[tetonbob]

Odysseus Marketing is now the subject of investigation for their ClientMan software.

More here:

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1867431,00.asp

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Spyware/index.php?p=668

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2005/10/odysseus.htm

Every bit helps!

Odysseus Marketing and its owner Walter Rimes deny any wrongdoing, and point to the fact that users must agree to the terms and conditions before installing the program.

Hah!

The FTC charged that the defendants have an obligation to disclose that their “free” software download caused spyware and adware to be installed on consumers’ computers. But instead, the FTC alleges, they hide their disclosure in the middle of a two-page end-user licensing agreement buried in the “Terms and Conditions” section of their Web site. In addition, the FTC alleges that the defendants deliberately make their software difficult to detect and impossible to remove using standard software utilities. Although the defendants purport to offer their own “uninstall” tool, it does not work. In fact, it installs additional software, according to the FTC’s complaint.

The FTC charges that the practices of Odysseus Marketing and Walter Rines are unfair and deceptive and violate the FTC Act. The agency will seek a permanent halt to the practices.