Is The “Destroy Internet Explorer Campaign” Ethical?

Jimmy Daniels of RealTechNews writes:

A new Web site, called Explorer Destroyer, has decided to try to destroy the use of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, and it’s using Google to help fund it, believe it or not. You download their script, install it on your website, and you have three different options to promote it to your users. Using a download link on your page, a splash page on which users are encouraged to download Firefox or the dead serious version that will not allow Internet Explorer users access to your site until they install and use Firefox.

The links to Firefox that they are using are available from the Google AdSense program, they will pay you $1 dollar for everyone who downloads the Firefox browser with the Google toolbar installed. This is how they are encouraging website owners to install their script, they say on their site that you can make some serious money if your user base is mostly IE users, and they are even going to put up links to sites who have dropped their IE user base below 50%.

You already want people to switch to Firefox. Now’s the time to get serious about it. Google is paying $1 for each new Firefox user you refer.

This is pretty amazing. Now you can advance your ideals, save people from popups and spyware hell, and make some serious money. Millions of people have heard about Firefox and are ready to switch-all they need is a friendly push.

That’s where these scripts come in. They’re specially formulated to give just the right push, maximizing souls-saved and dollars-for-you.

If most of your users use Internet Explorer, then you need Explorer Destroyer more than anyone. Sites with a lot of Internet Explorer users will also make the most money from Google Firefox referral fees, since you have more people to convert.

If most of your users don’t use Internet Explorer, then Explorer Destroyer is a perfect way to convince the rest of you users to switch. Most of your readers will never even notice it’s there and you’ll be doing a good deed at the same time. [Source: Explorer Destroyer via the Inquirer]

We Say: I predict thousands of bloggers picking up this script and using it to make some money and a statement at the same time. Wonder what Microsoft’s and Google’s reaction will be!

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