The New York Times' Steve Lohr and Gary Rivlin report that Microsoft is in talks with spyware / malware / adware purveyor and developer Claria (Gator) for $500 million. Claria was formerly named Gator until an image makeover and re-branding effort in advance of an aborted IPO in 2004. The name Gator had become synonymous with unethical practices, intrusive spyware and aggressive pop-up ads -- a notorious reputation that just wouldn't do for the dog and pony show that precedes IPOs.

The Wall Street Journal's Mylene Mangalindan and Robert A. Guth attempt to explain Why Microsoft May Wade Into 'Adware' ...   more »

This week CBC Marketplace -- the CBC's consumer watchdog show -- aired a story about how Canadian hospitals allow private companies into maternity wards, capture patient data, then sell that information to other companies like Pampers, Procter & Gamble and Allianz Funds

This is a privacy violation of the first order.

What's even worse is that it's negative-option marketing that requires expectant mothers to explicitly opt-out.

In exchange the hospitals get a few thousand dollars and sometimes some medical equipment.

It turns out that Karen’s hospital allows a photo company called Growing Family into the maternity ward.

They take more ...   more »

I received my first Gmail spam today.

Why do I think it's spam? Because I don't know anyone on the recipients list, my address isn't on the recipients list -- even though a very similar address is -- and the content is typical of the "funny joke" spams that I have seen over the last decade.

I know each of the very small circle of people who have my Gmail address. I can count them on one hand. All of them are very aware of how to avoid spam, both coming and going.
 
The message appears to be a mass e-mail message from India ...   more »

The Toronto edition of Metro International newspapers/Toronto Star explains why Canadian gamers now need photo identification to buy or rent computer and video games. The new restriction is part of the Retail Council of Canada's (RCC) Commitment to Parents initiative, which "requires retailers across Canada to support and enforce the ESRB ratings for computer and video games." The Entertainment Software Association of Canada (ESAC) and the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) are also partners in the program.

The RCC says that it has the support of 90% of game retailers in the voluntary program. Retailers that support the program include...   more »

Google launched its new Google Desktop beta search tool today, providing a feature that Microsoft has long promised in the "next version" of the Windows operating system.

Google has risen from obscurity a few, short years ago to become the king of Internet search.

Now it's going to invade Microsoft's territory -- the desktop -- by delivering something to Windows users that Microsoft has been promising its customers for about 10 years: an easy way to find the files that they're looking for.

Google says that its free application indexes your computer hard drive to let you find e-mail, Web pages, instant messaging...   more »