Zango Sues PC Tools for Removing Its Software from Users’ PCs

Zango, maker of adware, has filed a lawsuit against PC Tools because the anti-spyware vendor publicized Zango technology and tried to remove it.

Zango filed the lawsuit in King County Superior Court in Seattle, May 5 2007 charging PC Tools and its free spyware Doctor program packed with Google products. According to the filing, spyware Doctor unlawfully eliminates Zango program from users' computers without acquiring their consent. Formerly known as 180solutions, Zango adware is categorized as a 'high-rise' threat.

Many PC users have reported that the software was installed without any notification compelling them to receive pop-up ads. There is also accusation on the company that it has been intercepting user activity while it was difficult to remove its software.

In a statement PC Tools said that it believed Zango applied its proceedings to influence PC Tools' reclassification process. Infoworld published the statement, May 18 2007.

Earlier to the lawsuit, PC Tools made an in-depth assessment and reclassification of the most recent versions of Zango software. When PC Tools advised Zango of the re-rating, the adware company chose to lodge its proceedings in a manner to acquire media attention, PC Tools said. Infoworld published this as news, May 18 2007.

Zango on its part is demanding $35 million as damage restitution for the harm the classification of its software caused. Zango similarly attempted damage recovery from Zone Labs in 2005 when the company's personal firewall application labeled the adware developer as spyware.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission, in 2006, entered a settlement with Zango with regard to the company's affiliates surreptitiously installing adware. Zango consented to pay $3 million and promised it would install its software only with user's permission.

A week following the negotiations between MySpace and YouTube, security researchers stumbled on MySpace pages with YouTube videos packaged with a Zango Cash adware - a software that installs pop-up advertising software in computers.

Surfers were enticed to visit the Youtube.info website and directed to accept a licensing agreement to view the video. When the user complied with this, Zango Cash would load on the PC. Theregister.co published this as news, May 18 2007.

Related article: Zango Refutes Passing Adware via Facebook Application

» SPAMfighter News - 5/24/2007