The Spyware Removal Database at Safer Networking (makers of Spybot - Search & Destroy) states 'BonziBuddy is an Internet Explorer toolbar that may change your web browser settings, change your home page, and launch pop-up advertisements while tracking your web browsing habits.' Among the activities that the program is involved in are resetting the user's web browser home page to without the user's consent, asking and tracking various information about the user, and serving ads. Spyware Guide's entry on the program states that it is adware. Īnti-virus company Trend Micro classifies the software as adware in their spyware/ grayware listings, but not malware. Īnti-virus company Symantec states that BonziBUDDY may collect usage statistics when certain keywords are typed in the browser.
Although Symantec refers to Bonzi as Adware, such behaviour is typical for spyware. reported the settlement of a class action suit on.There were two legal cases involving the software. In the settlement, Bonzi Software agreed to modify their ads so that they looked less like Windows dialog boxes and more like actual advertisements Originally brought against Bonzi Software on 4 December 2002, the suit accused Bonzi of using its banner advertisements to deceptively shart Windows computer alerts, alerting the user that their IP address is being broadcast.
