Tip #1999 - EULA Analyzer
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EULA Analyzer
EULA's, which
are the End User license Agreements that pop up during any software
installation, are so long winded and ambiguous in meaning that most
people skip right over them. I don't blame anyone for not
reading his or her EULA because it's about as much fun as a trip to
the dentist and way more bewildering. Perusing
over the equivalent of 10 pages of legal jargon looking for any questionable
wording that could invite unwanted services to your system is not my
opinion of pleasurable reading. And, after I'm done, I could only tell
you about half of what I'd just read. I'm no lawyer and even more importantly
I have no patience but, to make sure all my programs are safe, I read
the EULA's. If you don't read EULA's then there could be all sorts
of questionable code put on your system. This code could be using up
resources in order to send you more ads and offers or tracking your
surfing habits online. Companies seem to think of these as "features" which
are totally acceptable to install as long as it's obscurely stated
in a EULA. I call these features intruders and they are not worth installing
especially when the only benefit is to the program manufacturer.
Well, let me tell
ya, reading EULA's just got easier and a lot more fun with the EULAlyzer .
The EULAlyzer is a EULA reading program that spots key words out of the
body of the a EULA. This is like a dream come true for me because the
EULAlyzer can scan a EULA in seconds where it would take me minutes.
The EULAlyzer scans the EULA looking for key phrases and words pulling
out every instance and presenting them in summary at the end of the
scan. It enables you to quickly determine if you want this new software
on your system or not.
Besides the ability
to scan EULAs for key words, EULAlyzer has a couple of other cards
up its sleeve. After a EULA scan the program will (depending on how
you have it set up) prompt you to send the results to the EULA
Research Center to further help the company to improve
their products. You can also take this scan information and save it locally
for referencing later. I don't know why you would want to do that, but
you can.
In short, it's never
a good idea to install software without looking at the EULA. More
and more they are becoming almost cryptic and confusing in the message
they are trying to convey. You should scrutinize software even from
reputable companies. Look at Sony and their rootkit installation in
early November. (Check
out the Security Article from 11-16-05 for more info) Sony's rootkit
debacle is an example to what lengths some of these companies are
willing to go in order to protect their product - even at the complete
expense of their customers.
It seems that all a company has to do is to make some sort of mention
of the full impact of their software in the EULA to take any blame off
of them. Not to mention if a company puts this in their EULA it disqualifies
them as Spyware. Look at Gator or the free Incredimail for example. They
contain Spyware but not labeled as such because that info is in their
EULA.
Protect yourself and read your EULA's. The EULA will shed some light
on any ulterior motives the software you are about to install may have
thereby giving you the power to stop any anguish before it starts.
~ Chad Stelnicki
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