AOL - Version 9 Earns "Badware" Tag

[GhostShip]

This points out what many of us already knew.

http://www.stopbadware.org/reports/reportdisplay?reportname=aol082706

In our preliminary findings, we find that AOL 9.0 (free version) is currently badware because it installs additional software without telling the user, it forces the user to take certain actions, it adds various components to Internet Explorer and the taskbar without disclosure, it may automatically update without the user's consent, and it fails to uninstall completely.

We currently recommend that users do not install the version of AOL software that we tested, unless the user is comfortable with the level of risk we identify or until the application is updated consistent with the recommendations in this report.

Theres a detailed list of all the faults found with the software but the worst to my mind is that it will not uninstall itself properly, having processes running on your machine that you neither want or know about, and cannot remove with the tool provide is bordering on criminal negligence 

[KM]

big surprise there... the fact they try to claim it is only one version with that problem

has anyone ever managed to remove the AOL mess from a computer without having to wipe the system and reinstall windows?