Muwahaha... Microsoft sues bogus anti-spyware company MySpywareCleaner.com!

[mechBgon]

Feb. 18th: see Sunbelt's blog for the response from the MySpywareCleaner.com guy. Can someone call a whaaaaambulance for him? :evil:



Washington State residents who've run the MySpywareCleaner.com scanner should file a complaint at http://www.atg.wa.gov/consumer/complain.shtml. This could cost these scammers more than $100,000 per complaint. ~~~

Microsoft?s lawsuit alleges that Secure Computer LLC used deceptive pop-up ads to warn users that their computers were at risk and could contain spyware. The ads allegedly directed users to the company?s Web site. According to the lawsuit, when users visited the site and consented to have their computer?s hard disk scanned, the results labeled innocuous files ? such as harmless tracking cookies and Microsoft® Windows® registry keys ? as spyware infections and categorized them as having either high risk or extreme risk. The site advised users to purchase Secure Computer?s Spyware Cleaner to remove the files. In addition, Microsoft?s lawsuit alleges that advertisements for Spyware Cleaner used Microsoft?s trademarks to falsely suggest that Microsoft sponsored or approved of the product.

from Microsoft's press release

The MySpywareCleaner.com guy is playing softball compared to some other outfits, but he made the mistake of operating from inside the US. I wonder if MS could take action against the hardball ripoff artists like the site in this screenshot.

 

[Pr0d1gy]

Mad respect for Mech & his Sig O Useful Info, which is a +5 magic item for those not on the up n up on how to work with computer hardware & such. And here is to hoping our government takes a more active role in pursuing people who abuse the internet & take advantage of people on it for their own gain, instead of passing more stupid laws by hiding them within bills containing more useful laws.

 

[Zugzwang152]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
~~~ UPDATE: Washington State residents who've run the MySpywareCleaner.com scanner should file a complaint at http://www.atg.wa.gov/consumer/complain.shtml. This could cost these scammers more than $100,000 per complaint. ~~~

Microsoft?s lawsuit alleges that Secure Computer LLC used deceptive pop-up ads to warn users that their computers were at risk and could contain spyware. The ads allegedly directed users to the company?s Web site. According to the lawsuit, when users visited the site and consented to have their computer?s hard disk scanned, the results labeled innocuous files ? such as harmless tracking cookies and Microsoft® Windows® registry keys ? as spyware infections and categorized them as having either high risk or extreme risk. The site advised users to purchase Secure Computer?s Spyware Cleaner to remove the files. In addition, Microsoft?s lawsuit alleges that advertisements for Spyware Cleaner used Microsoft?s trademarks to falsely suggest that Microsoft sponsored or approved of the product.

from Microsoft's press release

The MySpywareCleaner.com guy is playing softball compared to some other outfits, but he made the mistake of operating from inside the US. I wonder if MS could take action against the hardball ripoff artists like the site in this screenshot.

Yup, mistake #1: operating in the US. mistake #2: fscking with Microsoft.

 

[kamper]

Heh, normally I'm against security-by-litigation as it sets a bad precedent. But, since good code doesn't protect against stupid users, I'm happy this is happening.

 

[Argo]

The MySpywareCleaner.com guy is playing softball compared to some other outfits, but he made the mistake of operating from inside the US. I wonder if MS could take action against the hardball ripoff artists like the site in this screenshot.

Oh no, they have my IP address and browser type!!! What will I do!

 

[mechBgon]

First post is updated

 

[dighn]

Go go MS! take those scumbags down!