On February 18, 2004, the Federal Trade Commission released a statement indicating that Bonzi Software, Inc.
In the settlement, Bonzi agreed to modify their ads so that they looked less like a Windows dialogue box and to make them more obviously advertisements.
In 1999, the software used a green parrot called 'Peedy' licensed from Microsoft, and in later versions, a purple gorilla named Bonzi. The software provides an on-screen software agent designed to help users surf the Internet by using Microsoft Agent technology. Originally brought against Bonzi Software on December 4, 2002, the suit accused Bonzi of using its banner advertisements of deceptively imitating Windows computer alerts, alerting the user that their IP Address is being broadcast. BonziBuddy, stylized as BonziBUDDY, is a desktop assistant program distributed by Bonzi Software between 19. The software used Microsoft Agent technology similar to Office Assistant, and originally sported Peedy, a green parrot and one of. Upon a users choice the on-screen agent would share jokes and facts, manage downloading using its download manager, sing songs and other functions. reported the settlement of a class action suit on May 27, 2003. 'Expand Dong' BonziBUDDY BonziBuddy, stylized as BonziBUDDY, was a desktop assistant made by Joe and Jay Bonzi. Spyware Guide's entry on the program states that it installs automatically without user knowledge or consent via an ActiveX object in Internet Explorer.Īnti-virus company Trend Micro classified the software as spyware/grayware and adware, but not malware.īonziBUDDY ApeThere were two legal cases about the software. Among the activities the program is said to engage in include constantly resetting the user's web browser homepage to without the user's permission, prompting and tracking various information about the user, and serving advertisements. An article in Consumer Reports's Web Watch labels BonziBUDDY as spyware, stating that it is a Backdoor Santa in that it collects information from users.