Is it actually legal for companies to automatically install programmes and addware on our PC's, phones etc.?

[RATTER15]

For a few days I have been getting lots of notifications on my smart phone advising me that there are lots of faults on the battery of my phone and that I need to install the advertised fixes to prevent my battery going flat so quickly. As it happened my battery was going flat remarkably fast, a bit strange I thought!!

Then coincidently I had my phone on the desk next to me with the screen turned off, all of a sudden the screen came on, every time I turned it off it came back on after about a minute. That's why my battery was draining. I found some software that removed the notification warnings and with that the battery maintained a normal battery time of about two days. How can these companies be permitted to do this and if they are not allowed to do it why isn't something done!!

Im sure we have all had spyware or adware problems at some point, adds etc that we have not asked for, can law not control this type of scam?

[erin-x]

I've had something like this as well... How did you remove it?

[RATTER15]

erin, I used "ad Network Detector" on my Android. Carakeel made the mistake of clicking on the battery notification and it said she has signed up to paying £3.75 a month. She then had to send a "STOP" message to prevent this happening, doing this has probably given the company her telephone number, leaving her open to receiving loads more messages.

[Hopkirk]

I am so glad I only have a basic mobile.

You have just convinced me not to consider going down the smart phone route.

[RATTER15]

Smart phones are brilliant, you just need to be on the ball, the same happens to PCs, these problems are usually sorted with no major problems, just an inconvenience.

[hc4361]

Usually this carp is installed by the user not ticking the 'do not install' box when they download software or utility that wants to add a toolbar or other rubbish alongside the legitimate download.

You have to be so careful and look very hard for those little boxes - and read the blurb. Some need you to tick the box to install, others need you to tick the box not to install.

Very, very annoying.

[RATTER15]

hc4361, I agree that is the case in some situations but not all.

The law really needs to be tightened up, people are being deliberately tricked into installing this rubbish and it is sometimes pornographic in nature.

[ChuckFickens]

How would any law in the UK stop a Chinese site/program/app or whatever doing anything?

[RATTER15]

Chuck, I understand that but aren't some of these companies uk based?