Doing what without your consent? Displaying ads? 'Cause that's all software needs to do to have Ad Aware class it as spyware (check the Lavasoft website if you don't believe me). Also, how far must a program go to get your consent? Of the few pieces of software that actually do monitor your browsing habits (BonziaBuddy for example), currently all have a privacy policy posted on their respective websites and a description what they do in the EULA that users must agree to in order to install the software.
Yes, there have been a few problems with actual non-consentual spying. And this shouldn't be allowed to happen. However, Ad-aware is useless at stopping it.
The lavasoft folks are just spreading FUD in an attempt get people to buy their software, Since they're a business, so as long as they don't lie outright, I'm willing to accept that. But when the media decides whether or not to called something spyware based on whether Ad-Aware notices it, it really upsets me.
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