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CDT Files Suit Against 180Solutions
John Stith
Staff Writer
2006-01-23
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The Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) requested the Federal Trade Commission levy charges of "illegal and deceptive" practices against Internet marketing firm 180Solutions Inc. for distributing intrusive adware.
 | | Duped into Downloading Intrusive Software? |  |
A hat tip goes Alex Eckelberry for this one. In a detailed complaint, CDT outlines a pattern whereby 180Solutions, through a complicated web of affiliate relationships, deliberately and repeatedly attempted to dupe Internet users into downloading intrusive advertising software. The complaint illustrates how 180solutions continued this pattern of practice even after being warned by technology experts, privacy advocates and its own auditors that its practices were unethical, and in several cases, illegal.
"180solutions and its affiliates have caused immeasurable harm, not just to individual Internet users, but to the Internet itself," CDT Deputy Director Ari Schwartz said. "This company's brazen distribution practices saddle innocent Internet users with intrusive software that they neither want nor need and contribute to a general sense of wariness and distrust that threatens to stifle the growth of the medium. We are urging the FTC to use all the tools at its disposal to bring these practices to a halt, since 180solutions has repeatedly failed to adequately police its own distribution network."
The Bellevue-based 180Solutions has had these problems before. 180Solutions attacked firewall company ZoneAlarm after the company listed 180Solutions software as adware/spyware. Other security sites have tracked the company as well and based on the lawsuit from CDT, the ZoneAlarm listings may have been reasonable.
"We're deeply disappointed that we weren't able to convince 180solutions to clean up its practices," Schwartz said. "CDT would always prefer to resolve issues of this sort through dialogue and voluntary improvements, but in this case we tried and were unable to reach an agreement that protects consumers."
While the SEC hasn't agreed to take the case yet, if they do, a lot of online marketing firms will sit up and take notice. While many of these companies maintain they are only providing services people want, often times, that doesn't seem to be the case. 180Solutions hasn't been found guilty yet and there's a legitimate chance they'll just work out an agreement with the SEC, pay a fine and won't admit guilt. But the adware stuff has got to stop. Maybe, regardless of 180Solutions' future, this will help slow it down.
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About the Author:
John is a staff writer for SecurityProNews covering cyber security.
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