German antivirus company Avira has filed a lawsuit against the download site Freemium.com because users tricked into installing adware and potentially unwanted software. "It is time to tackle adware directly at the source," said Avira's CEO Tavis Witteveen.
"Freemium.com engages in unfair competition that violates the privacy rights of consumers and invalid contracts used", he tells. Through Freemium.com kinds of programs can be downloaded. The problem is the installation tool of Freemium, a "wrapper", which, according to Avira as potentially unwanted programs may be classified. The tool would use social engineering to users, in addition to the desired software, also letting unwanted applications installed.
The wrapper according to the virus fighter compared with ten layers of wrapping paper for a gift, where there is much room for surprises. Who one program through the wrapper will download may eventually end up with four additional programs, two browser extensions and a desktop link to a gaming site. The wrapper is also applied to other download sites, such as ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG, an investor in Freemium.com and the download portal of Computerbild.de, a website publisher Axel Springer.
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