Once installed on users' PCs, 180 software performs four main functions:
1. 180 transmits to its servers information about the web sites that users visit. Each transmission bears a domain name (or other trigger condition), as well as a unique user ID that lets 180 build profiles of users' online activities.
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2. 180 shows popup ads, which generally cover substantially all of the targeted web sites. In my testing, 180 typically covers web sites with the sites of their competitors.
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3. 180 shows duplicate copies of merchants' sites, where the second copy has been reached via an affiliate link. As a result, merchants pay commissions to 180 (and its advertisers) on the resulting purchases.
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4. 180 opens hidden windows with invisible copies of merchants' sites, where the invisible sites are reached via affiliate links. As a result, merchants pay commissions to 180 (and its advertisers) on the purchases of affected users. Since 180's activities are silent and (to a user watching the computer's screen) invisible, this behavior is particularly difficult to detect.
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