Washington - Adware distributor DirectRevenue has agreed to pay $1.5 million to settle Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charges that it used unfair and deceptive methods to install its software on users' computers, and then obstructed them from easily removing it.

DirectRevenue offers consumers free content like screensavers, games and utilities, in exchange for installing software that monitors their Web surfing in order to serve them targeted ads.

The FTC said the company did not adequately disclose that it would be serving pop-up ads to consumers, made it difficult to locate and remove the adware, and in some cases exploited security vulnerabilities in Web browsers to install the adware.

Under the settlement, DirectRevenue will give up $1.5 million in ill-gotten gains; is barred from installing its software without consumers' consent; and must create a user-friendly means of uninstalling its adware.

The FTC has also recently targeted other adware firms, ordering Zango to pay a $3 million penalty in November.

Related Links:
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2007/02/directrevenue.htm

http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-fi-popup17feb17,1,4232262.story

http://www.direct-revenue.com