Like most Internet users, I hate spam with a passion unexceeded even by that with which I hate Rosie 'O Donnell and used car goons. Therefore, I like to do everything within my vastly limited power to stop them, or failing that, at least piss them off. There’s not all that much I can do with my limited technical expertise, but I manage.
A few years ago, back before the flow of spam was so heavy that I still occasionally read them, I got four identical spammed emails bragging of “PIRATED PSX AND N64 GAMES ON CD” with a link to a Singapore-based web site containing item descriptions and ordering information. Pretty blatant, even for a spam. And four copies? That was the final straw. I sent along copies of the email to admin at nintendo.com and sony.com. The offending site was removed from its Asian server within a couple days.
More recently, I was looking for mp3’s and I came upon an ftp site that required users to obtain a site-op-referred All Advantage account in order to download files! Not only that, but the ftp site also featured a program that defeated the ad banner, allowing you to get paid without actually having to look at the ads. Luckily, All Advantage has a form on their site for just this kind of mischief. I filled it out, including a brief description of the offense along with a direct link to the ftp directory containg the text file with his nefarious plot and the banner hack. I don’t think this loser is going to be making money for much longer.
Am I a rat? In a way, I guess. You could even call me a hypocrite for turning in the software pirates and then downloading mp3’s. You may even be right. I’m afraid I don’t care, though.
Anyone else foil a spammer lately?
`They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety’
I, too, hate SPAM and have been known to send e-mails to everyone when it appear in newsgroups which I frequent. I even see who the pertinent sites are registered to and get the info from their registration information.
That said, the FTP site asking you to download alladvantage software is perfectly within it’s rights. They are not obligated to give you access to their FTP site at all, and they are certainly allowed to make the admission price be to their liking of you do want to go there.
While alladvantage.com would most likely not wish for the software which minimizes the window, that doesn’t seem to be the issue. There are tons of FTP sites where you have to sign up for adult sites, click banners, or simply trade files (ratio sites). If you do not wish to do these things, I suggest you not go to their sites. But as the people who pay for the FTP site, it is within their rights to do anything they wish as long as it’s not illegal.
I HAVE BEEN SMOKE-FREE FOR:
One week, one day, 14 hours, 2 minutes and 16 seconds.
343 cigarettes not smoked, saving $42.92.
Life saved: 1 day, 4 hours, 35 minutes.
The problem is that places like All Advantage and the banner people know this stuff is going on and they don’t like it. There are rules in the ToS for each of these services specifically prohibiting such arrangements. What if I was operating a site that used a banner legitimately and I was making a few cents a month while the guy at the next IP number over was making a couple hundred dollars a month because he’s cheating the system? I’m probably be pretty pissed.
Same with All Advantage. If I built my referral base honestly, why should this idiot come along and build his off illegal files?
Really? I know that the TOS for alladvantage.com says you cannot spam anyone, - as in, no bulk mailings, Usenet or message board postings - but I don’t thgink it says anything about using them as an access way to your semi-private FTP server. Please show me this if I am mistaken.
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Then maybe you’d want to emulate what the other guy was doing… I mean, that’s like Burger King complaining that McDonalds makes more money or something.
As long as they are not doing illegal things or things which go against the wishes of the advertisees they are getting paid from (which, until I see otherwise from the alladvantage.com TOS, I’ll assume is not the case here) it’s their FTP site, and they can allow anyone or no one on at their discression.
I HAVE BEEN SMOKE-FREE FOR:
One week, one day, 17 hours, 38 minutes and 14 seconds.
349 cigarettes not smoked, saving $43.67.
Life saved: 1 day, 5 hours, 5 minutes.
Being submitted to a search engine doesnt make it public. If he owns it, he has the right to make you do whatever he wants to get on, and you have the right to look for stuff elsewhere. Besides, sint it hypocritical to blame him for serving mp3s when you’re looking for them?