Adware – Rogue Affiliates – The Hidden Money Trail
PCWorld has just published a very long and enlightening article about Adware and Spyware and how it’s used by some of the big brand companies. The trouble is the frequent use of the word affiliate – which could make it sound to the average consumer that ALL affiliates are bad and use Adware.
The article is really talking about TONS of affiliates that DO promote ActiveX, free screensavers and other programs that help to spread Adware, Malware and Sypware. If you know the industry and read the article closely, its obvious that is what they are pointing out. But average Joe surfer (a large % of this mags readership) could easily read this article and draw the conclusion all affiliates are bad. PCWorld.com – The Hidden Money Trail.
“Those programs that pelt you with ads and bog down your PC are financed by some of America’s largest companies…”
“The adware makers have myriad ways of getting their program on your PC. You can get it directly from the adware company when you download software, like Claria’s ScreenScenes screen saver and Gator eWallet software. Or you may have to get adware in order to access Web-based games or other online content, such as that found on Zango.com, a site owned by 180solutions
Many adware companies also have networks of partners that help distribute and promote their adware. Bundlers package adware with other programs–for example, we received WhenU’s Save when we installed the BearShare file sharing program. Affiliates help market the adware by, for example, buying keyword-based ads on search engines; they may also purchase banner ads on Web sites.
Reps from several adware companies say they hold their business partners, affiliates included, to a code of conduct that forbids secret, or “drive-by,” downloads…
But, because affiliates can be swayed by the potential to earn a lot of money quickly and often operate with little or no oversight, some go “rogue” and use stealth installations or other deceptive tactics to force adware onto PCs. Affiliate programs are “where bad things happen,” according to Direct Revenue’s Maheu…”
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Linda Buquet, Affiliate Programs Columnist – Linda is the president of 5 Star Affiliate Programs.com is an Affiliate Management Consultant that represents a select group of high paying, high integrity affiliate programs. The 5 Star site also features all the best affiliate blogs and SEO news, as well as a friendly Internet marketing forum.