The state of New York is suing online advertising
software specialist Intermix, alleging the company of smuggling
spyware into internet media campaigns.
State attorney-general Eliot Spitzer accused the company of
planting software on consumers’ computers without their knowledge,
allowing the company to track their behaviour and deliver pop-up
advertising.
Intermix included the software in free games, screen-savers and
other downloads, the complaint alleges.
Anyone downloading the software would also receive spyware and
would only be told about it in a “deep within lengthy, legalistic
license agreements”, the suit says.
Intermix denies the allegations. It said is did not promote or
condone spyware and was in discussions with the New York attorney
general's office to find resolution. It had already stopped
distributing the application in question, the company said.