Free Smileys From Ask.com Not so Free After all

Spyware researcher Ben Edleman takes a look at how Ask.com uses bait and switch tactics to get their toolbar installed. He even compares Ask's tactics to encyclopedia salesman trying to get their foot in your door.

While some may like having the cute smileys, the real reason is to get an Ask toolbar installed on your computer. Ben says that the toolbar moves the address bar (where you type in a web address) and puts their toolbar in the same place. That way,you may use the toolbar thinking you are just typing the url of where you want to go. After using the toolbar by mistake, you end up on an Ask search page full of advertisements.

Ask used to be called Ask Jeeves, but they retired that name and the butler mascot and go by Ask now.

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