FTC Shuts Down Three Spyware Firms

Three firms which illicitly purveyed spyware with ring tones, music programs for blogs, and purported security updates have been closed by the FTC.

A U.S. District Court has agreed with a request from the Federal Trade Commission by seized the assets of three spyware outfits and ordering the companies to halt their distribution of illegal software.

The FTC’s complaint against Enternet Media, Inc. and Networld One (both based in California) as well as an Ohio affiliate Iwebtunes alleges the company distributed software which tracked the user’s Internet usage, changed their browser configuration, installed new toolbars, inserted large advertising frames into user’s browser windows, and displayed pop-up ads on user’s systems. The FTC also alleges the software interfered with normal computer operation and was difficult to remove or uninstall.

The FTC says that the defendant’s Web sites would display “installation boxes” which prompted users to download a variety of freeware items, including music files, cell phone rung tones, wallpaper, song lyrics, and images. Another pop-up warned the user’s browser was defective and claimed to offer a security patch. Users who downloaded the software did not receive what the installation box promised; instead, they got Enternet’s spyware.

Software offered by the affiliated operation Iwebtunes offered free background music for blogs. The music code downloaded by blog visitors displayed false security warnings to users; consumers who clicked the warnings downloaded spyware onto their computers

Consumers who have has experience with these companies and who wish to contact the FTC with relevant information can do so via email to enternetmedia@ftc.gov or via telephone messages at 202/326-2992. The FTC is seeking a permanent ban on the companies’ practices as well as redress for affected consumers.

The companies’ software was variously called “Search Miracle,” “Miracle Search,” “EM Toolbar,” “EliteBar,” and “Elite Toolbar.” The companies conducted business as “Enternet Media, Inc.,” “Enternet,” “www.searchmiracle.com,” “www.c4tdownload.com,” and “www.cash4toolbar.com,” as well as “iwebtunes.com.”