August 18th, 2005
Direct Revenue changing tactics?
According to Newsweek’s interview with Direct Revenue’s new CEO, Jean-Philippe Maheu, the company is (still) working hard to reform. Direct Revenue has been much maligned and referred to as the scourge of the internet. Is their reputation deserved? Maheu admits there have been problems. He says their branding and disclosure have improved and they have "terminated our distribution" [...] "a few times over the past two months due to exploits and lack of proper disclosure".
Perhaps the greatest concern about Direct Revenue’s software has been the difficulty in removing it. Maheu says he doesn’t understand why users don’t go to their website, MyPCTuneup.com, to remove it, but instead use other means. He insists that MyPCTuneup removes all the software except a "fingerprint" that actually prevents their software from being downloaded on that computer again. When asked about the company’s relationship with the anti-spyware community, Maheu says "I welcome their informed, rational, factual input if and when they can provide it."
Two bloggers have already taken the challenge. Sunbeltblog has some comments and spyware researcher Paperghost of VitalSecurity has posted his experience of MyPCTunup’s Aurora uninstall with his usual detail, screenshots and comments.
