Spyware - General

I write this and am astonished at how it has come about.

I write this and wonder just what type of person gets awarded this status for pushing adware onto thousands and thousands of unsuspecting users.

I write this and wonder just what was MS thinking when they thought this person was an asset to the Net community.

I write this and am currently rethinking my association with the MS MVP program if it can let someone like this join its ranks.

Patchou, the creator of MessengerPlus! has been made an MS MVP.

Yeah, that's right, someone who has profitted off the mistakes of users who installed their adware program, which has gone from worse to bad in it's installation methods, is now an awardee of of Microsofts MVP program.

This is a sad day and one which will cause great pause for any others who wish to join it's ranks, while over at companies like Claria, 180Solutions\Zango and whoever else makes adware, must be salivating over. This opens the door for anyone such as Patchou to apply or be submitted.

Some more links pertaining to Mr. Patchou's bit of adware. All from Sandi @ Spywaresucks, noted IE MS MVP:

here

link

link

link


You can express your outrage over at Digg

More commentary at Slashdot

[here]

FYI...

- http://www.cio.com/blog_view.html?CID=25601
Oct 09, 2006
"...Late Friday, Microsoft decided to take back the award. "Cyril Paciullo was awarded with MVP status this year on the basis of his technical expertise and strong community contribution. However, his active MVP Award status was revoked as soon as the extent of the connection between his application and spyware was made apparent to the MVP Program," the company said in a statement..."

.

[corporate officer of the company!]

Thanks guys. knew there was "some type of adware" co-installed with this program (very long ago, when MessengerPlus removed ads from MSN, cexx.org listed it as a recommendation...it was removed when he began bundling his own 'extras'), but I didn't know he was pushing the Lop.com hijacker now. I also didn't know he is now a corporate officer of the company!

(Secure Software Inc ==> C2Media / lop.com)

Lie down with dogs, wake up with fleas...