The developer, Dave Plummer, left Microsoft to develop and distribute malware and scams in the 90s. See previous thread at [1].

Nowadays he spreads misinformation disguised as war stories from his time at Microsoft.

[1]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39813625

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JoeDaDude 6 hours ago | parent | next [-]

What about his contributions to human civilization? ;)

He got a world record score on the Tempest arcade game [1], then developed an AI which beat his own record[2]. His biggest failure was, that after rebuilding TEMPEST from arcade machine ROMS, he added levels to the game but never made them public [3].

[1]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuSMCWu02hA

[2]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdbpoDjIvPk

[3]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjsVSEbXDOM

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Keyframe 4 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Dave Cutler was a guest in his garage and it was a great episode. That lands some gravity at least?

	▲	whobre 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Also Raymond Chen

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silisili 3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

It's frustrating, because he does do some cool things. But I had to quit following him because of his constant yarning about how he grew up not rich and made millions from Microsoft, so young people now are stupid and lazy.

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skinfaxi 5 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

My how the overton window has moved. Some of violative conduct is standard practice now.

> When consumers prepared to purchase a product, additional services and products including a $9.95 back-up disc and $4.95 ‘optional extended service’ plan appeared on the check-out form. The form also listed “one free year of updates” – selected by default – but the company was then authorized to automatically charge a consumer’s credit card at the end of the year unless the buyer cancels the update plan.

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drdexebtjl 4 hours ago | parent [-]

But also things that are absolutely not okay:

> Inducing computer users to install software by misrepresenting that the user's computer is at risk for crashes or privacy and security invasions.

> Marketing its InternetShield software by means of a “free scan.”

> Using “buttons” in its advertisements that do not function as the user would expect them. For example, the X found in the corner of a window is normally associated with closing the window and should not open another ad. Installing software on a user’s computer that causes multiple pop-up advertisements when the user tries to close out of advertisements.

> Failing to provide a functional uninstall option for removing all software files.

> Failing to obtain a consumer’s explicit consent to purchase a product or a service.

	▲	skinfaxi 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Yes I thought I accounted for that with my use of "some". I wasn't intending to downplay anything.

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rvz 7 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Do you have any evidence of these (unsubstantiated) claims against him?

	▲	drdexebtjl 6 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Edited with previous threads linking court documents.

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TiredOfLife 6 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

He also lied about his contributions to Start menu