From: simtel-info@Simtel.Net (Simtel Info)
Subject: Authors: Simtel management policy regarding Adware (20010101)
Keywords: simtel,win95,win98,winme,adware,software

Simtel.Net does not consider Adware the same thing as Freeware.  We
expect full disclosure of all Adware to users.  We will edit upload
announcements describing Adware as Freeware to reflect their Adware
nature.  The readme.txt (or equivalent) also must, at a minimum,
disclose the Adware nature of the program.

We are primarily concerned about three Adware-related problems:

 1. Adware that communicates with external sites.
 2. Adware that remains resident in memory when the parent program is
    not running.
 3. Adware that remains installed and functioning on a user's system
    after the parent program has been uninstalled.
  
We strongly urge authors to include a privacy statement that clearly
spells out any privacy issues users may have (e.g., what information
is being transmitted, what is being done with that information, etc.).
Authors should be able to obtain this information from the company
providing the Adware drivers to them.  If they have no such policy, or
refuse to reveal this information, authors should consider another
company.

There have recently been reports in the news and on the Internet of
problems with Adware software.  For further information please read
http://www.voiceofthepublic.com/IsYourFreewareSpyware.html and
http://grc.com/optout.htm .

Please read http://grc.com/oo/cbc.htm for information on a proposed
"Code of Conduct" for Adware.

Two critical requirements remain for all programs that include
Adware.  Simtel.Net management policy is:

 1. Any Adware program that continues to run when applications that
    use it are not running will be banned from the collections.
    Authors who submit Adware must state that this will not occur.
    We may make exceptions to this policy for those Adware drivers
    for off-line programs that are "well behaved".

 2. The author of the program is responsible for insuring that all
    traces of Adware drivers and software are removed from a user's
    system when that user uninstalls the package.  If the program
    cannot remove everything it installs, it is unacceptable at
    Simtel.Net.
  
If the author cannot make these guarantees, or if we discover after
removing a test install that any trace of the Adware-related
software remains in our test system, the program will be rejected.

If Adware drivers correctly use the Windows registry, logging each
program that uses them, and removing themselves only when the last
using program is removed .. we have no problem with this.  However
our test install will be the only program using those drivers, so
we expect them to be removed.

Current Adware Acceptability Status:

Acceptable:
  The following Adware companies appear to meet our privacy and
  security requirements:
    Conducent's current TimeSink Adware drivers
    Cydoor's Adware (CD_LOAD)
    Radiate's new V3 Adware software

Pending Investigation:
  We are currently examining Web3000 Adware components.  It appears to
  be acceptable, but we will need discourse with the publishers before
  full acceptance.

Unacceptable:
  Radiate / Aureate Adware prior to V3.
  SoftJ(tm) technology by EverAd, Inc.

David Kirschbaum, Archivist for Simtel(tm)
Internet: kirschd@Simtel.Net      http://www.simtel.net/simtel.net/
Uucp: uunet!simtel.net!kirschd     ftp://ftp.simtel.net/pub/simtelnet