AOL Software

[James]

My company has a problem with AOL software being put on their machines. It seems to play merry havoc with the firm wide operating settings and AOL is the only provider to be banned.

Does anyone else have a similar problem?

[JenniP]

Why would you need to put AOL software on a work machine? Surely you have a central internet connection you all share?

While I havent used AOL in quite a while (It wasnt mine it was a friends honest), I cant really see any work purpose for the software anyway.

Jen

[James]

Why would you need to put AOL software on a work machine? Surely you have a central internet connection you all share?

While I havent used AOL in quite a while (It wasnt mine it was a friends honest), I cant really see any work purpose for the software anyway.

Jen

Well our work used to encourage us to get broadband connections and to take our work laptops home so that we could work from home. As there was no mandated provider, this meant that AOL would often be used.

[Hazel]

My company has a problem with AOL software being put on their machines. It seems to play merry havoc with the firm wide operating settings and AOL is the only provider to be banned.

Does anyone else have a similar problem?

Yes, it's a classic case of AOL's newbie-centric policy. They assume you know nothing about computers, set it up so it works with AOL and with no regard for any networking or use of other connections and they make their software so difficult to get rid of that it almost qualifies as spyware.

Well our work used to encourage us to get broadband connections and to take our work laptops home so that we could work from home. As there was no mandated provider, this meant that AOL would often be used.

Seriously, choose another provider, any provider. I'd recommend Demon

[James]

Yes, it's a classic case of AOL's newbie-centric policy. They assume you know nothing about computers, set it up so it works with AOL and with no regard for any networking or use of other connections and they make their software so difficult to get rid of that it almost qualifies as spyware.


Seriously, choose another provider, any provider. I'd recommend Demon

The AOL package actually quite tempts me, but I would always be worried that they would introduce what would be the equivalent of malware on my system.

[Hazel]

The AOL package actually quite tempts me, but I would always be worried that they would introduce what would be the equivalent of malware on my system.

Basically, they would. I wouldn't even install their IM client, let alone any of the software provided with their connections. I really think the anti-virus providers should start protecting against it.

[James]

Basically, they would. I wouldn't even install their IM client, let alone any of the software provided with their connections. I really think the anti-virus providers should start protecting against it.

That's a bit tough isn't it? Surely AOL software is taken voluntarily and can't be said to be a virus. Although i personally will try to avoid AOL.

[Hazel]

That's a bit tough isn't it? Surely AOL software is taken voluntarily and can't be said to be a virus. Although i personally will try to avoid AOL.

Well, I just think that there should be tools to help remove it as it's just as difficult to remove as a virus; In fact, more so, as anti-virus software doesn't remove it.

[James]

Well, I just think that there should be tools to help remove it as it's just as difficult to remove as a virus; In fact, more so, as anti-virus software doesn't remove it.

You seem to be right there as a quick look on Google shows plenty of people asking for this but no-one really giving any easy answers.