Ben Edelman Discusses Adware, Spyware and Affiliate Programs
With Jeff Molander
What exactly is adware? How does it work to the detriment of advertisers and what can they do to combat it? Do advertisers even want affiliates to stop using adware and if so can they count on affiliate networks to help?
Spyware/adware consultant and Harvard PhD candidate Ben Edelman helps us understand in a five part series of shorts.
PART ONE
0:00 - Introduction
1:02 - How do affiliates use adware; how does it work?
2:21 - Is it as easy as buying Google AdWords?
2:49 - How are advertisers defrauded by affiliates?
4:37 - Edelman teases next segment
PART TWO
0:00 - Introduction
0:22 - The many rules affiliate break when using adware
2:00 - Why advertisers and affiliate networks all but accept adware
3:05 - Why advertisers ignore affiliates using adware in the short term
(taking no action to protect brand or reduce frivolous spending)
PART THREE
0:00 - Introduction
0:42 - Do advertisers look the other way too much so as to keep "making numbers?"
2:14 - Why do affiliate networks choose to not collaborate with others (like customers) against adware?
3:40 - Affiliate networks are only fixing a "small part of the problem" and major problems remain unchecked; networks are "largely oblivious" to them!
PART FOUR
0:00 - Introduction
0:20 - Is an "Affiliate program/adware audit" a good idea? Why?
1:22 - Transparency: The key issue
1:43 - How can advertisers get more information (transparency) on affiliates?
2:43 - What can affiliate managers do TODAY to protect themselves, their company?
PART FIVE
0:00 - Introduction
0:19 - Does doing the right thing mean alienating affiliates?
1:20 - Are affiliate networks motivated - or not - to do the right thing?
3:11 - Fixing the system: Networks, affiliates & contracts.
4:53 - There's hope if advertisers push networks and/or network competition increases
6:00 - How to get alerted to new podcasts.