No wonder consumers are running scared and distrustful of the Internet. They are plagued by adware, spyware, malware and browser hijackers. So they buy software to help rid their computers of this crap and many of these programs exploit their fear and just dump more crap on their computer. The info I just read at Spyware Warrior makes me see red! Be careful of what you install - even if it’s supposed to clean your PC and is a well known brand. Check this out:

“UControl is an adware-supported anti-spyware program offered by the well-known adware vendor WhenU . The UControl anti-spyware scan engine is supplied by Aluria Software, makers of Aluria Spyware Eliminator, a well-known anti-spyware program. On Oct. 27, 2004 Aluria announced that it was de-listing WhenU’s adware applications from Spyware Eliminator. Within days after that announcement it became known that Aluria had decided not just to remove WhenU from its definitions database — it had decided to partner with WhenU and offer an adware-supported anti-spyware scanner through WhenU’s WhenUSearch toolbar.”

“We at Spyware Warrior are often asked why so many poor quality anti-spyware applications exist. The answer is a simple one: spyware and adware are afflicting millions of innocent victims, leading to an exploding market for anti-spyware tools. These victims are desperate to fix their hijacked web browsers and trashed PCs, which are overrun with unwanted toolbars and popup advertising. These users are angry, frustrated, and even scared. Unfortunately, they also have problems distinguishing between the small number of quality anti-spyware applications available from reputable vendors and the great mass of disreputable anti-spyware utilities.

This combination of fear, frustration, ignorance, and desperation makes spyware and adware victims ripe to be exploited again — this time by disreputable anti-spyware vendors, many of whom have simply rushed out poor quality applications to rake in money from a hot market and who do not shirk from using aggressive, misleading, and deceptive advertising to bamboozle scared and confused spyware and adware victims. Sadly, some of these vendors are not above installing adware and spyware themselves onto victims’ PCs.”

No wonder consumers have trust issues! Check out the LONG list of Ad Blocking and Anti-Spyware apps and see what some of them do. APPALLING! Spyware Warrior: Rogue/Suspect Anti-Spyware Products & Web Sites