Yahoo IM users get more than they bargained for

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That's nothing...

While this is sneaky and very poor business (and a great way to tick off your users), at least they provide a working option to not install this malware. Anybody who simply opts for the default install without checking the custom options is really asking for it; it's the same principle applied to EULAs; they figure if they make the EULA dense enough with doublespeak and boring drivel, they can compel you not to read it. That's also a mistake; you never know what you're agreeing to these days. You know how they joke that "nobody reads EULAs"? It's not true; I actually do read them nowadays, because I've seen too many examples in the past of people being "forced" to agree to installing spyware or outrageous legal terms simply because they neglected to read that vile bit of legalese. I'm not even part of the tin-foil hat crowd: I don't usually encrypt my e-mail. I've just seen way too many actual cases of EULA abuse. The threat is real.

Worst of all are cases where you're given the "option" to NOT install additional "features" with software, yet even if you opt out, said features are installed anyway. In effect, the "don't install HappyWare AntiSpyware-O-Matic Toolbar Which Is In Itself Spyware" option is a placebo: Even if you check it (of course it's unchecked by default), the trash will be installed anyway. I've only seen that happen once, and I forget which software program it was that did it (I vaguely seem to recall it was an old version of the P2P program Morpheus; anybody want to back me up or correct me on this?), but that's one time too many.

It's a basic axiom: Business sees you, the consumer, as someone to screw for the greatest amount of gain. They'll willingly deceive you, conceal things from you, and try to force you into agreeing to goofball legal terms, and they figure most people will be too ignorant to know the difference. That's definitely very poor for one's business reputation, and I'm a little surprised that a reputation-reliant company like Yahoo would stoop to such tactics. I guess it really just goes to show you how desperate they are, or maybe just how little they think of end-users.

Posted by: LateBlt   Posted on: 09/01/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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