Sandy Wonders If She Steered Her Friends Wrong About Incredimail
I have always told everyone not to use Incredimail as they track everything. I just received this from an internet friend and it is clearly stating Incredimail is not spyware, etc. Are they telling the truth? Thank you, Sandy

Our Answer
Indeed, Sandy, do you expect any company to admit they are producing adware, spyware or programs that collect and store data about its users? Do you think anyone would download such a program? Incredimail is tooting their own horn on their web site, and quoting from the "short version" of their license agreement and privacy policy. But, users must agree to the "FULL" license agreement and privacy policy. And, that's a far different animal than the "short" version.

Anyone can say "We are not spyware". Can anyone define spyware? Not yet. We are (all of us) still waiting for someone to come up with a legal definition of spyware. So, even the worst spyware programs in the world can legally claim they are not spyware (and do). After all these years, there is still not one comprehensive legal definition of the word "spyware".

We think any program that is in constant contact with your computer; gathers any data at all from your computer (personal or "non-personal") and/or sends that data back to any server on the Web and stores it for ANY reason, without your explicit knowledge and explicit consent has to be held suspect.

We've answered this question about Incredimail before many times. We'll answer it again, because it is one of the most often-asked questions we receive. It appears lots of people want to believe that someone is actually going to give them something for nothing without asking for anything in return. This article refers to the "free" version of Incredimail which if nothing else certainly is adware - which is spyware's first cousin - and tracking-ware as Incredimail specifically states by installing Incredimail you give them the right to collect your personal and non-personal information. Of course the "short version" of their policies and terms don't make any mention of that - but the legal "full version" that everyone who installs Incredimail is bound by, does.
 
We quote directly from their own documentation (See http://thundercloud.net/infoave/answers/incredimail.htm  ). Each Incredimail user must agree to their license agreement (EULA), Terms of Use, and privacy policy before installing the program. Installing the program is just like legally signing a contract. By installing and using Incredimail you are legally agreeing to allow them to collect and store "personal and non personal information" from you. If you install it, you agree to that policy. That's not just what we think, that's what they say. And, it is a legally binding contract. As long as you use Incredimail you are subject to their license agreement and you are legally bound to abide by it. If you install Incredimail you are giving them the right to collect any personal and non-personal information they wish to collect.
 
It's important for all our readers to know, that when you install any software, you are agreeing to abide by the terms of its license agreement. As long as the software is installed on your computer, you are legally and contractually bound to its license agreement, privacy policies, and terms of use.