comScore Suspended from Trusted Download Program

Measurement firm comScore has been suspended from online privacy organisation TRUSTe's Trusted Download Program (TDP), after a comScore distributor broke its rules on getting user consent for downloads.

Earlier this month, following notification by several sources, TRUSTe investigated a distributor who was installing comScore's RelevantKnowledge online behaviour tracking software on consumer machines without their permission.

It was found that the third party had taken advantage of a security loophole to download and install comScore's RelevantKnowledge without user consent. The application which installed the software contained a code which identified it as belonging to an authorised comScore partner, who offered it as part of a software bundle available at a web site that had been reviewed and tested by both TRUSTe and comScore. TRUSTe said that it appears that the distributor 'went rogue' when it installed the software on one or more unauthorised distribution sites.

comScore says it immediately terminated its relationship with the distributor, disabled all installations associated with the company and activated a self-delete switch in the RelevantKnowledge software that automatically uninstalls it at the next reboot. It has also committed to developing changes to its methods of distributor monitoring and is examining weaknesses that allowed the situation to occur.

While under review, TRUSTe has removed RelevantKnowledge from its TDP 'white list' for three months, to provide comScore with time to implement and demonstrate the effectiveness of further controls.

The breach took place on web sites that were not controlled by or associated with comScore, which is online at www.comscore.com. Founded in 1997, TRUSTe certifies and monitors web site privacy and e-mail policies, monitors practices, and resolves thousands of consumer privacy issues every year. The organisation is on the net at www.truste.org.

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.

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