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* [http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2345753,00.asp Adware Firm Driven Under by Security Industry] – [[PC Magazine]]
* [http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2345753,00.asp Adware Firm Driven Under by Security Industry] – [[PC Magazine]]
* [http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/pest/pest.aspx?id=453094343 Removal of Zango] www3.ca.com
* [http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/pest/pest.aspx?id=453094343 Removal of Zango] www3.ca.com
* [http://www.dllfilesfix.com/ Fix the DLL Problems and Related Registry Errors] www.dllfilesfix.com
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Revision as of 02:16, 8 March 2011

Zango
Company typePrivate
IndustryAdware
Advertising
Marketing
Founded1999
Defunct2009 (2009)
HeadquartersBellevue, Washington, USA
Key people
Keith Smith, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer; Jamie Miller, Chief Financial Officer; Ken McGraw, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer; Rip Warendorf, Senior Vice President of Sales; Val Sanford, Vice President of Marketing and Product Development; Neal Freeland, Vice President of Online Engagement
ProductsAdware
RevenueUndisclosed
Number of employees
~100
Websitewww.zango.com

Zango, formerly ePIPO, 180solutions and Hotbar, was a software company that provided users access to its partners' videos, games, tools and utilities in exchange for viewing targeted advertising placed on their computers.[1] Zango software is listed as adware by Symantec.[2] Computer security company McAfee said in 2005 "this program may have legitimate uses", but described it as a "potentially unwanted program", and an "adware downloader".[3]

In April 2009 Zango ceased trading after its banks foreclosed.

Hotbar, Seekmo, and ZangoCash, formerly owned by Zango, as of April 2010 continue to operate as part of Pinball Corporation.

Content

Zango's consumer website asserted that the company was "committed to creating a content economy built on a foundation of safe and ethical practices by protecting consumer privacy while offering a fulfilling and high-value content experience." Zango content included sports, comedy, dance, erotic videos, online games, and screensavers.[4] Warner Bros. and others had provided content, but WB terminated[5] its business relationship with Zango after concerns were raised that children viewing Warner Bros. content could be exposed to advertisements for pornography.[6]

Undesirable software behaviors

StopBadware.org lists a number of undesirable behaviors associated with Zango Easy Messenger, including "behaves as spyware", "automatically runs on startup", "displays pop-up advertisements", "installs adware", and "bundled software cannot be closed". The same site states, "We find that Zango Easy Messenger is not badware, although it does engage in behaviors that users should be aware of."[7]

Websense has a Zango-related security advisory dated November 2006, stating that "Websense Security Labs has discovered a number of user pages on the MySpace domain which have videos that look like they are from You Tube. The videos have an installer embedded within them for the Zango Cash Toolbar. When users click on the video, they are directed to a copy of the video, which is hosted on a site called 'Yootube.info.' ... the video downloads and attempts to install setup.exe from Zango Cash."[8]

A more detailed analysis of this attack appears in "Zango Practices Violating Zango's Recent Settlement with the FTC": "Zango continues numerous practices likely to confuse, deceive, or otherwise harm typical users as well as practices specifically contrary to Zango's obligations under its November 2006 settlement with the FTC." These include failure to include on-screen disclosure of material terms, widespread in-toolbar ads without labeling and hyperlinks, ads for "bogus sites that attempt to defraud users", and third party installations without disclosure.

Automated analysis by McAfee SiteAdvisor in May 2008 reports "629 red downloads — In our tests, we found downloads on this site that some people consider adware, spyware or other potentially unwanted programs." [9].

History

1999 to 2001

When founded in 1999, Zango was known as ePIPO. It was one of the first "pay-to-surf" companies, following in the footsteps of AllAdvantage. This business model paid users a minimal amount to surf the Internet while running an application that showed banner ads. Users could also make money by referring new users.

After enjoying brief success, the pay-to-surf business model declined with the bursting of the dot-com bubble in 2001. The company, later known as 180solutions, adjusted their technologies in several ways:

  • To show pop-up ads rather than banner ads.
  • To not have any visible GUI.
  • To be bundled with other potentially valuable applications.

2002 to 2005

From 2002 to 2005, 180solutions' applications (ncase and 180SA (search assistant)) were distributed via various affiliates. While these affiliates were required by the 180solutions contract and by law to obtain the permission of the user prior to software installation, many did not, resulting in millions of illegal non-consensual installs. Many other affiliates notified users only via the end user license agreement, resulting in millions more arguably legal but essentially non-consensual installs.

180solutions' software showed pop-up ads while a user was surfing the Internet. This software was often bundled with free software which the user intentionally installed; since permission to install the 180solutions adware was typically hidden in an EULA, most users were unaware they were installing adware. In some cases 180solutions' software was installed as a standalone install. Using this method, an ActiveX prompt simply asked the user to install the software so that they could receive "comparison shopping advertisements".

180solutions contended that the value of the bundled software or the advertisements made up for the inconvenience of the pop-up ads. The value of this trade-off was contested by critics of the adware business model.

In 2004 Benjamin Edelman, assistant professor at Harvard Business School and spyware researcher, analyzed the network behavior of 180solutions applications and claimed they redirected commissions to themselves that were properly due to affiliates, and additionally caused merchants to pay commissions when affected users clicked on merchant sites directly.[10]

During this time, 180solutions' applications were designed to be difficult to uninstall, requiring the user to download an additional uninstall application made by 180solutions or to use an adware removal tool. In 2005 the software uninstall was standardized to use the Windows "Add or Remove Programs" function, making it easy to uninstall.

In 2005, 180solutions implemented a number of initiatives to control the distribution of its software and eliminate non-consensual installs:

  • March: Acquired one of their distribution partners, a Canadian company called CDT (dba LoudCash). This gave them direct visibility into and greater control of many of the formerly "third party" distributors.
  • June: Claimed to have re-notified users on its 20-million-user customer base, and implemented a program that notifies all users within 72 hours of install and re-notifies all users every 90 days thereafter.
  • August: Filed suit against seven individuals alleged to have illegally distributed its software using a botnet.
  • November: Announced an ongoing partnership with the FBI in breaking up a botnet ring in the Netherlands.
  • December: Ended distribution of the 180SearchAssistant and closed LoudCash (a remnant from the CDT acquisition). They claimed that this removed the financial incentive for fraudulent installs, which many critics did not believe.

2006 to 2008

Despite the initiatives of 2005, 180solutions admitted that it was possible for malicious parties to hack their install routines and thus cause fraudulent installs.[11] They claimed that the percentage of fraudulent installs had dropped from over 10% to under 1%. Critics considered that the business model was untenable because fraud against 180solutions which harmed unknowing users via non-consensual installs could never be completely removed.[12]

In early 2008 security researchers at Fortinet reported, incorrectly, that the rapidly-spreading Facebook widget "Secret Crush" was enticing users to download Zango adware by promising to identify a secret admirer.[13] Zango denied any involvement with the widget, and further investigation by an Infoworld senior writer showed that the Fortinet report was incorrect.[14]

On June 16, 2008 the company laid off 68 of its approximately 200 employees; Executive Vice President of Corporate Development York Baur, company co-founder Chief Technology Officer Ken Smith, and company co-founder Chief Information Officer Doug Hanhart also left. Zango said it was narrowing its focus to concentrate on its new product Platrium, a "casual gaming experience" that showed targeted ads, shopping comparisons and search suggestions based on keywords from the user's Internet browsing.[15][16]

On December 15, 2008 Zango closed their Tel Aviv office, laying off another 50 employees.[17] The Tel Aviv office had been the Hotbar headquarters before Hotbar and 180solutions merged.

Closed April 2009

In a personal bankruptcy filing following a January 2009 $4.6 million judgment in favor of a former employee, Zango's CEO stated that the company was in default to a bank consortium for over $44 million.[18] On April 20, 2009 industry magazine ComputerWorld reported that Zango had closed its doors. A spokesman for video search engine company Blinkx said that although Blinkx had purchased some of Zango's technical assets such as servers, Zango was shut down after the consortium foreclosed.[19][20] About 10% of Zango's assets were sold to Blinkx, in what the Zango CEO characterized as a "fire sale". When asked about employees, a Blinkx spokesman said "As Zango was insolvent, we believe all the employees were laid off."[18]

It was later announced that ZangoCash was to become Pinball Publisher Network, part of the Pinball corporation, though it would still be operating under its own name with no change to its services.[21]

Federal Trade Commission charges and settlement

On January 23, 2006 a public advocacy group filed two official complaints with the Federal Trade Commission. The Center for Democracy and Technology complaints charged 180solutions with engaging in unfair and deceptive business practices, deliberately duping Internet users into downloading intrusive advertising software.[22]

In 2006 the Federal Trade Commission charged Zango with "Deceptive Failure to Disclose Adware", "Unfair Installation of Adware", and "Unfair Uninstall Practices" in violation of the Federal Trade Commission Act.[23] Since the FTC ruling, security researchers continued to find Zango involved in problematic installs.

In November 2006 Zango settled this complaint via a consent decree with the FTC, without formally admitting guilt. In the words of the Federal Trade Commission press release, "Zango, Inc., formerly known as 180solutions, Inc., one of the world’s largest distributors of adware, and two principals have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they used unfair and deceptive methods to download adware and obstruct consumers from removing it, in violation of federal law. The settlement bars future downloads of Zango’s adware without consumers’ consent, requires Zango to provide a way for consumers to remove the adware, and requires them to give up $3 million in ill-gotten gains."[24] These restrictions remain in force for twenty years. The agreement also requires respondents Keith Smith and Daniel Todd to notify the FTC of the discontinuance of their current business or employment, or of their affiliation with any new business or employment, for ten years.[25]

In July 2007 Edelman said, "Zango continues numerous practices likely to confuse, deceive, or otherwise harm typical users as well as practices specifically contrary to Zango's obligations under its November 2006 settlement with the FTC."[26]

Other litigation

In September 2005 attorney Shawn Collins filed a class action lawsuit against Zango on behalf of three plaintiffs, alleging that Zango deceptively installed spyware on more than 20 million personal computers. The company said its software was voluntarily installed by users who downloaded premium content in exchange for their consent to view advertisements relevant to what they searched for online. During pre-trial discovery, the parties agreed to a dismissal with prejudice, meaning that the suit cannot be brought again by the same complainants. Each side agreed to pay its own fees and expenses.[27][28][29]

In May 2007 Zango filed a lawsuit against PC Tools alleging tortious interference with its business and trade libel, because the PC Tools product Spyware Doctor at that time classified Zango software as malicious and removed it without informing users.[30][31] Zango dropped the suit after the judge ruled that the suit was "unlikely to succeed on the merits of any of its three causes of action" and refused to grant Zango a temporary restraining order.[31][32]

Also in May 2007, Zango filed in the same court a similar lawsuit against Kaspersky Lab, accusing it of tortious interference, trade libel and unjust enrichment for blocking the installation of Zango software. Kaspersky defended itself by invoking the Communications Decency Act (CDA), saying it was immune from civil liability based on the paragraph of the CDA headed "Protection for 'Good Samaritan' blocking and screening of offensive material". The judge agreed, granting Kasperky's motion for summary judgment.[33][34][35] In 2008, Zango appealed against the ruling.[36] As of April 2008, the National Business Coalition for E-Commerce and Privacy was supporting Zango in the appeal.[37] In June 2009 the court ruled that Kaspersky could not be held liable for any actions it took to manufacture and distribute the technical means to restrict Zango software's access to others.[38] [39]

Installation and removal

Unusual methods of installation and operation have evolved as software such as Zango is targeted to run on a broader mix of applications and platforms. Zango has stated on their website that any Zango "application" can be completely uninstalled by using the Microsoft Windows "Add or Remove Programs" function. However, Zango may appear as a browser plug-in or in some other form which cannot be removed by the officially recommended procedure.

Utilities exist for the purpose of detecting, and in some cases removing Zango and similar software. Some software advisers have recommended that people seeking to remove Zango-like software from their computers search for instructions specific to their particular platform, application, and installation.

Variants

Hotbar

Hotbar (also known as HbTools) is a plugin for Internet Explorer, Microsoft Office Outlook and Outlook Express produced by Zango; as of August 2010 Hotbar has closed distribution, but is still available to those who still have the installer. From version 10.2 on, it identifies itself as belonging to Pinball Corp.[40] Hotbar adds a toolbar and the option of extra skins to these programs. It also allows the user to add emoticons to emails created in Outlook or Outlook Express and to check weather reports. Its major revenue comes from the use of pop-ups displayed according to a user's behavior and current URL. The application can show over 15 pop-ups a day, depending on how much Internet browsing has occurred. The last reported usable version is 10.0.357.0, dated 9-10-2007. Currently, it often self-updates to a later version that deactivates the toolbar and Outlook components (as it is completely incompatible with all versions of Internet Explorer after IE7, along with all Windows Mail and Windows Live Mail products), rendering it useless.

Hotbar Premium

Hotbar as supplied by Zango had an option to turn off the advertisements, for a fee. The fee-based Premium access also unlocked certain content beyond the preview stage in Hotbar's utilities. Grandfathered version 4 Premium accounts had unlimited access, as long as the activation link supplied when purchased was saved. Version 4 of Hotbar is no longer usable, as all content is accessible only to version 10. 365-day accounts were sold, valid only for the Hotbar toolset; if Zango was installed alongside Hotbar Premium, Zango's but not Hotbar's, advertising was shown. Hotbar no longer has premium access available for purchase, so all Premium content is not currently usable. Premium assets may be accessed through examination of linking and related code and insertion into use. Zango itself did not offer Premium access. As of April 2010 Hotbar's website does not mention Premium access.

Controversy

Classified as "Caution - objectionable behavior but clearly informs users" by StopBadware

Hotbar is an example of adware due to its banner advertising and use of pop-up windows. Also the user's browsing habits are sent to the Hotbar servers with a unique user ID which allows a user's browsing habits to be tracked over an extended period. Spyware researcher Benjamin Edelman defined Hotbar's problems:

Promoting Hotbar advertising software at sites targeting kids, using banners with smiley faces but without mention of ads. Failing to affirmatively show a license agreement, and burying advertising terms so many screens into the license and below such counterintuitively-labeled section headings that users cannot reasonably find the key provisions. First affirmatively mentioning advertising on a screen that offers no Cancel button for users to decline the installation. And ultimately bombarding users with ads in pop-ups, web browser toolbars, Windows Explorer toolbars, auto-opening sidebars, and even desktop icons.[41]

In 2005–2006 Hotbar.com started sending cease and desist letters to security companies which defined Hotbar as "malware". As a countermeasure, Symantec successfully sued Hotbar.com to get clear right to put it in their "low risk adware"-category.[42]

Hotbar can be detected and removed by several anti-spyware and anti-virus programs, including Windows Defender, Spybot - Search & Destroy, Nod 32, and Norton AntiVirus. However, some utilities do not remove Hotbar completely and leave Windows registry keys and files behind.[43]

Seekmo

Seekmo is an adware program by Zango that claimed to be a free tool to provide content such as mp3 files, screen savers, and videos. Seekmo can pop up advertisements even when users have pop-up blockers on their computers, and monitors computer usage to generate ads that users are more likely to respond to. In the process, the program can consume processing power and network bandwidth, slowing down the computer and interrupting other programs. Upon downloading a Seekmo-containing file, license acquisition will begin and the program (Windows Media Player, for example) will display a window describing the content and what Seekmo is. Upon clicking "Accept", it will automatically send a file for download called "Setup.exe". After downloading this file users must install the Seekmo Toolbar, which will display advertisements related to the websites visited. As of April 2010 Seekmo is still available, and identifies itself as belonging to Pinball Corp.[44]; operation may no longer be as described above.

References

  1. ^ Zango Ad Services Debuts at ad:tech New York
  2. ^ "Adware. ZangoSearch". symantec.com. Retrieved 2007-06-13.
  3. ^ "Threat Profile: Adware-ZangoSA.dldr". us.mcafee.com. Retrieved 2010-04-08.
  4. ^ zango.com - Tags: Popular - All Time
  5. ^ "Warner Bros. Calls Off Deal With Adware Company". mediapost.com. Retrieved 2007-09-16.
  6. ^ Krebs, Brian (2006-07-28). "Warner Bros. To Cut Link With Adware Firm Zango". Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  7. ^ "Zango Easy Messenger". StopBadware.org. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
  8. ^ "Fradulent You Tube video on MySpace installing Zango Cash - Threat Type: Malicious Website / Malicious Code". websense.com. Retrieved 2010-5-02. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  9. ^ Site Advisor retrieved 17th May 2008
  10. ^ The Effect of 180solutions on Affiliate Commissions and Merchants Benjamin Edelman October 20, 2004
  11. ^ Mea Culpa 180Solutions 5:33 PM, Feb 23, 2006
  12. ^ Non-consensual 180 Installations Continue, Despite 180's "S3" Screen Benjamin Edelman February 24, 2006
  13. ^ "Zango Pleads 'Not Guilty' in Facebook Adware Flap". Internet.com. 2008-01-08. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  14. ^ "Zango strikes back over reported Facebook hack". infoworld.com. 2008-01-08. Retrieved 2008-01-08.
  15. ^ "68 lose jobs as Zango moves into gaming". Seattle Post Intelligencer. 2008-06-17. Retrieved 2008-07-18. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  16. ^ Casualties: Zango's recent layoffs include senior execs Alex Eckelberry June 17, 2008
  17. ^ [1] Zango shuts down Tel Aviv office
  18. ^ a b Dudley, Brier (2009-04-22). "Zango goes Bango". Seattle Times. Retrieved 2009-06-29. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  19. ^ Notorious adware vendor Zango shuts its doors, ComputerWorld
  20. ^ Zango Shuts Down Operations
  21. ^ pay-per-install.org: Zangocash is now Pinball Publisher Network
  22. ^ CDT Files Complaints Against Major Adware Distributor January 27, 2006
  23. ^ FTC complaint against Zango.
  24. ^ Zango, Inc. Settles FTC Charges November 3, 2006
  25. ^ FTC AGREEMENT CONTAINING CONSENT ORDER In the Matter of ZANGO, INC. f/k/a 180SOLUTIONS, INC., a corporation, KEITH SMITH, individually and as an officer of the corporation, and DANIEL TODD, individually and as an officer of the corporation (PDF, 12pages)
  26. ^ "Zango Practices Violating Zango's Recent Settlement with the FTC". benedelman.org. Retrieved 2007-08-05.
  27. ^ "Logan Simios v. 180solutions, CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT" (PDF). U.S. District Court. September 13, 2005. Retrieved 2007-09-05.
  28. ^ "Zango Spyware Suit Dismissed". ClickZ. September 8, 2006. Retrieved 2007-09-05.
  29. ^ "Class-Action Suit Dismissed Against Spyware Provider". Chicago Tribune. September 7, 2006. Retrieved 2007-09-05.
  30. ^ "Zango sues antispyware vendor PC Tools". Infoworld. May 18, 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-19.
  31. ^ a b "ZANGO, INC., Plaintiff, v. PC TOOLS PTY LTD., Defendant. – Denial of Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order (PDF, 9 pages)" (PDF). U.S. District Court at Seattle. June 5, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-13.
  32. ^ "Zango Drops Lawsuit Against PC Tools". Betanews. August 28, 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-28.
  33. ^ "U.S. Code Collection: TITLE 47 > CHAPTER 5 > SUBCHAPTER II > Part I > § 230. Protection for private blocking and screening of offensive material". Cornell University Law School. January 3, 2005. Retrieved 2007-09-05.
  34. ^ "Zango tries, fails to sue its way out from under the "spyware" label". ars technica. August 30, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-05.
  35. ^ "ZANGO, INC., Plaintiff, v. KASPERSKY LAB, INC., Defendant. – Dismissal (PDF, 8 pages)" (PDF). U.S. District Court at Seattle. August 28, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-13. [dead link‍]
  36. ^ "Zango's Brief in Zango v. Kaspersky Ninth Circuit Appeal". Eric Goldman's Blog. March 30, 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  37. ^ "Adware Company Gets Assist From Business Groups In Legal Battle". MediaPost Publications. April 15, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
  38. ^ "Kaspersky Lab Press Releases". Kaspersky Press Release. June 30, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  39. ^ "Ninth Circuit Opinion" (PDF). June 25, 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
  40. ^ Hotbar website
  41. ^ Benjamin Edelman, May 16, 2005, Hotbar Installs via Banner Ads at Kids Sites
  42. ^ United Press International, March 1, 2006, Symantec settlement riles Hotbar
  43. ^ PC Hell, checked 12.9.2007, Hotbar Removal Instructions and Help
  44. ^ Seekmo website
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