MediaPost: Spyware Researcher Issues Critical Report

MediaPost reports on a graduate student's research into potentially shady affiliate practices of 180 solutions, an adware firm. By throwing up double pop-ups and invisible pop-ups, Benjamin Edelman alleged that 180 Solutions effectively credited itself with responsibility for sales that really were the product of other companies' efforts. If true, Edelman's research would suggest that some merchants are paying affiliate commissions to 180 Solutions on sales that did not come from affiliate traffic. It could also mean that affiliates that really did deliver sales to companies may have their commissions hijacked.