Is Marketscore Researchware Safe?
Just when you get used to hearing about adware and spyware along comes researchware. But unlike spyware and adware, researchware is not designed to trick you with pop-up ads or take over your computer.
Researchware is a term invented by comScore Networks, to distinguish its Marketscore program from spyware software. Researchware is designed to gather legitimate marketing research data only.
Marketscore is part of an online market research community with more than 2 million members worldwide.
Researchware is offered as a free download from the Marketscore.com web site.
By downloading the researchware software, consumers grant comScore permission to redirect all their Internet traffic through the company's servers. ComScore then studies the traffic to gain a valuable insight into Internet trends and behavior to develop powerful marketing research data.
In exchange for having your Internet browsing and purchasing activity monitored, Marketscore members have access to free email virus scanning and other benefits.
Marketscore, claims the sensitive data is carefully controlled and never at risk. The company's research data has never been stolen and they regularly submit to outside audits of its privacy procedures.
Antivirus firms and other companies that sell anti spyware removal products aren't quite sure how to treat researchware yet. Some companies treat researchware as spyware, while other companies have categorized it as non threatening trackware.
Marketscore believes one critical distinction between malicious spyware and honest researchware is it's easy to remove Marketscore researchware software from your computer.
They say there is a distinction between other software that is tracking you, popping up ads without your knowledge, and their software that conscientiously obtains consent.
But not everyone is comfortable with researchware yet because it is too new. Privacy advocates worry because no one knows for sure how the researchware marketing data will be used.
They wonder if anyone really knows what they are getting into by trading personal information for no cost virus protection.
With over 2 million members worldwide and growing, researchware has had a good track record so far. But while it has been met favorably by some others are being cautious.
Marketscore is being closely watched by companies that sell anti spyware removal software to determine if researchware is as harmless as the company claims.
