November 21, 2006
AOL’s Spy-Bar Extension for Firefox
In an utter abomination to everything Mozilla stands for, the download page for the AOL Toolbar extension tells you to go visit AOL and find out what EULA you’re agreeing to by downloading:
Basically, the AOL toolbar is farming all your activity and software configurations:
4. PRIVACY.
(a) TECHNICAL INFORMATION.The Software is configured to automatically report back information relating to computer errors arising in connection with use of the Software, without notice to you. Information on your Software configuration settings may be included. This data is sent to AOL to help us diagnose performance issues with, and improve, the Software.
(b) FEATURE USAGE INFORMATION.The Software may also provide AOL with anonymous information about use of AOL features and buttons on the Software. AOL uses this information in the aggregate to determine which Software features and buttons are most popular and useful to its users.
(c) SOFTWARE ID.The Software may contain a specific identification number for the purpose of tracking the number of unique instances of the Software in use.
Not to mention, as soon as you download (install) the toolbar “YOU AGREE TO RECEIVE NOTICES FROM AOL ELECTRONICALLY.”
