Vonage and Spyware

by certifiedbug on July 18, 2006

in Security

Ben Edelman writes:

How Vonage Funds Spyware

Vonage’s Spyware-Delivered Pop-Up Ads
I have repeatedly observed Vonage buying “ordinary” spyware pop-up ads from vendors like 180solutions, Direct Revenue, and eXact Advertising. See e.g. the top thumbnail at right, a March 2006 screenshot of a Vonage ad appearing through Direct Revenue. See also my March 2005 report of Vonage ads appearing through eXact Advertising. These relationships add up to big money: BusinessWeek last week reported that Vonage paid Direct Revenue $31,570 in a single month of 2005 — a remarkable $110 for each customer Direct Revenue sent to Vonage. Meanwhile, in its litigation against Intermix, the New York Attorney General specifically documented Vonage’s ads appearing in Intermix KeenValue pop-ups.

A long article but well worth the read and the video view of DollarRevenue Covering Other Sites’ Ads with Vonage Ads.

Wayne Porter blogs about Ben’s article

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