NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.spybot.info/en/news/2007-05-08.html

Apparently the company that makes DeskMates was told that their software was leading to the distribution of unwanted materials on a users computer. Instead of working with Spybot to help stop the software, they had their legal dogs threaten to sue Spybot unless Spybot stopped picking up their software as a trojan and issued a public apology.

Spybot decided to instead blow their nose in Oska's general direction and launched trojan cows at them. Good on Spybot.

http://www.spybot.info/en/news/2007-05-08.html

Apparently the company that makes DeskMates was told that their software was leading to the distribution of unwanted materials on a users computer. Instead of working with Spybot to help stop the software, they had their legal dogs threaten to sue Spybot unless Spybot stopped picking up their software as a trojan and issued a public apology.

Spybot decided to instead blow their nose in Oska's general direction and launched trojan cows at them. Good on Spybot.

This is Spybot - Search and Destroy, right?
In that case, I'm very happy. It's a brilliant bit of software and if the programmer(s? I always thought it was the work of one person, going by the information section in the program) were sued then I'm not sure Spybot could continue.

Edit: 2^10th post! Woot!

You know, I've just kind of accepted that spyware is and always was, but I know that wasn't the case.

When did it first pop up? My guess is 2001-2002ish?