Just a quick tip for tonight.
Looking at those end user license agreements (or EULAs) every time you install a new piece of software can be very time consuming exercise. Of course, EULAs are there for a reason but the fact that they can run into thousands of words in length its not surprising that a lot of people just click “I Agree” without reading them. However, with increasing concerns over privacy of data and particularly personal information over the last few years you may be making an agreement that could see you coming off second best.
However, if you like to get a better idea of what might negatively impact you in a EULA you can use a tool called EULAlyzer from Javacool Software. In simple terms, you point it at the window containing the EULA or copy and paste it into EULAlyzer and the software will scan the EULA for words and phrases of interest that may involve aspects of how your information is used in marketing, the behaviour of the software or the installation of additional third-party software amongst other things.
EULAlyzer Home Screen
Of course, you could probably achieve the same thing by copying and pasting the EULA into Microsoft Word and attempting to search for various words phrases but the folks who have developed EULAlyzer have done the leg work for you. Individual results are grouped into categories including:
- advertising,
- promotional messages,
- third party,
- website addresses,
- events that can occur without notice.
EULAlyzer License Agreement Analysis (Google Chrome)
There is also a paid “Pro” version that will over additional features such as automatic update notifications, free updates for your licensing period and automatic detection and analysis of EULAs when they appear.
Whilst EULAlyzer is a nifty little tool it must be noted that it isn’t a substitute for legal advice or gaining a full comprehension of the entire EULA particularly for commercial entities where terms of use for software can differ from those for personal users. However, it’s great for drawing attention to those areas that may be of potential interest or concern for individuals and companies alike.
EULALyzer is available for Windows 2000 through to Windows 7.
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