Crapware, Spamware, Spyware, Adware, It's All A Weed To Me

My grandfather used to always say, "A weed is anything that is growing where you don't want it to."

A couple of interesting posts on other blogs this morning relating to, let's see... how can I be polite... things that show up on our computer that we find unnecessary or bothersome. Some are from the manufacturer in the initial install, some are from spyware/adware that tries to creep in. They form an annoyance to the user. They are often excused as legitimate marketing tools that help reduce the cost to the end consumer and necessary methods of advertising.

Oh, what the hell, let's call a spade a spade here, we'll use the term CRAPWARE.

According to Eric Mack's correction of Marc Orchant on yesterday's Tablet PC Show podcast, I'm the one responsible for coining the phrase. As I said to Marc, I'll take the crap and the credit, although for the life of me I thought Eric mentioned it on one of his unveiling podcasts. No matter.

The crap/spamware that comes preinstalled is problematic, and I will bet you contributes to many users' problems with a new computer. Can't prove that, but hey, look at the difference in Eric and his buddy Michael Sampson's initial out of the box experiences. He (or she) who makes these decisions about installing this stuff that does not pay attention to this is full of ....ok, moving on.

Ed Bott reported this morning about the Anti-Spyware Coalition's efforts to reach a definition of what spyware actually is. He's right. Such a definition so broadly coined will have little effect in the long run. Let me tell you what I think of this spade right now. Spyware and Adware are nothing more than malicous intrusions on another's property. Period, end of statement. If the stuff that comes preinstalled on computers is crapware, spyware/adware is toxic crapware.

With apologies to John Tierny of the New York Times, these are the folks who should have some sort of devilish punishment dervied for them. I've often wanted to just show up at their house and plaster advertising stickers all over their cars and the windows of their homes.

So, while there are differences it's all crapware to me. I think we should quit using the polite terms of spyware, adware, spamware and start calling it crapware. (Hey Scoble, are you listening.) I can't think of too many vendors who want to be responsible for saying they make and distribute crap.

Maybe I'll start a list....

Comments

[Eric Mack]

Well said. Now, we just need to get the manufacturers to wake up and take notice.

What I DID notice was that Michael's PowerBook had NO stickers, and apparently little or no spamware. Just a clean machine.

Best regards,

Eric

[Smitfraud]

I'm sure everyone has seen that Mac comercial about all the bloated software on a PC. Crapware as you mentioned is on systems to help drop the overall cost of the computer. People want cheap computers so crapware is not going to go away. I do wish companies were a little more responsable in what they choose to place on the systems. Almost any big box computer store now offers to take the software off before you take the pc home. Of course they charge for this but at least you kind of have an opion now.

Smaller stores normally do not have bloated software on their systems. Consider supporting a local person in your compunity and leave the crapware for others.

[Anti-Spyware Software Reviews]

The problem with these kinds of software is that huge amounts of money are made with it. As long as the money keeps coming and there are no reasons to stop like going to jail this will continue.