08-16-01 @ 6:45 am EDT

This is the e-mail I just sent to Funnymoney.com. I doubt they'll even read it...but DAMN this pisses me off.

I have reason to believe that a site I visit through the "Surf Websites" section of Funnymoney installs spyware on users' hard drives. The site "Casino Extreme" brings up a tiny popup when the user visits. If the user does not click to get rid of this popup IMMEDIATELY (and the popup is VERY SMALL and difficult to click on quickly), an automatic download begins. Usually I can catch this before it happens, but on a few occasions I have not been fast enough. Last night was one occasion and it just happened again. I may have downloaded something without my permission.

When I logged on yesterday my local homepage had been changed to a casino site, www.riverbelle.com. Also, three casino sites had been added to "My Favorites." I had to go into Internet settings to change my homepage back, and I had to delete the added favorites. NO ONE in this household changed the settings or added the links. I was told today that spyware automatically downloaded from "hostile" sites may do this without our knowledge. I don't mind sites knowing what other sites I visit, or targeting ads to my interests, but to change the settings on my computer is intolerable.

I may be wrong in believing it is Casino Extreme doing this, but they ARE the site with the strange popup and the instant download. Therefore my suspicion rests with them.

The only way to avoid getting this spyware is to disable Javascript, and I could not visit most of my favorite sites if I did that. Therefore I think it would be a good idea for Funnymoney to look into the possibility that Casino Extreme--or ANY of their sponsor sites--uses some sort of scripting that allows spyware to be installed without users' knowledge. And should such sites that have this scripting decide not to disable it, then they should be removed from the Surf Websites section for users' own safety.

Once again, my suspicions may be incorrect...but I feel it would not hurt to check it out, so I do not log on tomorrow to find my homepage changed yet again.

Now this REALLY gets me mad. How is it that websites are allowed to CHANGE THE SETTINGS ON YOUR COMPUTER? Changing my homepage? Inserting new favorites? THAT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING A VIRUS WOULD DO! And there's no RESTRICTION on this or anything??

Now don't get me wrong. I understand advertising. Like I said--nothing wrong with them using cookies and such to know where I've been--though that's creepy and should NOT be allowed, I don't visit too many weird sites, so I don't mind. And, I don't mind if the ads on the page are configured to catch my maximum interest. I usually don't click on 'em anyway. But to CHANGE MY SETTINGS!! This is NOT ALLOWABLE!

Imagine you're sitting on a bus heading home from work. Bam, some moron comes along, drags you off the bus into his car, and drives you to a casino instead. "Wait, wait, wait, buddy! You'll LOVE it here more than home!"

Okay, stupid analogy. So my brain's not working right right now. But HOW CAN THEY ALLOW THIS? It's just like a virus. Change your settings, add files you never asked for. What viruses do.

Viruses are illegal. Spyware? It's hunky-dory! Even if it changes your settings!

Now this gets me even MADDER! The site I suspect--Casino Extreme--with that DAMN ITTY-BITTY POPUP--well, I'm currently surfing through Funnymoney, and a few minutes ago I had to leave the computer for a minute to do something. I heard the computer "thinking" a lot. I come back and WOULDN'T YOU KNOW IT, the site I left it on was Casino Extreme! DAMMIT!! It had the screen asking me if I wanted to download something, but it brings that up AFTER the download starts, so I just BET it downloaded whatever the hell it is that site makes you download. I HATE THESE *$*#*$@ERS!! If you're wanting hits to your website that badly, TAKE OUT A FRIGGIN' BANNER AD! AND QUIT PUTTING CRAP ON MY HARD DRIVE WITHOUT MY PERMISSION!!

I'm sorry, but these guys should be dragged out into the street and shot. IMO.