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AOL Cuts AdWare From Advertising.com Partners

AOL Cuts AdWare From Advertising.com Partners

After spending $435 million to acquire the Baltimore based Advertising.com, AOL quickly said goodbye to many of Advertising.com’s adware partners including WhenU, Claria and 180solutions. As adware and spyware have faced endless media scrutiny of late, AOL has been quick to remove itself from further association and save its customers from an endless pop-up barrage. Now its defensive strategies have turned offensive, as protective measures are being taken to thwart future onslaughts.

MediaPost confirms : The move, confirmed by AOL, happened last fall–after the Dulles, Va.-based portal company acquired the ad network Advertising.com in August for $435 million. Shortly after buying the Baltimore, Md.-based Advertising.com, executives from both companies conducted a review of policies regarding adware and spyware, said AOL spokesman Andrew Weinstein.

“From that review, we decided to make clear that we would not do business with companies that distribute adware or spyware that interefers with or damages our members’ online experience,” Weinstein said. “AOL as a company has dedicated significant resources to protecting our members and giving them options for removing adware.” Weinstein added.

Media Posts’s Wendy Davis adds

Recently, AOL has touted itself as offering members protection against adware, spyware, and pop-ups. Ad industry experts say AOL’s decision isn’t likely to affect adware companies’ business, because such companies sell most of their inventory themselves. JupiterResearch analyst Gary Stein said that only a small portion of ads served by adware companies are brokered through networks. “Most relationships are direct,” Stein said.

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SEJ STAFF Loren Baker Founder at Foundation Digital

Loren Baker is the Founder of SEJ, an Advisor at Alpha Brand Media and runs Foundation Digital, a digital marketing ...

AOL Cuts AdWare From Advertising.com Partners

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