Anti-virus, pro-spam?

Filed in archive Spam News on August 17, 2006

The PCWorld contributor Erik Larkin published an interesting article telling us about the new AOL free standalone antivirus program called Active Virus Shield. He's concerned that by signing an EULA he's allowing AOL and its partners to send him spam:

"You also agree to receive electronically from us periodic notices about Active Virus Shield and other services that may be of interest to you.",

points Erik one part of the AOL EULA out. He also ran a check on Avast anti-virus EULA too, with similar results.

Whether Erik's concerns are to become a reality or not we might never know because he refused to accept the EULA, but one thing is for sure: all of us have, for so many times clicked through the EULA that it hurts to remember. You surely had to sign some kind of ToS or EULA when you set up your blog didn't you? But, did you read it?

One of the main reasons people don't read license agreements is because those are just too darn long and written in legal mumbo-jumbo language. Well, not anymore. Erik pointed out a very handy tool when handling EULAs: the EULAlyzer, which can be downloaded here. The tool is devised to unknot all the incomprehensible wording in EULAs and let you know if something fishy is being said.

But this brings to mind another question: It's ok to weaver the fishy EULA if the software behind it is nothing special, but what happens when it comes to important programs? Such as operating systems, games or ... you name it. Will you refuse to install those or will you just check the box where it says that you agree with the EULA and hope for the best? I thought so. Our main priority should be than to make vendors change their EULAs. If you hear of such an incentive, please do tell me.