BleepingComputer is a popular website for software utilities such as ComboFix and forums to assist with virus removal. Following a post to their forums where SpyHunter was recommended against, the company behind the software, Engima Software Group USA, LLC, filed suit against BleepingComputer.
On February 1st, BleepingComputer posted an announcement to the community asking for assistance with their defense of the suit.
Enigma Software doesn’t like this post and instead of publicly defending their product, they are trying to bully us into censoring it.
We are asking for your help to defend the suit. The hallmark of a SLAPP suit, which is what we think this is, is to file a frivolous claim to try and silence your opponent. It is true, “freedom isn’t free”. We can’t afford to fight on our own. But you can help us crowd fund our defense.
BleepingComputer is accepting donations through GoFundMe, PayPal, and Bitcoin. They are seeking to raise $100,000 for the defense and any unused funds will be donated to the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF).
BleepingComputer filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit and the plaintiffs have chosen to respond with an amended complaint, due March 18th. Last week, BleepingComputer shared that they have already raised $72,000 towards the defense. Among those contributions, Malwarebytes CEO Marcin Kleczynski donated $5,000 to the cause.
If BleepingComputer does not get the help we need and we lose this battle, it will only embolden Enigma Software to try to silence other bloggers, IT technicians, or computer security enthusiasts.