Are “MyFunCards” Safe?

Vicky wants to know if MyFunCards is safe
I wonder if you could tell me anything about this website: MyFunCards. I was searching for free e-cards when I found this site.  I noticed that I have to download a search toolbar in order to use the free cards.  Is it safe?  Thanks. Vicky.

Our answer
We selected your question not so we could bash one of our favorite companies to bash but to illustrate how companies who justifiably earn really bad reputations will continue to flourish in spite of it.

MyFunCards is just another name for FunWebProducts (AKA SmileyCentral). FunWebProducts, in a continued effort get their questionable software installed on personal computers has registered literally dozens (perhaps hundreds) of domain names. The FunWebProducts adware/hijacker bundle contains twenty or so programs, of which MyFunCards is part. Among other parts are SmileyCentral, MyEmailStationery, MyEmailSignatures, CursorMania, WebFetti, and others. Each of these “parts” of the FunWebProducts bundle has its own Web site and domain name. But when you download one of them you usually get all twenty or so questionable, computer-clogging products. They have more tricks up their sleeves and more come-ons than a snake oil salesman.

The real catch is that all of these programs require the installation of the search toolbar which goes by various names depending on what day it is. It has been called MyWebSearch, MySearch, MyTotalSearch and many other variants. But, it is the same program. The reason why you must install this search toolbar in order to use the “free” e-cards (or the other so-called “free” components of FunWebProducts) is because the search bar pays for the other programs.

The search bar is a hijacker. It can hijack your browser home page and change it to one of FunWebProducts choosing. It can hijack your preferred search engine by injecting ads (which appear to be search results) at the top of the legitimate search results. It is nothing but a thinly veiled attempt get you to click on the ad that appears to be a relevant search result even if it is a mistake on your part. Why? Because every time you are tricked into clicking one of these, FunWebProducts gets paid. Not only do they get paid for tricking you into clicking advertisements, some of the software included in this bundle is adware – for instance: SmileyCentral.

The search bar tracks what you are searching for and displays ads related to your search terms. They collect, collate, and store data about you and claim they don’t collect your personal data. But they do. They collect your IP address and assign you an “anonymous” user ID. Your user data and IP address are stored together. You can be personally identified by this data despite their claims that you are anonymous. If you don’t believe this, read the news. Many people have been prosecuted for downloading copyrighted music. And they way they are caught is by IP address. It leads right back to you.

We could go on and on and on about the sly chicanery used by FunWebProducts to generate huge profits from people’s personal computers. Suffice it to say that FunWebProducts is detected and removed by almost all good anti-spyware software. That should tell you something.

Finally, a good piece of information all of you can take away from this answer is this: Anytime you see freeware and it “requires” you to install some sort of toolbar in order to get it you need to be very suspicious. True freeware does not require you to install a toolbar or bundle of software in order to use it.

You can read more about FunWebProducts by reading this article we wrote previously. It gives more detail on how FunWebProducts tricks users and how it works. If you’re interested in learning more see this page or read this “rant” – or this one.

FunWebProducts is an IAC company. IAC is a billion dollar, publicly traded corporation. Apparently FunWebProducts earns such huge profits, IAC is willing to accept a tarnished reputation. This is a profit-driven world, isn’t it?

Other IAC properties include “MyWay.com” “Ask.com” (formerly “AskJeeves”) and “IWon.com”. Keep this in mind when you’re browsing the Web.