All this drama about TMM’s (Too Much Media) program NATS and its subsequent acquisition of SegPay has left me feeling rather disappointed. Now the other major player in affiliate program software, has decided that it’s users shall no longer be able to bill through SegPay. (see story here)

Seems that many are bored this holiday season. On the one side you have those proclaiming the program NATS, and how the issue really isn’t all that serious. Then you have the other side proclaiming the end of the entire Industry, because surfers will fail to trust their information for buying membership sites, because of this issue.

Myself, I believe the theft of email addresses is serious, but certainly not the end of the Industry either. However the biggest issue I have is in the response by my fellow webmasters who use this program. The response to their Affiliates has been tepid at best, if not downright non existent.

And that is more disturbing than any theft of email addy’s in my book. There is a constant assault on any number of databases for the contents. Whether it is the 27 million odd personal details of Veterans that got lost, the hundreds of thousands of files of those seeking Citizenship, to the hacking of the TMM Server for emails and logins. It is out there, but what is missing in this case, and most others, is NOTIFICATION to the Affected Parties.

Rumor says one of the companies I do business with had their information taken. They are a reputed sponsor, and yet I have received no notice of such a loss. There is no email to suggest I visit their site, check my personal details, change my password or email address, and that is just WRONG.

Any sponsor using NATS should be in IMMEDIATE CONTACT with ALL of its affiliates, to either tell them there is nothing to worry about, or detail what they have done to PROTECT ME. That to me, seems just smart business sense, and should be due to all Affiliates. It is THAT LACK OF CARE that has me more worried that my email address might be compromised.

I have noticed an increase in SPAM over the last while, but I chalk it up to the holidays, though it very well might not be that. However, WITHOUT PROOF, I am certainly not going to run around saying it is because a NATS account was violated. I have no evidence of such, nor would anyone else really. That goes for the possible IDENTITY THEFT ISSUE that has been raised. There is just no way of knowing, YET.

And that is why SPONSORS SHOULD BE TALKING TO AFFILIATES NOW. Least now we could be PROACTIVE IN PROTECTING OURSELVES before it is too late. And that unwillingness bothers me, as it shows a lack of ETHICS. Least in my view.

Posted on December 30th, 2007 by Gaystoryman
Filed under: Industry News