Software Reads EULAs (So You Don't Have To)
Hello again, Fred! A recent article entitled "X1 Search Utility Phones Home" from the 2006-10-16 edition prompted me to write in about "EULAlyzer". I searched back-issues and couldn't find a reference to the program although I was sure that you did cover it a few months back.
For those of your readers who aren't familiar with EULAlyzer, it is a nifty little program (both free and Pro) that can analyze the EULA (End User License Agreement) that most of us tend to skip reading when installing software, specifically adware and spyware masquerading as freeware.
In the words of the EULAlyzer author, "it can be dangerous not to read license agreements" and goes on to say that:
"License agreements can provide information about the intentions of software, and other bundled components. Have you ever installed a program, only to have your desktop taken over by advertising? It may have been noted in the license agreement that you simply clicked past. If you aren't reading the license agreements, you have no idea what you could be agreeing to."
Now, EULAlyzer is not as popular as its better-known older sibling "SpywareBlaster", but EULAlyzer is coming on its first anniversary and deserves a worthy mention in your column! Anyone interested in EULAlyzer can download it at: http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/eulalyzer.html
On a separate note, Fred, I think your decision to include extra content over the last few editions to make up for your unforeseen *extended* absence over the summer was a very professional one. Also, the addition of Mike Elgan as a contributor to the newsletter was certainly "icing on the cake" (welcome, Mike!). In my opinion, it is actions like these that continue to make the LangaList the premier IT newsletter on the Internet. Thank-you for such a wonderful resource! Sincerely, ---Greg Rajewski
Thanks, Greg. EULAlyzer is a better alternative to
simply ignoring EULAs, as many users do. It's not perfect. Like a grammar
checker, it can "read" but can't "understand" English (or what passes for
English in a typical software EULA). Instead, EULAlyzer looks for words and
phrases that its creators know to be associated with less-than-user-friendly
terms and conditions, then flags them for your review.
EULAlyzer is free. The upgrade, EULAlyzer Pro, costs $19.95 for a one-year
license, and adds a feature called "EULA-Watch," which automatically pops up an
analysis of EULAs whenever you install software.
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