'Adware' Distributor Loses MVP Status
Responding to a flurry of negative feedback, Microsoft has decided to revoke the Most Valuable Professional status it recently bestowed on Cyril Paciullo. Paciullo, or Patchou as he is known, is a developer who created the Messenger Plus application.
Messenger Plus adds a number of features onto Microsoft's instant messaging client, such as combining individual chats into a unified window with tabs, and removing the embedded advertising. The software is quite popular among Windows Live Messenger users, leading to Paciullo's nomination to be an MVP.
MVPs are an elite group selected by Microsoft for their work fostering the community around the Redmond company's software. They range from developers to forum moderators to experts in a specific field. In return for their dedication and support of Microsoft, MVPs are invited to special events and given early access to software.
But Paciullo's acceptance into the program raised the ire of a number of security professionals, because Messenger Plus includes with it a particularly insidious form of adware called "Lop." Although users can choose not to install Lop, they are encouraged to do so and its negative effects are not explained.
According to Sunbelt Software, Lop falls under the category of PC "hijacker" and makes changes to a user's Web browser in addition to popping up advertisements. The adware additionally places icons on the desktop and attempts to trick users into running a fake virus scan that installs even more malware.
"Bottom line is, Microsoft are rewarding someone that has an active involvement with one of the most maligned names in PC hijacking. If that isn't booberific, I don't know what is," Christopher Boyd, director of malware at FaceTime Security Labs, wrote in his blog.
"As for my own MVP Status, my first knee jerk reaction is telling me to tell MS to shove it. My second knee jerk reaction is jumping ship is basically giving the boobs of the world a green-light to hijack the program," Boyd added.
Microsoft acknowledges it made a mistake by awarding Paciullo MVP status, claiming it was not aware of his connection with the adware.
"Cyril Paciullo was awarded with MVP status this year on the basis of his technical expertise and strong community contribution. However, his active MVP Award status was revoked as soon as the extent of the connection between his application and spyware was made apparent to the MVP Program," the company said in a statement.
A posting to Mess.be, the Web site which hosts Messenger Plus, attempted to find a silver lining.
"While one could easily understand the company's reaction in this matter, the very fact that Patchou was awarded the MVP award in the first place proves that Microsoft has acknowledged his extraordinary product expertise and significant contribution to the MSN Messenger and Windows Live Messenger, now and in the past," the site said.