New AOL software termed "badware" according to nonprofit watchdog group

AOL, while making huge strides to change itself into a next-generation media company, must pay attention to details carefully these days. Sure, the company acted swiftly in the light of customer data being released accidentally on the web, giving the company credibility on acting quickly -- an expectation that the net-connected world requires.

AOL is making a huge change in its business model, as it recently announced that it would give away its services for free (no more $23.90 monthly bills) and make up the difference in advertising revenue. This was a pretty big bet -- but a needed one. AOL missed the boat completely by not investing in broadband Internet access until it was too late and the partnerships it did form fell on deaf customer ears. As a result, the company has been losing millions of dial-up Internet customers every year, taking revenues and profits away from the bottom line of Time Warner, AOL's parent company.

So, has AOL's new "free access" software ready for prime-time? StopBadware.org said Monday that it put the free version of AOL 9.0 on its "Badware Watch List" because it is bundled with several software programs -- including several media players, an AOL browser toolbar and an AOL "Deskbar" -- that are installed without proper disclosure or consent of users.

Now, all in all, this software is not malware or spyware -- but without disclosing (easy to find, as well) that all this extra baggage would be installed as well as the newer AOL software, another hiccup has occurred that AOL could have avoided if someone was awake at the switch. In this case, no publicity (proper disclosure) would have been better than negative publicity (hard-to-find disclosures). AOL -- you're making great progress, but smaller details can sometimes come back to haunt you, as in this case.