BonziBuddy - The Internet Spyware That Plagued Windows (Demonstration)

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BonziBuddy (or "Bonzi Buddy") was a piece of internet spyware masquerading as a virtual assistant. It was created by Bonzi Software, a company that was once one of the most visited sites on the web but, through subsequent events, ended up meeting its massive downfall.

Depending on your age, your earliest memories of using a computer probably vary. Some of you might remember using the Apple IIc or watching Flash Animations, but I am sure that, for some of you watching this, your earliest memories are of this little guy (SHOW). It was in 1999 when the internet became home to this new computer program: BonziBuddy. Innocent looking enough, but what you probably didn’t know was that this cute virtual assistant was, at one point, responsible for more than $1 billion in punitive damages, but how?
Just like many pieces of malware and internet spyware, the software attracted many people with its seemingly useful features, with all its malevolent doings hidden within. It was designed to assist users during a time where mass-use and understanding of the internet was quite new, but in reality, the program was collecting user data for advertising purposes as well as contaminating Windows with irritating features and misleading system information. BonziBuddy was a wolf in sheep’s clothing, or…purple gorilla clothing. But how was such a strange program able to do all of this? What is the story that gave BonziBuddy the legacy that it has today?
The events of this tale date all the way back to the mid 1990s, particularly during the prominence of Windows 95. Microsoft had gained tremendous success with its new operating system, marketing the product in a way that could appeal to the masses. Computers were no longer part of some niche community or only for businesses. Now, your grandmother could use a computer. When it came to design methodology, Microsoft made the bold move of making their target audience everyone. But now, it was time for them to make using the computer even easier, and they needed to figure out how. The answer was within their ambitious release of Office 97. Their approach with this program was strongly influenced by a research project from Stanford University conducted by Clifford Nass and Byron Reeves, theorizing that people subconsciously treat computers like human beings. Microsoft had to figure out a way to capitalize off this, and that is exactly what they did, with Introducing Office Assistant. Clippy was the answer to all your problems. Whether you have heard about it in retrospect or experienced it yourself, obviously this didn’t work. It seems that Microsoft took this research publication a little too literally. Clippy was universally hated and deemed way too distracting. It took a while for Microsoft to get the hint, and Clippy was ultimately removed from future Office versions in 2003, being mostly ignored during that stretch of time. Microsoft had been working on assistant technology for quite some time before Office 97, with Microsoft Bob for Windows 3.1, and its Microsoft Agent characters such as Peedy the parrot and Genie, sort of prototypes of Clippy.
What does this all have to do with BonziBuddy? Microsoft may have failed with Office Assistant, but other companies thought the idea still had potential and that they could do better. A couple years prior to Windows 95 was the formation of Bonzi software, created by brothers Joe and Jay Bonzi. Bonzi Software’s existence was the perfect concoction of timing and pretty brilliant marketing. They had popped up during a time where people didn’t really understand the internet, or know what direction it was going in. Bonzi Software didn’t really need a whole lot of ingenuity to become somewhat successful. What helped them take off was their voice-email application. Rather than sending text over email, you could send a voice recording of yourself! This might not seem very practical considering that you could just call somebody on the phone using the exact same phone line you use to get online, but it worked! This allowed them to create some other programs that would enhance your internet speed as well as protect your PC from potential security breaches.
In reality, they really didn't do anything other than basic system changes. By the time Clippy was popular, Bonzi Software had released the program all of you have been waiting for: BonziBuddy.

Google +: just kidding.

Beauty Flow by Kevin MacLeod

A special thanks to these patrons:
- Swingadee
- Ciara Atkinson
- Winolotonolo
- Tommy Sharp
- Sl0rg
- Hannah Marsh

ENJOY THE PROGRAM.
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Yes, this is the “Beatles” channel. 😎 I may also just upload other things that interest me as well. The format and content is very, 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁. It may not be what you are used to from me and it may be outside your comfort zone, so just a heads up on that. Although, I will also be making 𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀 in the format that you all are already familiar with. Nonetheless, I hope to see you over there! :)

As always,
NationSquid

nationsquid
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I would feel so betrayed if this cute mascot character ruined my computer

tjofcarolina
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I love how tracking your information for advertisements used to be considered a virus....

calvingrieff
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Imagine being a Bonzi's best friend as a kid and then out of nowhere he just stabbed you in the back

JinggaSonaArchives
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I remember having to tell my grandmother that bonzibuddy was a virus and we had to delete/uninstall it, she didn’t care that it slowed her computer, she liked the purple gorilla.

TheBugkillah
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Bonzi was the OG of stealing data before Facebook and Google became so popular lol

theo
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Funny how 30 years ago, A program collecting data was considered malware while today its perfectly fine.

DoomGuyPictures
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"Spyware? Collecting my data and selling it? Invading *my* privacy for profit? The 90s must've been a scary time to be an internet user. Well, I should get off of YouTube. I've got homework to finish in Google Docs, on my chrome browser, on this chromebook that has been generously provided to me by my high school."

da_pikmin_coder
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I love how many adults back then would freak out over Bonzi buddy and were vehemently against it and are the reason it died. Now they’re even older giving away more information away from free to like Facebook daily

Forbiddensirenz
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he also would ask you to buy "bananas" for him through the store and if you said no would pout and freeze up your computer. weird stuff. great childhood memories of accidently making bonzi mad.

dorothycosentino
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I refuse to ignore the “Wonkas Willy” word document on his desktop

robloxperson
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Bonzi: "WeLl HeLlO tHeRe"

Squid: (very politely) "ᴴᵉˡˡᵒ"

lyleslabyrinth
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The fact this cleverly disguised piece of malware is still entertaining after all these years is a real tribute to the Bonzi bros

chegadesuade
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I remember my Dad, who worked as a computer consultant at the time, was so pissed at 8 year old me for downloading this on the family computer. I tried to convince him Bonzi wouldn't get in the way and wouldn't annoy anyone else other than me, the pop-ups began. I was a dumb little kid who had no idea how the internet worked.

bananajoe
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"Bonzibuddy why is my computer getting so many viruses!"

Bonzibuddy: *My goal are beyond your understanding*

FlashMMA
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I only had good memories of clippy, realizing that it was actually hated is an odd feeling.

burnt
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This guy put in the effort to customizing the captions. Whoever does that automatically earns my respect.

ParkerLaCore-rhyt
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In 10 years' time we'll be running the same story, except with Siri, Cortana and Alexa.

Account
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As a wise Bonzi once said:

E X P A N D D O N G

lilasophie
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"dad what is technology ?"
" its magic joel, its magic"
"Ever since that day lil joel never be the same"

pixelgamming