Re: Preliminary list of spyware-related IPs

From: OneLouder (edayaxwellmay@exoboxway.omcay)
Date: 01/31/02 

From: "OneLouder" <edayaxwellmay@exoboxway.omcay>
Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2002 19:23:50 GMT

"sponge" <mtubi@python.net> wrote in message
news:a27ljl$cqo$1@bob.news.rcn.net...
> Infogate
> DNS names: infogate ifgate.com entrypoint
> Primary host: AT&T Cerfnet
> 63.241.31/24
> Note: maker of toolbars, touts it's "patented Find-Me-Follow-Me
> Technology which locates the useracross multiple devices based on
> their criteria." See "Advertisers" section at www.infogate.com.

I am not an employee, but occasionally do contract work for Infogate. I can
assure you that it's not spyware.

The "Find-Me-Follow-Me" feature is simply a user-configurable way of
forwarding user-specified alerts to various devices like mobile phones.

For example, one can set up an alert for a stock price hitting a certain
level. You can configure the service to attempt to deliver the alert to
your Infogate client application. If the client does not fetch the alert
within a certain time (probably because the machine is off), then the alert
can be sent to your email address with a receipt return. If the receipt is
not returned within a certain time, the alert can be sent through SMS to
your mobile phone. That's all it is. It does nothing that user did not
explicitly tell it to do.

The marketing page regarding "Find-Me-Follow-Me" is a pitch to other
services that could use the same mechanism to distribute information to
Infogate clients - but _only_ if the user opts-in to it.

Infogate does not track the user around the web, nor does it collect
information not explicitly provided by the user, nor does it create ad
popups, etc.

If the above scenario qualifies as "spyware", then you'd have to lump in
call-forwarding and mail-forwarding. I think it's unfortunate that Infogate
is being associated with actual spyware - it's not part of the problem.

If there are other concerns or questions, I can probably get them addressed
by the proper people. I can be contacted at
d-m-a-x-w-e-l-l-(a-t)-i-n-f-o-g-a-t-e-.-c-o-m.

-- Duane