May 12th, 2005
DirectRevenue attempts reform
As reported at Spyware Warrior, DirectRevenue has begun its reform effort, releasing a new version of its software. And according to forum posts around the Internet, this new version is causing unwanted pop-up advertisements and slowing down computers. The specific program names that keep coming up are nail.exe, aurora.exe, and bolger.dll. Forum posters relate that these programs are installing in their Windows system directory and will reinstall themselves if you try and remove them. In fact, DirectRevenue deviates from all normal behavior in computer programming by requiring people to go to its MyPCTuneUp site to remove the software. Of course, the antispyware tools should catch up pretty quick and also be able to remove this parasite.
The upside to the new DirectRevenue software is that it’s supposed to be branded. Now the company is actually letting you know where the software came from. How generous. It’s possible DirectRevenue is being more up-front because of a class-action suit (pdf file) filed against it in Illinois. The suit complains of deceptive business practices and alleges violations of computer tampering under the Illinois Criminal Code (Count V, Page 16). Hopefully more Attorneys General will follow the example of Elliot Spitzer and take a look at what laws adware companies have violated.
