[Merged] Messenger Plus Author MVP or Not? (Adaware Installed)

[ADd]

http://www.vitalsecurity.org/2006/10...to-adware.html

If you'd created a program that installed Adware, would you be surprised if you were then awarded an MVP Award from Microsoft?

Well, step right up Patchou AKA Cyril Paciullo, creator of Messenger Plus! I first heard about this while stopping over at his website, and was surprised to find him lurking in the Windows Live Developer section on the MVP site.

For anyone who doesn't know about the controversy surrounding this program, its an add-on for Windows Messenger / Live / whatever they're calling it this week. Problem is, it comes bundled with LOP, a major source of annoyance and anger for web-users since, oh, ages ago. Yeah, it now gives you an option as to whether you want to install it or not - but that's hardly the point, is it? There's a long history here of potentially deceptive installs and the standard, yawntacular MsgPlus apologist line of "It doesn't do it anymore, so you have to let him off the hook, lol" is the kind of (amazingly poor) thinking that companies such as Direct Revenue are using to avoid legal smackdowns.

More info about what an MVP is here:
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/default.aspx

Messenger Plus is bundled with an infection called LOP, which has plagued countless Windows users. I am disgusted with Microsofts money grabbing ethics!

Edit>> More info
http://robertmoir.com/blogs/someone_...ear_2E00_.aspx

http://msmvps.com/blogs/spywaresucks...30/103407.aspx
http://msmvps.com/blogs/spywaresucks...25/102793.aspx
http://msmvps.com/blogs/spywaresucks.../07/89692.aspx
http://msmvps.com/blogs/spywaresucks.../05/78084.aspx

[Pia]

But the adware that is bundled with Msg Plus is optional isn't it?

[Druchii]

It is optional, and the complaints only come from docile users who click "next, next, next" at every prompt during the install.

Besides, most things remove it anyway, so, if you make a mistake, it can be cleaned.

[MadGamer]

Originally Posted by Druchii

It is optional, and the complaints only come from docile users who click "next, next, next" at every prompt during the install.

Besides, most things remove it anyway, so, if you make a mistake, it can be cleaned.

Yeah but i heard that if LOP is manually removed them Msg Plus wont work.

[opelfruitcase]

Originally Posted by Druchii

It is optional, and the complaints only come from docile users who click "next, next, next" at every prompt during the install.

Besides, most things remove it anyway, so, if you make a mistake, it can be cleaned.

With regard to installing messenger plus, it explicitly forces you to choose yes or no to installing it - it doesn't default to yes or no for the installation of lop - thus you can't just keep clicking next and it will install.

Personally speaking though I still think lop should be removed from it completely and instead have an option to make a paypal donation instead.

EDIT: To see the point I'm making, see this image:

[LSainsbury]

Originally Posted by MadGamer

Yeah but i heard that if LOP is manually removed them Msg Plus wont work.

Not in my experience!

[ADd]

While I understand that a user can choose not to install the LOP infection, a quick google search for Messenger Plus will show how many people are unaware they have installed the adware!

By giving this award M$ are basically supporting the installation of adware in this manner - so does that mean the developers of other M$ products are free to take this avenue ? Maybe the next version of Outlook, or IE will come with adware as an option ?!?

Edit>> In addition the nature of the LOP infection, is that once the user has agreed to install the sponsor software, LOP downloads other spyware onto the users system....nice...did the users really agree to that ? (rant over)

[opelfruitcase]

Originally Posted by ADd

While I understand that a user can choose not to install the LOP infection, a quick google search for Messenger Plus will show how many people are unaware they have installed the adware!

By giving this award M$ are basically supporting the installation of adware in this manner - so does that mean the developers of other M$ products are free to take this avenue ? Maybe the next version of Outlook, or IE will come with adware as an option ?!?

Edit>> In addition the nature of the LOP infection, is that once the user has agreed to install the sponsor software, LOP downloads other spyware onto the users system....nice...did the users really agree to that ? (rant over)

Messenger Plus! is an excellent messenger extension by a talanted author. I can see how this author will want some kind of financial return/incentive to continuing development of this, even though financial gain isn't the main motivation behind development the tool.

However, I would certainly agree than while it clearly gives you the option of whether or not to install lop 'vandalware', I certainly would not support the author this way, but would rather make a paypal donation (it's a bit like the author requesting to vandalise your computer and spy on you just to make a bit of money).

I wonder how much of a difference it would make if he removed this completely? Probably increase donations, increase penetration of the product, and could still make further money but running an second advert at the bottom of the messenger main window, say for example - especially if it was supplied by, say Google Adwords.

What do others think of this?

[ADd]

Looks like his MVP status has been revoked:

http://msmvps.com/blogs/spywaresucks...08/162266.aspx

[Druchii]

For christs sake, he deserves that award so much, and now they revoke it? Rather stupid if you ask me. He's revolutionised the way i look at MSN Messenger (and now WLM) it's one of the main things i miss when i'm using another client, whether it be on Linux, or just a totally different protocol altogether.

[opelfruitcase]

Both sides of the argument are valid as far as I can see. Nope, it would never have been bundled with malware in the first place I agree, as he could have used some other form of sponsorship such as Google Adwords or the like, but then again he strived to ensure it was always kept above board and that you always knew you aware of what you were installing.

Either he should never have been his MVP in the first place or it shouldn't have been revoked in the way it has. That is one of the worst crimes in all of this that I can see, and you've got Mr bloatware himself to that for that, Billy-boy Gates.

I'm sure Patchou would be welcomed with open arms if he were to develop something similar for amsn he'd be welcomed with open arms.

[Stuart C]

Amid concerns that Messenger Plus includes the spyware program Lop, Microsoft has revoked it's award of Most Valued Professional status from the Author of Messenger Plus.

http://www.theregister.com/2006/10/1...kes_mvp_award/

Further comments from Subelt software ar at http://sunbeltblog.blogspot.com/2006...osoft-mvp.html

[AndrewJ]

Sadly I knew a while back this was likely to happen.

[Millay]

Fair enough but you need to be a bit silly in the first place to instyall it as it is a big option during the instalation.

[ADd]

Hurrah!