About 2 weeks ago it was mentioned that Microsoft intended to buy adware/spyware company Claria (formerly known as Gator). I also explained what Claria/Gator was all about and why their products have been often questioned in regards of privacy and business practices.
A couple days ago, while browsing random tech-related news, I found this article telling us how Microsoft's anti-spyware (beta) application has downgraded Claria adware detection and removal. Basically (and in simple terms) this means that whereas Microsoft's Anti-spyware manages to detect Claria/Gator/GAIN software, it doesn't take any action on it and lets it silently do its malicious job in your computer.
Microsoft has denied giving Claria special treatment, and claims that the downgrade in threat level aims to be "fair and consistent with how Windows AntiSpyware (Beta) handles similar software from other vendors,". Unfortunately Microsoft fails to tell us who these "other vendors" are.
Allow me to remind you that Claria/Gator/GAIN software is, according to a Webroot report, the second most prolific adware install, being detected on 2% of all the computers connected to the internet (in case you didn't figure it out already, 2% of all the computers connected to the internet in the entire world = a huge number of computers); other reports place it the the #1 position with over 6% of worldwide computers affected by it.
Claria software, which is in itself very hard to remove, is included in applications such as Dashbar, Gator, PrecisionTime and Weatherscope (among others). This kind of software collects and sends information about you, which is later sold to Claria's customers (this might compromise your privacy and security to varying levels). It downgrades your computer performance (for example: it makes your internet connection slower), and pops up unrequested advertisement while you navigate the internet, often displaying ads for competitors of the vendors who have paid to be featured in a certain spot of a certain commercial site (disloyal business practice).
Additionally I would like to point out that this change in MS anti-spyware application behavior is not being properly informed to the user.
A nice list of free (of cost) anti-spyware software can be found here.
Technorati Tag: Spyware.
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