Editing AOL (section)

=== Software ===
In 2000, AOL was served with an $8&nbsp;billion lawsuit alleging that its AOL 5.0 software caused significant difficulties for users attempting to use third-party Internet service providers. The lawsuit sought damages of up to $1000 for each user that had downloaded the software cited at the time of the lawsuit. AOL later agreed to a settlement of $15&nbsp;million, without admission of wrongdoing.<ref>[http://www.gardencitygroup.com/cases/pdf/AOL/AOLNotice.pdf Gardencitygroup.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110207121834/http://www.gardencitygroup.com/cases/pdf/AOL/AOLNotice.pdf |date=February 7, 2011 }} (PDF). Retrieved on July 8, 2011.</ref> The AOL software then was given a feature called AOL Dialer, or AOL Connect on {{nowrap|[[macOS|Mac OS X]]}}. This feature allowed users to connect to the ISP without running the full interface. This allowed users to use only the applications they wish to use, especially if they do not favor the AOL Browser.

AOL 9.0 was once identified by [[Stopbadware]] as being ''under investigation''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stopbadware.org |url=http://stopbadware.org/reports/reportdisplay?reportname=aol082706 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070220101412/http://stopbadware.org/reports/reportdisplay?reportname=aol082706 |archive-date=February 20, 2007}}</ref> for installing additional software without disclosure, and modifying browser preferences, toolbars, and icons. However, as of the release of AOL 9.0 VR (Vista Ready) on January 26, 2007, it was no longer considered badware due to changes AOL made in the software.<ref>[http://stopbadware.org/reports/reportdisplay?reportname=aol90vr StopBadware.org] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729205843/http://stopbadware.org/reports/reportdisplay?reportname=aol90vr |date=July 29, 2012}}. StopBadware.org (January 26, 2007). Retrieved on July 8, 2011.</ref>