Spyware Puts Ads on Google.com
In a report issued last week, spyware researcher Ben Edelman found that Cingular, Priceline, and Travelocity continue to advertise through spyware despite their agreement. “[D]espite their duties to the NYAG, both Cingular and Travelocity have failed to sever their ties with spyware vendors,” Edelman states. “As shown in the six examples below, Cingular and Travelocity continue to receive spyware-originating traffic, including traffic from some of the Web’s most notorious and most widespread spyware, in direct violation of their respective Assurances of Discontinuance.” Edelman claims to have found “only a single example of Priceline ads shown by spyware,” an ad placed “through Priceline’s affiliate program, operated by Commission Junction.” Specifics supporting that claim are not provided on Edelman’s site. Priceline maintains that it does not use or contract with third parties for the use of adware or spyware, a policy that has been in place since April 2006.