Microsoft, say it ain't so...

...Eek!

Microsoft considering buying out Claria? Did I just read that right? Is my brain on the blink? Can I ask any more rhetorical questions?

What the Hell is going on?

Suzi already covered this here, so I won't retread ground already covered. What I will say is this: if this somehow goes ahead, there will be a whole lot of angry Security MVPs, especially the ones that deal with Adware and Spyware on a daily basis. I predict mass walkouts if this went ahead, I really do. As for the general public at large - how confused are they going to be? In fact, how confused will the Microsoft security team be? Check this out as an example:

"Yahoo Inc. made a deal with adware company Claria Corp., formerly known as Gator Corp., to provide search listings for its SearchScout toolbar."

Maybe Microsoft will have to draw a big white line down the middle of Redmond. At this rate, MSAS will end up quarantining itself! If they take on Claria, what on earth they intend to do with all the deals like the one above is beyond me. In the big book of "really bad ideas", this must be right up there in the preface. Maybe even one of the notable quotables on the cover.

Oh well, time to dust off my Commodore 64.

Soon as MS get their hands on Claria's monstrous database, expect Clippy and that Gator thing to get it on and spawn the next generation of watchware.

Where do you want to go today?

Doesn't matter, we already know!

Watch a thread swell up with lots of angry people here.

Listen to me jump on the soapbox here.

And some more food for thought -

"In a surprising move, Sean Sundwall, Senior Corporate PR Manager at Microsoft, is taking the job of Director of Corporate Communications at 180Solutions/Zango.com."

Conspiracy! Conspira -

/ Bang