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It took the form of an animated purple gorilla that resided on a user's desktop and communicated through the employment of [[Microsoft Agent]] technology.
It took the form of an animated purple gorilla that resided on a user's desktop and communicated through the employment of [[Microsoft Agent]] technology.


It was labeled as [[spyware]] by [[Consumer Reports]] in 2002.<ref name="barrett2002" /> This charge was disputed by the company.{{Fact|date=October 2007}} The Spyware Removal Database at Safer Networking states "BonziBuddy is an Internet Explorer toolbar that may change your web browser settings, change your home page, and launch pop-up advertisements while tracking your web browsing habits."<ref> [http://www.safer-networking.com/removeBonziBuddy.php Safer Networking] article ''Spyware Removal Database - Remove BonziBuddy'' accessed October 25, 2007</ref>
It was labeled as [[spyware]] by [[Consumer Reports]] in 2002.<ref name="barrett2002" /> This charge was disputed by the company, .


In April 2007, ''PCWorld'' readers voted Bonzi Buddy 6th on a list of "the top 10 most annoying tech products". One reader was quoted as criticizing the program because it "kept popping up and obscuring things you needed to see."<ref>{{cite web
In April 2007, PCWorld readers voted Bonzi Buddy 6th on a list of "the top 10 most annoying tech products". One reader as criticizing the program because it "kept popping up and obscuring things you needed to see."<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,130647-page,6-c,techindustrytrends/article.html
|url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,130647-page,6-c,techindustrytrends/article.html
|title=Your top 10 most annoying tech products
|title=Your top 10 most annoying tech products
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|accessdate=2006-09-07}}</ref>
|accessdate=2006-09-07}}</ref>


''Spyware Guide's'' entry on the program states that it is adware and defines "adware" as "any software application in which advertising is displayed [and] may or may not track personal information."<ref>{{cite web
''Spyware Guide's'' entry on the program states that it is adware.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.spywareguide.com/product_show.php?id=512
|url=http://www.spywareguide.com/product_show.php?id=512
|title=Spyware Guide's entry on BonziBUDDY
|title=Spyware Guide's entry on BonziBUDDY
|accessdate=2006-09-07}}</ref>
|accessdate=2006-09-07}}</ref>


Anti-virus company [[Trend Micro]] classifies the software as [[spyware]] and [[adware]],<ref>{{cite web
Anti-virus company [[Trend Micro]] classifies the software as [[]] [[]],<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/grayware/printerfriendly.asp?GNAME=ADW%5FBONJING%2EA
|url=http://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/grayware/printerfriendly.asp?GNAME=ADW%5FBONJING%2EA
|title=ADW_BONJING.A
|title=ADW_BONJING.A
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|date=2004-06-08
|date=2004-06-08
|publisher=[[Trend Micro]]
|publisher=[[Trend Micro]]
|}}</ref> but not [[malware]].<ref>{{cite web
|}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/grayware/ve_GraywareDetails.asp?GNAME=ADW_BONZIBUDDY.C
|url=http://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/grayware/ve_GraywareDetails.asp?GNAME=ADW_BONZIBUDDY.C
|title=ADW_BONZIBUDDY.C
|title=ADW_BONZIBUDDY.C
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[[Image:BonziBUDDYApe.png|thumb|BonziBUDDY Ape]]
[[Image:BonziBUDDYApe.png|thumb|BonziBUDDY Ape]]


There were two legal cases about the software as described below.
There were two legal cases about the software .


<hr width="50%"/>
<hr width="50%"/>

Revision as of 18:42, 31 October 2007

BonziBUDDY
Developer(s)BONZI Software
Operating systemMicrosoft Windows
TypeSoftware agent
LicenseCustom EULA
Websitehttp://www.bonzi.com/

Released in 1999 and discontinued in 2004, BonziBUDDY, sometimes spelled Bonzi Buddy, BonziBuddy, or BONZIBuddy, (misspelled Bonzai Buddy) was an on-screen "intelligent software agent" from BONZI Software. The official website stated it would help a person explore the Internet through various functions along with their own sidekick. It took the form of an animated purple gorilla that resided on a user's desktop and communicated through the employment of Microsoft Agent technology.

It was labeled as spyware by Consumer Reports in 2002.[1] This charge was disputed by the company, and most or all major reporting sites today classify it as adware rather than spyware.

In April 2007, PCWorld readers voted Bonzi Buddy 6th on a list of "the top 10 most annoying tech products". One reader is quoting as criticizing the program because it "kept popping up and obscuring things you needed to see." The article makes no mention of the program as spyware or adware.[2]

Overview

File:Microsoft Agent Peedy.png
The old BonziBUDDY Peedy the Parrot

The software used Microsoft Agent technology similar to Office Assistant,[3] and originally sported Peedy, a green parrot character, before it became the purple ape.[4] The software "interacts with users while they are online, providing shopping advice, jokes, and trivia."[5]

At one point, the official website for the application said this about it:

He will explore the Internet with you as your very own friend and sidekick! He can talk, walk, joke, browse, search, e-mail, and download like no other friend you've ever had! He even has the ability to compare prices on the products you love and help you save money! Best of all, he's FREE! [6]

Reports of spyware

An article in Consumer Reports Web Watch labels BonziBUDDY as spyware, stating that it is a Backdoor Santa in that it collects information from users. Among the activities the program is said to engage in include constantly resetting the user's web browser homepage to bonzi.com without the user's permission, prompting and tracking various information about the user, and serving advertisements.[1]

Spyware Guide's entry on the program states that it is adware.[7]

Anti-virus company Trend Micro classifies the software as adware in their spyware/grayware listings, but not malware.[8][9]

File:BonziBUDDYApe.png
BonziBUDDY Ape

There were two legal cases about the software. In the following legal settlement, the issue was not the issue of "spyware", a term which does not appear in any of the legal documents.

Internetnews.com reported the settlement of a class action suit on May 27, 2003. Originally brought against Bonzi Software on December 4, 2002, the suit accused Bonzi of using its banner advertisements of deceptively imitating Windows computer alerts, alerting the user that their IP Address is being broadcast. In the settlement, Bonzi agreed to modify their ads so that they looked less like a Windows dialogue box and to make them more obviously advertisements. [10][11]

On February 18, 2004, the Federal Trade Commission released a statement indicating that Bonzi Software, Inc. was ordered to pay $75,000 in fees, among other aspects, for violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act by collecting personal information from children under the age of 13 with BonziBUDDY.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b Robertson Barrett (2002-11-21). "Five Major Categories of Spyware". Consumer Reports. Retrieved 2006-09-07. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ "Your top 10 most annoying tech products". PCWorld. Retrieved 2007-07-14.
  3. ^ Mark Hachman (2003-05-28). ""Bonzi Buddy" Creator Settles Suit". ExtremeTech. Retrieved 2006-09-07. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ "Counter Spy's entry on BonziBuddy". Retrieved 2006-09-07.
  5. ^ a b "UMG Recordings, Inc. to Pay $400,000, Bonzi Software, Inc. To Pay $75,000 to Settle COPPA Civil Penalty Charges". Federal Trade Commission. 2004-02-18. Retrieved 2006-09-07. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ Bonzi.com. http://www.bonzi.com/bonzibuddy/bonzimail.asp. Retrieved July 10, 2005.
  7. ^ "Spyware Guide's entry on BonziBUDDY". Retrieved 2006-09-07.
  8. ^ "ADW_BONJING.A". Trend Micro. 2004-06-08. Retrieved 2007-07-14. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  9. ^ "ADW_BONZIBUDDY.C". Trend Micro. 2004-06-08. Retrieved 2007-07-14.
  10. ^ Brian Morrissey (2003-05-27). "Bonzi Settles Deceptive Ad Suit". internetnews.com. Retrieved 2003-06-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) archive.org link
  11. ^ Brian Morrissey (2002-12-04). "Bonzi Hit With Deceptive-Ad Complaint". internetnews.com. Retrieved 2003-06-18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) archive.org link
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