Internet giant Lycos has withdrawn its controversial "Make love not spam" application, after a string of negative criticism from users and Web experts.
Visitors to the Web site 
were presented Friday with a graphic urging them to "stay tuned," until they can offer an alternative.
Previously they could download the application and use it to send traffic to Web sites operated by spammers.
A Lycos spokesperson explained that the screen saver had been temporarily pulled while the company deals with hosting and management issues.
He said it had been downloaded by over 100,000 users, and added it was "too early to say" when it would be made available again.
Steve Linford, director of non-profit anti-spam organization Spamhaus, explains, "You can't break into a thief's house just because he breaks into yours. We don't support this or recommend this practice. Directing traffic is part of the degradation of the Internet we are trying to stop."
© 2004 World Entertainment News Network. All rights reserved.
© 2004 ECT News Network. All rights reserved.
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