October 14th, 2006
Zango Makes Porn Webmasters Mad
By Jimmy Daniels
Contributing Writer, RealTechNews
The issue has been around for years, adware/spyware apps overwriting affiliate cookies, effectively stealing their commissions, and Zango has been at or near the center in lots of them. Check out these Google search results, Zango overwriting cookies, 180solutions overwriting cookies, over 500 results for both, plenty of reading if you want to see some history, including this big write-up by Ben Edelman, and check out all of the articles on Spyware Warrior about 180solutions.
Seems like a whole bunch of adult webmasters are suddenly taking exception to some of Zango’s activities - the key issue seems to be around cookies, and how they can be overwritten to provide the last guy through the door (in this case, Zango) with the claim to the sale, rather than the original affiliate / webmaster / whoever. I say “seems”, because the issue is actually somewhat more complicated than what the webmasters or Zango themselves are actually arguing about (cookies).
This has caused a forum flame fest - I imagine the adult world accounts for a fair slice of Zango’s profits, so I can see why they’d be quick to want to put this fire out. Source: VitalSecurity
We Say: Zango wants to put this fire out because it’s probably a BIG chunk of their revenue, they don’t need adult webmasters complaining and getting them kicked out of programs because they are overwriting cookies. Well, maybe they shouldn’t do that to start with, you lay down with dogs you are bound to get some fleas. Programs like Zango are why online consumers are losing their confidence to start with. Welcome to the hunt adult webmasters, complain to your affiliate managers and complain loudly, if they don’t remove them, move to merchants who don’t support adware programs.
Bob says:
Class Action lawsuits will help this big problem correct itself for sure
October 14th, 2006 at 11:03 pm
zango sucks ass says:
dont forget that zango also poping up an ad on top of any site with targeted keywords and urls
for example imagine “infected” visitor gets on your site with your ads in there but what he sees first thing is a popup with your competitor’s page.
October 14th, 2006 at 11:08 pm
Jack Laidlaw says:
Zango are nothing but theifs we all need to unite and get shot of them
October 15th, 2006 at 4:31 am
matthew says:
Whoa, hold on guys..
Dont go accusing Zango of overwriting it with their own codes ok.
(vital security)
Programs are paying to have those spots themselves.
Mat
October 15th, 2006 at 5:39 am
Paperghost says:
Interesting that you state my site is “accusing” Zango of overwriting codes, purely because I summarised what all the fuss was about.
I simply stated what the adult webmasters were accusing Zango of, with links to relevant information and said that Zango refuted their allegations. I didn’t “accuse” them of anything - its up to the webmasters and Zango to sort their own mess out, however that doesn’t mean I can’t write about it.
October 15th, 2006 at 8:31 am