Stealth Installation Of Unwanted Programs On Your Computer

The Internet is saturated with free programs and tools, making promises they fall short of, or that once the software installed performs unwanted acts.

Perhaps you are unaware or this did not happened to you: You are downloading software from an apparently redoubtable maker or distributor of software. You follow the installation instructions and  you start using the newly set up software.

In one case, the downloaded browser is a well known and quite popular software. After a while the user had noticed that each time she opened the browser, another two or three windows opened and started pushing games and other crap in an aggressive manner.

She tried to uninstall the unwanted programs, but they simply just popped up again.  Finally, after plenty of agony and using various antimalware programs, it seemed that the crappy program disappeared. But only for a while. Soon the unwanted pages opened again. In the end she got rid of the otherwise useful browser, cleaned the computer and now seem to be free of unwanted programs.

This is just a very basic, routine case of installed unwanted programs and many people have had experience with it. - Often people had learned they must be very careful when installing a program, especially if it is a free software.

 Does the perpetrator actually makes money by forcing undesirable programs on unsuspecting users? Do people actually give up and purchase the unsolicited crap for good money?

 Are there statistics on these activities? Is there promotion in the future for the geek who managed to convince the "Boss" that this and that PUP program will bring in tons of money?

In the developed world the word gets around fast and people see the scam more often and catch on quicker therefore reducing the  flow of fast money for the "Brain"  behind this kind of scam.

One is not too sure about the situation in the developing countries where many people just now are getting on the Internet and many are just at the beginning of a learning curve in the world of scams and forced advertising of often useless products. 

There are many people out there who are vulnerable to the scam involving with PUP programs.

Unfortunately, the scams will continue, and most people will learn only from experience. Like most of us.

We love your business but we are foxy and you can not contact us with a complaint

Hard not to find a person who had a complaint about a product or service, but found that almost impossible to contact the manufacturer of the product or the service provider.

Or, when they finally do get through with a phone call or email, they just won't respond.  No need to offer a prize for finding someone who had not experienced this disgusting, poorly concealed game.

Businesses spend big money pulling in customers. Flashy commercials blabbing about product quality and undying customer service.

 Everything is fine and dandy until you actually have a problem with a product or service. -- Then, suddenly you can't find a way to complain to the company.

Some companies are very inventive as they send you from  web site to web site to avoid providing you with a clear cut email address where you could send your complaint.

According to some people Google is quite slick in avoiding written complaints.  If so, they should not be smug. True, some large companies monopolize the market, you can not use another service or buy a similar product. 

At this stage real consumer protection should kick in place of wishy-washy. feeble efforts by various so-called consumer protection organizations tasked to protect the consumer and paid for by the taxpayer.

Wedding Woes

You are anxious, happy and worried at the same time but you are looking forward for the day when you and your loved one ties the knot. In spite of all the new accepted social mores, publicized bad experiences, scandals and ballyhooed celebrity break ups people are still choosing the bliss of matrimony.

The wedding industry is flourishing and many of us forking out big buck for the wedding ceremony. If you are a cheap skate and you have the money but unwilling to pony up for the ceremony, your partner will understand  -But will never forget!  

Of course many of these expensive and in some case modest weddings end up in divorce.  No need to scribble about this aspect of reality as most people know there is a symbiotic relationship between weddings and divorces. The divorce industry could not prosper without a booming wedding business to support it.

Let's not be negative and concentrate on the starry-eyed couples planning the wedding.

If you planning to take the plunge you may read the article published in the CBC's Marketplace section. Hidden charges related to wedding expenses are well described.

Don't read it out loud or your Piggy Bank might start to squeal !

The Article:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/wedding-costs-1.4048143

Denigrating America - And The Reality Check

Day after day without effort  one may come across a number of writings badmouthing the U.S.for just about everything wrong in the world, from the smell of onions in elevators to the warming of our planet.

I am not qualified to agree or disagree with these sentiments . Nevertheless, here is another view of the U.S. by someone posting a letter to a discussion forum.

" In case we find ourselves starting to believe all the Anti-American sentiment and negativity, we should remember England 's Prime Minister Tony Blair's words during an  interview.

When asked by one of his Parliament members why he believes so much in America , he said: "A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in... And how many want out."

Restaurant Banned Kids - Reservations Soared

An article in the National Post reports that a restaurant in North Carolina had enough from out of control kids spoiling an expensive dining experience for other customers. 

Parents in some situations could not care less about the spoiled dining experience their unruly out of control kids caused to other diners.

When you pay big bucks for a meal in a top restaurant you rightly expect to enjoy the meal. Noisy small kids with anything go parents do not enhance
the experience.

Actually, some restaurants in  Korea, Italy, Australia, Texas, Pennsylvania and California have either banned young children outright or introduced measures to control their behaviour.

Read the article and form your opinion that include your experience in restaurants involving other people's children:

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/world/a-classy-north-carolina-restaurant-banned-kids-critics-fumed-and-then-reservations-surge