OPTA Hits DollarRevenue With $1.4M Fine

THE HAGUE — The Dutch telecommunications regulator OPTA has fined three companies and two individuals connected to the DollarRevenue adware program $1.4 million, marking the first time that OPTA has imposed fines on distributors of unsolicited software.

According to OPTA, three companies operated together under the name DollarRevenue, through which 450 million program files were “illegally placed on 22 million computers.”

While the companies and individuals associated with DollarRevenue have denied doing anything unlawful, OPTA alleged that the operators of DollarRevenue “sought contact with foreign criminal botnet administrators, instructed their affiliates to provide Internet users with incomplete information or none at all, used pseudonyms, developed software of such a nature that it circumvented spyware filters and, for example, ignored complaints which they received from advertisers about their methods.”

“Hundreds of complaints appeared on the Internet about DollarRevenue software,” OPTA said in a press release. “They mentioned that people did not know how the software came to be on their computer nor how they should remove it. This is because the software did not include an uninstall function and could only be removed with expert assistance.”

The DollarRevenue program, which operated between October 2005 and November 2006, paid affiliates on a per-install basis, reportedly paying 15 cents per install in European countries and 25 cents per install in the U.S.

As is the case with many forms of adware and spyware, the DollarRevenue software served pop-up ads, on which the company sold advertising space to clients from a wide variety of Internet industry sectors, including adult entertainment and gambling websites.

According to OPTA, DollarRevenue was among the top 10 international distributors of spyware, and made more than $1 million just from operating a botnet that distributed their software in surreptitious fashion.

Although the company’s earnings easily exceeded the amount of the fine from OPTA, OPTA officials said the fine was appropriate and significant.

“Part of those funds [made by DollarRevenue] have been spent on day-to-day operations,” said Daan Molenaar, lead investigator for OPTA. “Besides, individual fines of several hundred thousand euros are unusually high and not very common.”

Molenaar said that DollarRevenue’s advertising clients, which included major companies like Hewlett-Packard, likely were unaware of the company’s illicit marketing and distribution methods.

“Legitimate firms typically end up on bad services through intermediaries,” Molenaar said.

OPTA has not released the names of the companies or individuals involved, pending the outcome of an objection to the fine.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Anissa Kate, Jordan Starr Top AEBN for Q2 of 2025

AEBN has published its top-selling stars for the second quarter of 2025, with Anissa Kate landing atop the leaderboard for straight theaters and Jordan Starr heading up the gay rankings.

AEBN Reveals Eva Maxim as Top Trans Star for Q2 of 2025

AEBN has published its top trans stars list for the second quarter of 2025, with Eva Maxim landing atop the leaderboard.

France Reinstates Age Verification Rule for EU Sites

France’s highest court, the Council of State, on Tuesday reinstated age verification rules for EU-based sites under the country’s Security and Regulation of the Digital Space (SREN) law, ruling in favor of the French government and against Hammy Media.

Whisper Fans Joins Pineapple Support as Supporter-Level Sponsor

Whisper Fans has joined the ranks of over 70 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

Utherverse Launches 'Red Light Center' Virtual World

Virtual reality and metaverse technology company Utherverse has launched its new virtual world, RedLightCenter.io.

European Commission Approves AV Guidelines, Unveils Prototype App

The European Commission on Monday released its final, approved guidelines for protecting minors online under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) and made public a “white label” age verification app intended to help sites and platforms comply with age verification rules under the DSA.

New Membership Site 'Sluts Corner' Launches

R18 Entertainment has launched a new membership site, SlutsCorner.com.

Roxie Rae Relaunches Site Through XSiteAbility

Roxie Rae has relaunched her site through XSiteAbility.

Show More