Judgment Entered Against Programmer Over Porn Pop-ups

gonzo · 03-10-2008

RENO, Nev. — A federal judge has granted a default judgment against a software developer who had a hand in infecting computers with spyware and porn pop-ups.

U.S. District Court Judge Howard D. McKibben signed the permanent restraining order against Nevada-based ERG, siding with the Federal Trade Commission’s contention that the company has been deceiving customers with exploitative code.

The judgment, announced Monday, bars programmer Timothy P. Taylor from distributing spyware, adware and pop-up software and requires that he give up revenue, which amounted to less than $5,000.

Taylor ran ERG Ventures, which operated online adult site
PrivateinPublic.com, as well as Media Motor and JoystickSavers.com.
Company co-owners Robert A. Davidson, II., Elliott S. Cameron, and Garry E. Hill also were named in the original suit but litigation in their cases ended in October.

ERG and its principals failed to disclose that free software was bundled with malware, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
Once downloaded, the malware silently activated itself and installed programs that changed consumers’ home pages, tracked their Internet activity, altered browser settings, degraded computer performance and disabled antispyware and antivirus software, the FTC said.

The FTC also said ERG and Taylor used a deceptive End User License Agreement. The EULA claimed to give users the option to halt the installation of the program, but in reality installed the malware no matter what option the user selected.
Microsoft assisted in the investigation of ERG, which began two years ago, the FTC said.

Whine,complain,accept it...they still looking for you Hooper.

RawAlex · 03-10-2008

One report I saw over the weekend stated that 5 or 6 botnets were responsible for about 50-70% of all spam mail currently out there.

03-10-2008	#1
gonzo Fat Fucking Nobody Want to see your own Advertising Here! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Atlanta,Ga. Posts: 17,795 Blog Entries: 11	Judgment Entered Against Programmer Over Porn Pop-ups RENO, Nev. — A federal judge has granted a default judgment against a software developer who had a hand in infecting computers with spyware and porn pop-ups. U.S. District Court Judge Howard D. McKibben signed the permanent restraining order against Nevada-based ERG, siding with the Federal Trade Commission’s contention that the company has been deceiving customers with exploitative code. The judgment, announced Monday, bars programmer Timothy P. Taylor from distributing spyware, adware and pop-up software and requires that he give up revenue, which amounted to less than $5,000. Taylor ran ERG Ventures, which operated online adult site PrivateinPublic.com, as well as Media Motor and JoystickSavers.com. Company co-owners Robert A. Davidson, II., Elliott S. Cameron, and Garry E. Hill also were named in the original suit but litigation in their cases ended in October. ERG and its principals failed to disclose that free software was bundled with malware, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Once downloaded, the malware silently activated itself and installed programs that changed consumers’ home pages, tracked their Internet activity, altered browser settings, degraded computer performance and disabled antispyware and antivirus software, the FTC said. The FTC also said ERG and Taylor used a deceptive End User License Agreement. The EULA claimed to give users the option to halt the installation of the program, but in reality installed the malware no matter what option the user selected. Microsoft assisted in the investigation of ERG, which began two years ago, the FTC said. Whine,complain,accept it...they still looking for you Hooper. __________________ We are putting the bastards of this world on notice; greed and corruption will always be met with "a voice made of ink and rage." "Never try and be like anyone else" - Hunter S. Thompson "The truth is the truth no matter how you try and package a lie" - Shellee Hale

03-10-2008	#2
RawAlex Members $100 for every ImLive sign-up Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,036	Re: Judgment Entered Against Programmer Over Porn Pop-ups One report I saw over the weekend stated that 5 or 6 botnets were responsible for about 50-70% of all spam mail currently out there. __________________ Let's go to the edge of disaster Push the pedal and go a little faster Let's slam into a wall at ramming speed Let's go to the edge of a mountain Jump off and lets start countin' Hit the ground and tell me if it bleeds