Online travel loves adware?

You may already have made up your mind about adware – those annoying applications you download (often without knowing it) that send advertising messages to your computer.

Well, now the online travel industry has made up its mind, too.

In a document released just this morning, the industry’s trade group, the Interactive Travel Services Association (ITSA) says it likes adware. Under certain circumstances.

Companies should receive consent from users before downloading the programs, for example. And the applications must be easy to uninstall.

On the flip side, the industry does not like spyware, the applications that download to your computer without your consent and transmit all kinds of personal information to outside parties. (That was a no-brainer.)

But is there any difference between adware and spyware? In the minds of most consumers, the answer is: no.

End-users carelessly accept an application’s terms and conditions when they are trying to move from point “A” to point “B” online. Few pay attention to the fine print. And by the time they know something mischievous is installed on their PC, it is often too late.

ITSA should have categorically rejected the use of all spyware and and adware. Customers hate both, and draw virtually no distinction.

So why is ITSA taking this stand now? Maybe some of its members, which include the major online agencies, are planning to introduce new adware initiatives (if so, I would strongly recommend reconsidering).

Then again, maybe it is the recent reports of companies that are involved in adware schemes that got their attention.

Either way, adware is bad. No matter how good the intentions are behind it.

Christopher Elliott is the author of Scammed: How to Save Your Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals. Critics have called it “eye-opening” and “inspiring” — it’ll “grab your attention and won’t let go.” Order your copy now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or iTunes.

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