AIM Adds Robots Group To Your List

[MrEggsalad]

Ok, I fire up Trillian (with AIM) and I get an AIM System Message making me think at first "Ok...I'm signed on at 2 locations or something", but no. I get this message:

"[04:33] AOL System Msg: A new group has been added to your buddy list. This group contains bots, screen names that provide automated responses. To find out more about bots, goto http://aimtoday.aol.com/aimbots

[04:33] AOL System Msg: We've added the following bots to the bots group on your buddy list: moviefone, shoppingbuddy. To find out more about bots, go to http://aimtoday.aol.com/aimbots"

Then I went and checked my buddy list and I'll be darned...they did. I just have one question...WHY? I just went and got rid of these robots because they were taking up space. I think they are trying to get you to use the AIM Robots and their browser for everything. I mean, with these robots (if you use more than what they put on) you can get weather, movie times, stocks...the list goes on and on. However, WHY would they go change MY contact list? To try to get me away from using the actual sites, that's why.

[DrBroccoli]

I think that is horrible, that is pushing advertising/products too far, IMO. I think adding the Robots is gone too far, maybe a nice little message saying they are there, but adding them for you. That sound like something spyware would do, not saying that they are, I am just comparing the two. Just becuase the company AOL is going under and needs to be bought buy a big time company doesn't give them the excuse to invade their users contact lists with spam as a futile attempt to bring life back to their now-dieing products.

[talatta]

And when you delete them, a nice little message comes up saying you've deleted them and you can do this to get them back. NO, I DON'T WANT THEM.

[Spike]

Ah, darn, I thought Trillian might not (for some odd reason) allow AIM to do that, but, lo and behold, it even gave me those evil messages after I deleted them. I'm really starting to like the sound of Windows Live Messenger right about now.

[kyle_baker]

...way too far...thats what i think, i just blocked them both and removed them, thats definitly not right that they can just add to your contacts list at their own free will.

[aldenbaker]

I have realized this morning that deleting the bots in the Trillian client is a temporary solution. Upon launching Trillian this morning, the bots have been added to each of my groups again.

[gossipingrae]

this happened to me just now, and i blocked them and removed the group from my list. i came to BBB quick to see if i could find something. lo and behold, i did.

is this just a robot thing or is it actually some kind of virus-thingy?

[MrEggsalad]

It is actually an AOL thing, since it's happened to EVERYONE. It's happened to more people more times then some others, but yeah. It's AOL's attempt again.