foul play." IAB may file complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. (Gator) http://www.internetnews.com/IAR/article/0,,12_869591,00.html c|net Tech News: Gator rushes to court over ad technology c|net Tech News: Gator rushes to court over ad technology: Lawsuit against the Interactive Advertising Bureau alleging libel is designed to secure Gator's right to sell ads on third party web sites. (Gator) http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-6995976.html Forbes.com: Gator's Legal Feud Means Big Publicity Forbes.com: Gator's Legal Feud Means Big Publicity: Asserts that Gator's legal battle over its "guerilla warfare" marketing tactics is bringing it free publicity and advertising for its program. (Gator) http://www.forbes.com/2001/08/29/0829gator.html ThiefWare.com: Gator Data Sheet ThiefWare.com: Gator Data Sheet: Discusses Gator auto-install attempts via ActiveX or other techniques when a web site is visited. (Gator) http://www.thiefware.com/info/data.gator.shtml c|net Tech News: Software replaces banner ads on top sites c|net Tech News: Software replaces banner ads on top sites: Gator offers pop-up ads designed to block banners on sites such as Yahoo with pop-ups of the exact same dimensions, completely obscuring the original ad. (Gator) http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-6897620.html?tag=bplst High-search-engine-ranking.com - Overture to Partner with "Scumware" High-search-engine-ranking.com - Overture to Partner with "Scumware": Evidence suggests that pay-per-click search leader Overture is heading towards a permanent partnership with controversial online advertising network Gator Corp. (Gator) http://www.high-search-engine-ranking.com/OverturetoPartnerWithScumware.htm c|net Tech News: Chorus of Gator critics grows c|net Tech News: Chorus of Gator critics grows: Article on Interactive Advertising Bureau's possible regulatory complaint over Gator's ad insertion. Also discusses Top Text and the effort against it. (Gator) http://news.com.com/2100-1023-272244.html USA Today: Spyware watches where you surf USA Today: Spyware watches where you surf: Discusses "freeloading programs" that install spyware components on a user's computer. Gator is among the programs examined. (Gator) http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/tech/2002/03/11/stealthware.htm