The reason that annoying spyware and crap like it exist is because there is money in it (and Microsoft sucks at security). Good thing that the funders (these aren’t the only companies, plenty of others do it too) are getting punished, albeit so lightly.
Priceline.com, Travelocity.com and Cingular Wireless have agreed to pay fines of between US $30,000 and US $35,000 each for advertising through illegal adware. All three companies had bought advertisements on DirectRevenue, which has been the target of a lawsuit for “fraudulent software installations and serving illegal pop-up ads.” The three companies that purchased the ads paid the fines to settle a separate lawsuit brought by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.
Full article here.
This isn’t the first time I’ve posted about Cingular doing some pretty shaddy stuff.