This is really embarrassing and frustrating.
Last night I woke up to see a few dozen spam emails from a company called idrive addressed to different catchall emails that I use @aviary.com..
Everyone else who works at Aviary was reporting the same thing as well. And what's worse, some Aviary users whom I had corresponded with in the past got spam from idrive too and notified me about it. Even people who had deleted their Aviary accounts.
What apparently happened was solely my fault - not Aviary's - or rather the fault of an iphone contact synchronization service I use called iDrive.
Let me explain:
We use Gmail to manage our personal email. Gmail automatically adds people as Gmail contacts when we email them or get an email from them. So whenever we got an email from anyone it added us as a personal contact within my gmail account and iphone behind the scenes.
At Aviary we try to be very careful and respectful about people's privacy. We delete any personal data in the aviary system when we got an account deletion request.
The one oversight would be personal gmail contacts. I never realized that prior emails with someone would mean they became listed as a contact in my personal gmail account. That oversight is my fault and one that should have been completely inconsequential.
But, here's where things get really bad:
A couple of days ago I bought an iphone 3GS and was transferring all my data to it from my old iphone. As part of that process I bought an app called iDrive Lite in the app store that allowed you to backup your phone contacts to their servers and then resync them so nothing would be lost during the transition between phones.
Apparently this morning they used that data to spam EVERY single one of my contacts that had also synced from Gmail.
There's egg on my face as a result of this and I don't know what to do about it.
I apologize to everyone this affected. I'm deleting my idrive account, am blogging about this awful and illegal practice here, and will notify Apple about this, but since they resorted to something really shady here... I'm not sure what I can do to ensure that they really deleted all my contacts and wont spam ever again. :(
I am really, really sorry to anyone this effected.
I called iDrive's parent company Pro Softnet Corp and their operator kept pushing me to voicemail when I asked to be transferred to a supervisor. I have a feeling I'm not the first to call in and complain.
iDrive, shame on you. I hope this gets picked up by more people as a warning that nobody should ever, ever use them.
Update: IDrive's CEO emailed me and apologized. He posted a blog post that said they won't do this kind of thing anymore.
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Posted by Victor Costan on 2009-07-08 16:54:14
I posted a 1-star review on the App Store pointing to this article. Everyone else who is offended by this behavior should do the same.
Posted by Tyler Francis on 2009-07-08 20:12:54
That sucks, bro. If you're not wanting to use a third party, you can sync your contact with Gmail using an exchange server on Google's side. http://www.google.com/mobile/products/sync.html#p=apple Works great, automatically syncs in the background, and I've been using it for awhile now.
Posted by Livkill on 2009-07-09 06:51:40
This really sucks.Thanks for the really useful info.I have an iphone too.I'l keep away from this app.Thanks again.
Posted by on 2009-07-09 08:52:34
I have an iPod touch with 3.0, and I know you can use google as a mobile backup to sync contacts, email, and calendar dates. I already have enough spam as it is. Don't like more.
Posted by Blaze on 2009-07-09 09:59:44
Ok, that's a funny story. I think the best part of this whole site is the "human" feel to it. Funny mistakes like these are just part of the atmosphere.
Posted by Rory Marinich on 2009-07-09 10:43:17
It's a shame how low developers will sink to get a handful of hits. On the Internet, integrity in design is shockingly rare. Writing a detailed apology for something another company did and explaining how it happened, on the other hand, is very welcome.
Posted by Dave on 2009-07-09 14:14:00
Report this to Apple directly. This app should not be available and they will pull it.
Posted by Black Bellamy on 2009-07-09 14:22:38
So just wondering, did you agree to this in the terms when you clicked ACCEPT or YES or whatever when you installed the app? You're saying it's "illegal" but if you gave them permission it's not really so, is it?
Posted by Firefly on 2009-07-09 14:36:08
You really want action? Find out who hosts their web servers and email. Start filing complaints to them directly. There are laws against spamming. No web hosting company with brains wants to have to worry about getting mixed up in potential legal action for spamming. While the company doing the spamming might be gone tomorrow the company doing the hosting is there for the long term and doesn't need legal issues. Spamming is illegal. When you send out the sorry you got spammed note add in how they can thank the spammer and the spammer's hosting company. Suggest sample notes be creative. If a company is driving you nuts at least be polite enough to return the favor. The shunt you to voice mail leave a long rambling message. Keep doing it until the voice mail is full. See where I'm going? They act stupid then out stupid them. Remember creativity counts here. :)
Posted by IDrive Support on 2009-07-09 15:03:04
Avi, We apologize for the referral emails sent out. It was sent out for a limited number of user cases, and it has been stopped. However, we do indicate during IDrive Lite signup process that referral emails may be sent out. In any case, we have stopped this process, and we apologize for the same. IDrive Lite support
Posted by David on 2009-07-09 17:24:52
iDrive Support - you folks must be idiots. It's one thing to sent Avi promotional material to him, as he was signing up. Quite different to harvest someone contact list and spam it. "Limited number of user cases"?? Whose brainchild is that? It has been stopped? Too late for me, since I know that you are willing to consider MY DATA to be your treasure trove.
Posted by Flavia on 2009-07-09 18:45:22
I'm sorry this had to happen. Good luck getting some justice!
Posted by tf on 2009-07-10 00:44:30
I will never use iDrive or any other conmpany that pulls stunts like this. iDrive ought to be sued
Posted by Davis on 2009-07-11 01:56:54
Hey, I found their contact on the California BBB website, I say keep start using their address for junk mail, or use their phone number on a craigslist personals ad. -http://www.la.bbb.org/BusinessReport.aspx?CompanyID=13180909
Posted by mark gunnion on 2009-07-20 15:53:50
How do I REMOVE Aviary from my browser toolbar? markgunnion@gmail.com
Posted by George "Loki" Williams on 2009-08-06 12:38:01
A bad situation, and one you rose to admirably. Part of what I do is provide instruction on the use of social media and this post is a text book case of how to do it right. Own up, apologize, explain (without excuses) and fix it. An honest and human response like this is exactly what is required in the online world, ten points for getting it right!
Posted by George "Loki" Williams on 2009-08-06 12:38:01
A bad situation, and one you rose to admirably. Part of what I do is provide instruction on the use of social media and this post is a text book case of how to do it right. Own up, apologize, explain (without excuses) and fix it. An honest and human response like this is exactly what is required in the online world, ten points for getting it right!
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I was just thinking about Apparently this morning they used that data and you've really helped out. Thanks!
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An honest and human response like this is exactly what is required in the online world, ten points for getting it right!
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Posted by dezmembrari auto on 2010-02-26 03:02:48
Maby some of them isnt so bad. All webmasters are spammers. But are good people to. They tried to up their bussines. That is all.
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Posted by orpheus on 2009-07-08 12:04:38
Avi, it happens. you could not know that they would do that. yes, we should all be more careful, but still this is a bit beyond what is expected. oh and dropbox is better ;-) -j