Microsoft Annuls Adware Spreader's MVP Status

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October 09, 2006 (4:58 PM EDT)

By Gregg Keizer , TechWeb Technology News

Microsoft has nixed the Most Valuable Professional award given to a developer last week because his software is distributed with known adware, the company said Monday.

Last week, Cyril Paciullo, the creator of Messenger Plus -- an add-on to Microsoft's Windows Live IM client -- announced he'd been given the award, which is granted to people who Microsoft believes make significant contributions to the technology community.

Microsoft acknowledged that Paciullo had been granted MVP status, but Monday a spokesperson said that the company had yanked the award. "His active MVP Award status was revoked as soon as the extent of the connection between his application and spyware was made apparent to the MVP Program," the spokesperson said.

Soon after Paciullo posted a notice on his Messenger Plus Web site that he'd been given the award, several security professionals questioned the move. Chris Boyd, the director of malware research at FaceTime Communications, said "Microsoft is rewarding someone that has an active involvement with one of the most maligned names in PC hijacking." He also called the idea "booberific." The mea culpa from Microsoft used prose that was staid in comparison.

"Microsoft is committed to maintaining the integrity of the MVP Award and conducts a rigorous annual selection process to select the most qualified individuals as MVP Award recipients. Cyril Paciullo was awarded on the basis of his demonstrated technical expertise on the Windows Live platform and his strong contribution to the technical community."

Although Paciullo was not immediately available Monday, in an e-mail he sent to TechWeb on Friday he defended his bundling of Messenger Plus with the LOL adware software. "Many of what [critics] say is completely distorted. [LOL] displays a couple of pop-ups and adds some links on your desktop which you can delete...hardly 'one of the most maligned names in PC hijacking' don't you think?" Paciullo said.

"I know I'm doing nothing wrong," he added. "Apparently Microsoft agrees somehow (at least the Windows Live section). Messenger Plus has been here for more than 5 years and is currently used daily by about 14 million users. I think that only fact speaks for itself."