Mysteryware.com
Event:	The AntiSpyware Workshop
Date:	May 3, 2005
Location:	San Francisco, CA
Host:	CNet Download.com
As told by:	Bill Pytlovany, BillP Studios

More Photos (Updated May 8th)

Arrived in the wonderful city of San Francisco in time to order some chicken tenders and watch Two and a Half Men while preparing this page for tomorrow's workshop.

I'm very happy to report that every airport I've been through in the last week now has wireless access. After checking into the Courtyard Marriott I set up my laptop and decided to see if I could plug in my linksys access point. I didn't want to be tied to a single spot on the hotel room's desk. I quickly discovered that I didn't need my access point when Netstumbler reported over 15 wireless access points within my range. Given all the high tech experts in town I decided for security reasons it might be best to disable my Wifi connection and just plug into the rooms' high speed Ethernet box.

We've come a long way from the days when I used to bring a jack knife and screw driver when traveling. In the old days hotels didn't even have modular jacks for our 300 baud modems.

8:00 AM Check-in, Breakfast and Long Time no see's.

Great chance to meet the folks from CNet and other friends in the business. I had the pleasure to meet Justin Brookman, with New York States AG Internet Bureau who works on Eliot Spitzer's AntiSpyware team. While Justin wasn't on one of the panels everyone had some comments about his recent project. I was surprised although not too insulted when introduced to Michael Wood from Adaware he had never heard of WinPatrol. I was frequently just identified as "the WinPatrol guy" and was eventually overwhelmed by friends of Scotty the Windows Watchdog.

9:00 AM Welcome Remarks

Welcome remarks by Scott from CNet, Esther Dyson and Lydia B. Parnes from the FTC. Lydia described how the FTC is still on the job and defined which type of software behavior was the focus of their investigations. She definitely gets it and helped instill some of my confidence in the FTC.

9:30 AM Session I - Defining Spyware and Adware

Moderator: Wayne Cunningham,
Michael Wood, Eric L. Howes, Declan McCullagh, Chris Jay Hoofnagle, Ben Edelman

Could have easily been called "We don't care what you call it, just Stop it!"


A lot of discussion revolved around defining "harm" to the user and the intent of the program. Chris was quick to point out that invasion of privacy doesn't always meet the legal definition of "harm". Everyone agrees that the term Spyware has been used as a broad stroke and we're stuck with it.

One topic brought up by a rep from ZeroSoftwre is that we haven't talked a lot about is faulty adware that installed. All software has the potential to fail on some systems. Since adware vendors don't provide support lines there are no ways to know a failure rate or to resolve serious system problems that may develop.

11:00 AM Session II - EULAs and you-knows: What is the meaning of disclosure.

Moderator: Esther Dyson
Christine Varney, Dave Methvin, Bill Day, Richard Stiennon
The panel stressed disclosure and didn't go into specific EULA's. My favorite solution was from Christine Varney who acknowledged we could get rid of most Spyware problems if we just did away with teenagers.

Bill Day(WhenU.com) proclaimed that after joining the company he's been crusading to have WhenU.Com change their evil ways. His bragged the most about his mandate to stop the use of ActiveX controls. Nobody had a chance to point out that this decision coinsided with the release of XP SP2 which included a high default security level preventing ActiveX controls from infiltrating systems without the consent of the user.

12:30 PM Lunch

1:30 PM Session III - The Money Game: How adware works and how it is changing.

Moderator: Esther Dyson
Jeff McFadden, Daniel Todd,Ralph Terkowitz, Ari Schwartz, Dan Doman

Session was better known as Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire.


Dave, Ben, Wayne and Eric


The panel reacts to Dave's accusations and Ben's powerpoint slides proving inappropriate "Adware" behavior. Esther seems to be realizing the adware folks may have lied to her prior to the conference.

3:45 PM Session IV - Future of the antispyware industry

Moderator: Dan Farber
Kelly Mackin, Alex Eckelberry, Joe Telafici, Simon Clausen, David Moll
Also known as "My software is better than your software."

What does is all mean?

Closing remarks by Wayne Cunningham

Esther leads the audience in final remarks. The audience had a lot to say. This event could have easily lasted for two or three days.

Additional commentary from Dan Farber and David Berlind, click on the following links.

The remedy for spyware–not anytime soon

The remedy for spyware–not anytime soon Part II

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