AOL 9.0 is Badware?

By Jimmy Daniels
Contributing Writer, RealTechNews

According to Stopbadware.org, AOL 9.0, the free version, is on its way to becoming badware. They haven’t completely labeled it as badware yet, as AOL is looking at their concerns, right now the status is open inquiry.

In our preliminary findings, we find that AOL 9.0 (free version) is currently badware because it installs additional software without telling the user, it forces the user to take certain actions, it adds various components to Internet Explorer and the taskbar without disclosure, it may automatically update without the user’s consent, and it fails to uninstall completely.

We currently recommend that users do not install the version of AOL software that we tested, unless the user is comfortable with the level of risk we identify or until the application is updated consistent with the recommendations in this report. Source: Stopbadware.org via PCWorld

We Say: I don’t think anyone who visits this site will be installing AOL, but I’ve been wrong before. It does note on the site that AOL is looking into the situation and are taking steps to address it. They also stated that leaving some executables running was a design flaw in the uninstaller.