Enternet Media and ConSpy & Co., an operation that placed  “Search Miracle”  “Miracle Search"  “EM Toolbar"  “EliteBar” and “Elite Toolbar spyware on consumers' computers; has been ordered by The Federal Trade Commission to stop distributing software using fraudulent techniques.

FTC Press Release, September 6, 2006  http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2006/09/enternet.htm

"Under a stipulated final judgment and order, the defendants are permanently prohibited from interfering with a consumer’s computer use, including but not limited to distributing software code that tracks consumers’ Internet activity or collects other personal information, changes their preferred homepage or other browser settings, inserts new advertising toolbars or other frames onto their browsers, installs dialer programs, inserts advertising hyperlinks into third-party Web pages, or installs other advertising software code, file, or content on consumers’ computers."

"At the FTC’s request, a federal judge froze the operation’s assets last fall and ordered it shut down. The settlement requires the defendants to give up $2.045 million of their ill-gotten gains and includes a suspended judgment of $8.5 million for alleged violations of the FTC Act. The Commission vote to approve the settlement was 5-0."

"The FTC’s case was brought with the assistance of the Microsoft Corporation, Webroot Software, Inc., and Google Incorporated."