AOL quietly changes Windows settings to combat pop-up spam

AOL quietly changes Windows settings to combat pop-up spam
Anick Jesdanun, The Associated Press 2003-10-23

Even more annoying than junk e-mail are all the spam messages that "pop up" through a little-used feature in Windows. As part of its spam-fighting efforts, America Online has been turning off that feature for its customers without telling them.

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AOL quietly changes Windows settings to combat pop-up spam 2003-10-23
Anonymous (1 replies)

AOL quietly changes Windows settings to combat pop-up spam 2003-10-23
Good info needed (2 replies)

How to disable it manually 2003-10-24
Anonymous

AOL quietly changes Windows settings to combat pop-up spam 2003-10-24
Texas

AOL quietly changes Windows settings to combat pop-up spam 2003-10-23
Tim (1 replies)

Still...why would they want it on to begin with? 2003-10-24
Anonymous

AOL quietly changes Windows settings to combat pop-up spam 2003-10-24
Anonymous

AOL quietly changes Windows settings to combat pop-up spam 2003-10-24
meowmix

As much as I don't like AOL I agree that the messenger service shouldn't be on. It's quite a far cry from disabling competitors software. On top of that you do have to take everything into context. The type to use AOL isn't exactly the type to get up in arms that an almost useless feature is turned off to benifit them. Also, the type of user to use AOL is also the type to get confused by extra questions they have no clue about. AOL markets themselves as a n00b ISP and that's exactly what they have as customers. Extra choice and questions tend to confuse them. IIRC AOL installs a modified TCP/IP stack and this really seems no different. Modifications to the OS are ok... Now if AOL uninstalls Mozilla then I think we could complain.

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Link to this comment: http://www.securityfocus.com/comments/articles/7278/23335#23335

AOL quietly changes Windows settings to combat pop-up spam 2003-10-24
Chris Caydes

AOL quietly changes Windows settings to combat pop-up spam 2003-10-24
shyamanta(aol tech)