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'''Conduit''' is a software developer of [[browser hijacking|browser hijackers]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://malwaretips.com/blogs/remove-conduit-apps-search-and-toolbar/|title=Remove Conduit Toolbar and search.conduit.com (Uninstall Guide)|last=Pilici|first=Stelian|date=January 21, 2013|publisher=Malware tips|accessdate=July 13, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tomsguide.com/us/how-to-remove-conduit,news-18304.html|title=How to Remove Conduit Search Adware|last=Honorof|first=Marshall|date=February 11, 2014|publisher=''[[Tom's Hardware|Tom's Guide]]''|accessdate=September 11, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Tung">{{cite web|url=http://www.zdnet.com/malicious-kyle-and-stan-ad-network-uses-amazon-youtube-to-target-windows-and-mac-users-7000033467/|title=Malicious 'Kyle and Stan' ad network uses Amazon, YouTube to target Windows and Mac users|last=Tung|first=Liam |date=September 9, 2014|publisher=''[[ZDNet]]''|accessdate=September 11, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://vpncreative.net/2014/09/11/kyle-stan-malvertising-infects-thousands-computers/|title=Kyle and Stan Malvertising Infects Thousands of Computers|last=Virgillito|first=Dan |date=September 11, 2014|publisher=''VPN Creative''|accessdate=September 11, 2014}}</ref> and an online platform that allows [[web publisher]]s to create custom toolbars, web apps, and mobile apps at no cost.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.websitemagazine.com/content/blogs/posts/archive/2011/02/24/conduit-s-web-app-network-goes-mobile.aspx|title=Conduit's Web App Network Goes Mobile|date=February 24, 2011|accessdate= May 18, 2012|work=[[Website Magazine]] | first=Linc | last=Wonham}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://mobilized.allthingsd.com/20110207/exclusive-web-app-publisher-conduit-expands-into-mobile/?mod=ATD_rss|title=Exclusive: Web App Publisher Conduit Expands Into Mobile|date=February 7, 2011|accessdate=May 18, 2012|work=[[All Things Digital]] | first=Ina | last=Fried}}</ref> Conduit has approximately 260,000 registered publishers who have collectively created content downloaded by more than 250 million end users.<ref name="musically.com">{{cite news|url=http://musically.com/2011/11/14/conduit-mobile-enters-the-music-app-creation-platform-wars/|title=Conduit Mobile Enters The Music App Creation Wars|date=November 14, 2011|accessdate=December 19, 2011|work=[[Music Ally]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cmswire.com/cms/web-engagement/conduit-network-boosts-browserbased-apps-in-a-big-way-008062.php/|title=Conduit Network Boosts Browser-Based Apps in a Big Way|date=July 16, 2010|accessdate=May 16, 2011|work=[[CMS Wire]] | first=Chelsi | last=Nakano}}</ref><ref name=Adotas>{{cite news|url=http://www.adotas.com/2011/05/big-names-grace-conduits-app-platform/|title=Big Names Grace Conduit's App Platform|date=May 13, 2011|accessdate=May 16, 2011|work=[[ADOTAS]] | first=Gavin | last=Dunaway}}</ref> Web apps and pieces of content developed through Conduit's platform can be distributed and exchanged online via the Conduit App Marketplace.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bizreport.com/2010/05/conduits_app_marketplace_pushes_past_100_million_users.html|title=Conduit's App Marketplace pushes past 100 million users|date=May 4, 2010|accessdate=May 16, 2011|work=[[BizReport]] | first=Kristina | last=Knight}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://venturebeat.com/2010/06/04/conduit-announces-google-chrome-support-for-its-massive-web-app-platform/|title=Conduit announces Google Chrome support for its massive app platform|date= June 4, 2010|accessdate=May 16, 2011|work=[[VentureBeat]] | first=Devindra | last=Hardawar}}</ref> Currently, 60 million users consume apps from the marketplace on a daily basis.<ref name=BigNumbers>{{cite news|url=http://techcrunch.com/2010/07/13/conduit-network/|title=Conduit Reports Big Numbers: 250,000 App Publishers, 170 Million Users|date=July 13, 2010|accessdate=May 16, 2011|work=[[TechCrunch]] | first=Robin | last=Wauters}}</ref>
The '''Conduit toolbar''' was an online platform that allows [[web publisher]]s to create custom toolbars, web apps, and mobile apps at no cost.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.websitemagazine.com/content/blogs/posts/archive/2011/02/24/conduit-s-web-app-network-goes-mobile.aspx|title=Conduit's Web App Network Goes Mobile|date=February 24, 2011|accessdate= May 18, 2012|work=[[Website Magazine]] | first=Linc | last=Wonham}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://mobilized.allthingsd.com/20110207/exclusive-web-app-publisher-conduit-expands-into-mobile/?mod=ATD_rss|title=Exclusive: Web App Publisher Conduit Expands Into Mobile|date=February 7, 2011|accessdate=May 18, 2012|work=[[All Things Digital]] | first=Ina | last=Fried}}</ref> It was used to develop [[browser hijacking|browser hijacker]] toolbars.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://malwaretips.com/blogs/remove-conduit-apps-search-and-toolbar/|title=Remove Conduit Toolbar and search.conduit.com (Uninstall Guide)|last=Pilici|first=Stelian|date=January 21, 2013|publisher=Malware tips|accessdate=July 13, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tomsguide.com/us/how-to-remove-conduit,news-18304.html|title=How to Remove Conduit Search Adware|last=Honorof|first=Marshall|date=February 11, 2014|publisher=''[[Tom's Hardware|Tom's Guide]]''|accessdate=September 11, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Tung">{{cite web|url=http://www.zdnet.com/malicious-kyle-and-stan-ad-network-uses-amazon-youtube-to-target-windows-and-mac-users-7000033467/|title=Malicious 'Kyle and Stan' ad network uses Amazon, YouTube to target Windows and Mac users|last=Tung|first=Liam |date=September 9, 2014|publisher=''[[ZDNet]]''|accessdate=September 11, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://vpncreative.net/2014/09/11/kyle-stan-malvertising-infects-thousands-computers/|title=Kyle and Stan Malvertising Infects Thousands of Computers|last=Virgillito|first=Dan |date=September 11, 2014|publisher=''VPN Creative''|accessdate=September 11, 2014}}</ref>. Conduit has approximately 260,000 registered publishers who have collectively created content downloaded by more than 250 million end users.<ref name="musically.com">{{cite news|url=http://musically.com/2011/11/14/conduit-mobile-enters-the-music-app-creation-platform-wars/|title=Conduit Mobile Enters The Music App Creation Wars|date=November 14, 2011|accessdate=December 19, 2011|work=[[Music Ally]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cmswire.com/cms/web-engagement/conduit-network-boosts-browserbased-apps-in-a-big-way-008062.php/|title=Conduit Network Boosts Browser-Based Apps in a Big Way|date=July 16, 2010|accessdate=May 16, 2011|work=[[CMS Wire]] | first=Chelsi | last=Nakano}}</ref><ref name=Adotas>{{cite news|url=http://www.adotas.com/2011/05/big-names-grace-conduits-app-platform/|title=Big Names Grace Conduit's App Platform|date=May 13, 2011|accessdate=May 16, 2011|work=[[ADOTAS]] | first=Gavin | last=Dunaway}}</ref> Web apps and pieces of content developed through Conduit's platform can be distributed and exchanged online via the Conduit App Marketplace.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bizreport.com/2010/05/conduits_app_marketplace_pushes_past_100_million_users.html|title=Conduit's App Marketplace pushes past 100 million users|date=May 4, 2010|accessdate=May 16, 2011|work=[[BizReport]] | first=Kristina | last=Knight}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://venturebeat.com/2010/06/04/conduit-announces-google-chrome-support-for-its-massive-web-app-platform/|title=Conduit announces Google Chrome support for its massive app platform|date= June 4, 2010|accessdate=May 16, 2011|work=[[VentureBeat]] | first=Devindra | last=Hardawar}}</ref> Currently, 60 million users consume apps from the marketplace on a daily basis.<ref name=BigNumbers>{{cite news|url=http://techcrunch.com/2010/07/13/conduit-network/|title=Conduit Reports Big Numbers: 250,000 App Publishers, 170 Million Users|date=July 13, 2010|accessdate=May 16, 2011|work=[[TechCrunch]] | first=Robin | last=Wauters}}</ref>


Conduit's toolbars have been described in online forums and news outlets as [[malware]]<ref>{{cite web | title = How do I uninstall Search Protect by Conduit from my computer?| publisher = [[Norton AntiVirus|Norton]]| date = 2014-07-14 | url = https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us/home/current/solutions/v96233795_EndUserProfile_en_us| accessdate = 2014-07-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = PUP.Optional.Conduit removal instructions| publisher = Malware Removal Guides | date = 2013-08-07 | url = http://www.malwareremovalguides.info/pup-optional-conduit-removal-intructions/ | accessdate = 2013-10-12}}</ref> and are difficult to remove.<ref name=PandoDaily>{{cite news|url=http://pando.com/2012/09/14/conduit-turns-toolbar-riches-into-massive-dividend/|title=Conduit Turns Toolbar Riches Into Massive Dividend|date=September 14, 2012|work=[[PandoDaily]] | first=Erin| last=Griffith| accessdate = 2014-07-14}}</ref><ref>[http://support.kaspersky.com/viruses/solutions/10319 ''''], Kapersky Labs support pages, December 19, 2013.</ref> It has both browser hijacking and [[rootkit]] capabilities. The company began to shift away from this part of its business in late 2013 when it spun off its toolbar division into [[Perion Network]] through a [[reverse takeover|reverse merger]].<ref name=Geektime>{{cite news|url=http://www.geektime.com/2013/07/10/israeli-toolbar-giant-conduit-expected-to-split-and-acquire-perion/|title=Israeli toolbar giant Conduit expected to split and acquire Perion|date=July 10, 2013|work=[[Geektime]] | first=Yaniv | last=Feldman}}</ref>
Conduit's toolbars have been described in online forums and news outlets as [[malware]]<ref>{{cite web | title = How do I uninstall Search Protect by Conduit from my computer?| publisher = [[Norton AntiVirus|Norton]]| date = 2014-07-14 | url = https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us/home/current/solutions/v96233795_EndUserProfile_en_us| accessdate = 2014-07-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = PUP.Optional.Conduit removal instructions| publisher = Malware Removal Guides | date = 2013-08-07 | url = http://www.malwareremovalguides.info/pup-optional-conduit-removal-intructions/ | accessdate = 2013-10-12}}</ref> and are difficult to remove.<ref name=PandoDaily>{{cite news|url=http://pando.com/2012/09/14/conduit-turns-toolbar-riches-into-massive-dividend/|title=Conduit Turns Toolbar Riches Into Massive Dividend|date=September 14, 2012|work=[[PandoDaily]] | first=Erin| last=Griffith| accessdate = 2014-07-14}}</ref><ref>[http://support.kaspersky.com/viruses/solutions/10319 ''''], Kapersky Labs support pages, December 19, 2013.</ref> It has both browser hijacking and [[rootkit]] capabilities. The company began to shift away from this part of its business in late 2013 when it spun off its toolbar division into [[Perion Network]] through a [[reverse takeover|reverse merger]].<ref name=Geektime>{{cite news|url=http://www.geektime.com/2013/07/10/israeli-toolbar-giant-conduit-expected-to-split-and-acquire-perion/|title=Israeli toolbar giant Conduit expected to split and acquire Perion|date=July 10, 2013|work=[[Geektime]] | first=Yaniv | last=Feldman}}</ref>
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==Company==
==Company==


===Overview===
Conduit is based in [[Ness Ziona]], [[Israel]] with offices in [[New York City]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/business/israeli-startup-conduit-with-more-users-than-twitter-negotiating-billion-dollar-exit-1.353446/|title=Israeli startup Conduit with more users than Twitter negotiating billion-dollar exit|date=January 4, 2011|accessdate=May 16, 2011|work=[[Haaretz]] | first=Guy | last=Grimland}}</ref> Currently, the company has over 400 employees.<ref name=Quittner /> It was initially backed by $9.5 million from [[Benchmark Capital]] and [[Yozma Group]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2011/11/18/burgers-and-acquisitions-lunch-in-nyc-leads-to-a-deal-in-israel/|title=Burgers and Acquisitions: Lunch in NYC Leads to a Deal in Israel |date=July 7, 2014|accessdate=July 14, 2014|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] | first=Ty | last=McMahan}}</ref> and is the second largest technology company in Israel with a valuation of approximately $1.4 billion.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2014/07/daily-chart-6|title=Three biggest internet companies in each country|date=March 18, 2012|accessdate=April 8, 2012|work=[[The Economist]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000734263/|title=Yozma Sells 3% of Conduit for $39m |date=March 18, 2012|accessdate=April 8, 2012|work=[[Globes]] | first=Roy | last=Goldenberg}}</ref> Other valuations have placed the company value as high as $2.5 billion.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000723612&fid=1725 |title=Huge exit beckons for Conduit shareholders |accessdate=April 9, 2013 |date=February 9, 2012 |publisher=Globes |author=Shmulik Shelach, Roy Goldenberg and Gali Weinreb}}</ref> Conduit is the largest Internet company in Israel, with more than 260 million users.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.fastcompany.com/1822325/ceo-speaks-out-about-speaking-out |title=A CEO Speaks Out About Speaking Out |author=Ronen Shilo |accessdate=March 13, 2013 |date=March 2, 2012 |publisher=''[[FastCompany]]''}}</ref> The founders have stated that they plan on keeping the headquarters in Israel as the company grows.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2011/11/18/burgers-and-acquisitions-lunch-in-nyc-leads-to-a-deal-in-israel/ |publisher=''[[Wall Street Journal]]'' |title=Burgers And Acquisitions: Lunch In NYC Leads To A Deal In Israel |date=November 18, 2011 |accessdate=March 13, 2013 |author=Ty McMahan}}</ref> It was named #24 on the ''[[Business Insider]]'' 2012 Digital 100.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/the-2012-digital-100-the-complete-list-1-100-2012-9 |date=October 3, 2012 |accessdate=March 13, 2013 |publisher=''[[Business Insider]]'' |title=The 2012 Digital 100: The Complete List 1–100 |author=Alyson Shontell}}</ref> It is also part of so-called [[Download Valley]],<ref>[http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304547704579563281761548844 Conduit Diversifies Away From 'Download Valley'] Wall Street Journal, Orr Hirschauge, updated May 15, 2014</ref><ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/business/.premium-1.542896 Game over in Download Valley?] Haaretz, Inbal Orpaz, Orr Hirschauge, August 22, 2013</ref> Israeli companies monetizing free software and downloads by bundling adware or otherwise altering users' systems.


===History===
===History===
Conduit was founded in 2005 by [[Ronen Shilo]], Dror Erez, and Gaby Bilcyzk.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thestreet.com/story/10455713/1/conduit-builds-on-the-power-of-the-web-toolbar.html|title=Conduit Builds on the Power of the Web Toolbar|date=January 2, 2009|accessdate=May 16, 2011|work=[[TheStreet.com]] | first=Steve | last=Cooper}}</ref> Shilo, who founded the company with his own money,<ref name=Quittner>{{Cite news|url=http://www.inc.com/jeremy-quittner/billionaire-club-conduit.html |title=The "Real Valuation" Is About Having Fun |author=Jeremy Quittner |publisher=''[[Inc. Magazine]]'' |date=January 1, 2013 |accessdate=March 13, 2013}}</ref> is now the CEO of Conduit.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.fastcompany.com/1840843/how-survive-acquisition-and-live-profitably-ever-after |title=How To Survive An Acquisition And Live Profitably Ever After |date=June 21, 2012 |accessdate=March 13, 2013 |publisher=''[[FastCompany]]'' |author=Lydia Dishman}}</ref> In 2010 Conduit then-president Adam Boyden was featured in [[Forbes|''Forbes'' magazine online]], in which he discussed the link between successful social gaming and marketing principles.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/27/social-media-facebook-social-gaming-apps-marketing-conduit-cmo-network.html |title=Discussion of the Week: Adam Boyden |date=August 27, 2010 |accessdate=March 13, 2013 |work=[[Forbes]]}}</ref> In 2010 there were more than 100 million toolbars being powered by Conduit that were used at least once a month, which put Conduit at #29 on Google’s list of top 1,000 sites on the Internet that year.<ref name=Fortt>{{Cite news|url=http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2010/06/03/the-underground-internet-economy/ |title=Browser toolbars are back |author=Jon Fortt |date=June 3, 2010 |publisher=[[CNN]] |accessdate=March 13, 2013}}</ref> In May 2011, Conduit completed the $45 million acquisition of Israeli [[Startup company|startup]] [[Wibiya]], an engagement platform that enables publishers to integrate a variety of web applications on their site via the Wibiya Bar product.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://allthingsd.com/20110523/conduit-buys-wibiya-for-45m/|title=Conduit Buys Wibiya for $45M|date=May 23, 2011|accessdate=December 19, 2011|work=[[All Things Digital]] | first=Liz | last=Gannes}}</ref> In April 2012, [[J.P. Morgan]] purchased a $100 million<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2012/04/11/jp-morgan-fund-to-take-100m-stake.html |date=April 11, 2012 |accessdate=March 13, 2013 |title=J.P. Morgan fund to take $100M stake in Conduit |publisher=''[[Silicon Valley Business Journal]]''}}</ref> 7% stake in Conduit<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/node/21559366 |date=July 21, 2012 |accessdate=March 13, 2013 |title=Make your own Angry Birds |publisher=''[[Economist (magazine)|The Economist]]''}}</ref> from Yozma.<ref name=Quittner />
In 2010 Conduit then-president Adam Boyden was featured in [[Forbes|''Forbes'' magazine online]], in which he discussed the link between successful social gaming and marketing principles.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/27/social-media-facebook-social-gaming-apps-marketing-conduit-cmo-network.html |title=Discussion of the Week: Adam Boyden |date=August 27, 2010 |accessdate=March 13, 2013 |work=[[Forbes]]}}</ref> In 2010 there were more than 100 million toolbars being powered by Conduit that were used at least once a month, which put Conduit at #29 on Google’s list of top 1,000 sites on the Internet that year.<ref name=Fortt>{{Cite news|url=http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2010/06/03/the-underground-internet-economy/ |title=Browser toolbars are back |author=Jon Fortt |date=June 3, 2010 |publisher=[[CNN]] |accessdate=March 13, 2013}}</ref> In May 2011, Conduit completed the $45 million acquisition of Israeli [[Startup company|startup]] [[Wibiya]], an engagement platform that enables publishers to integrate a variety of web applications on their site via the Wibiya Bar product.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://allthingsd.com/20110523/conduit-buys-wibiya-for-45m/|title=Conduit Buys Wibiya for $45M|date=May 23, 2011|accessdate=December 19, 2011|work=[[All Things Digital]] | first=Liz | last=Gannes}}</ref>

The resulting valuation of $1.3 billion saw Conduit become the first Israel-based billion dollar Internet company,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/9dc4c34c-afe1-11e1-a025-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2NR0n4Inj |title=Israeli VC struggles continue despite M&A increase |date=June 6, 2012 |accessdate=March 13, 2013 |author=Lisa Damast and Jessica McHugh |publisher=''[[Financial Times]]''}}</ref> and was highlighted by the ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'' as a part of the 2012 entries into the "$1 Billion Start-Up Club".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2012/05/18/the-1-billion-start-up-club-list-minus-facebook/ |title=The $1 Billion Start-Up Club List, Minus Facebook |date=May 18, 2012 |accessdate=March 13, 2013 |publisher=''[[Wall Street Journal]]'' |author=Scott Austin}}</ref> The company uses a co-sale concept to provide dividends to employees as well as investors over time.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4204794,00.html |title=Conduit to pay $300M dividend to investors, employees |date=Meir Orbach |date=March 25, 2013 |accessdate=April 9, 2013 |publisher=Ynet News}}</ref> In September 2013 Conduit spun off its Client Connect business division, which then combined with [[Perion Network]] in a reverse merger. After the deal, Conduit shareholders owned 81% of Perion's existing shares.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-16/perion-seen-surpassing-aol-u-s-market-israel-overnight.html |title=Perion With Conduit Seen Besting AOL in U.S. Searches |author=Matthew Kanterman and Elliott Gotkine |date=September 17, 2013 |accessdate=December 16, 2013 |publisher=''[[Bloomberg News]]''}}</ref>

⚫
During this time Conduit moved away from the toolbar part of its business in order to focus on its mobile and browser engagement offerings. Ingrid Lunden of [[TechCrunch]] wrote that by spinning off the Client Connect business, the "split divided the company in two, with one part focusing on its mobile and engagement business and run by Shilo, and the other, Client Connect, merging with Perion". Lunden said further that, "Less than a month after browser-toolbar and mobile startup Conduit merged its Client Connect division with Perion, the company is making another change to its business. Conduit has announced that it will be discontinuing Wibiya, the social browser toolbar service that it acquired in 2011 for $45 million, as it shifts further away from its toolbar business."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://techcrunch.com/2013/10/07/after-buying-wibiya-for-45m-conduit-is-discontinuing-the-website-social-toolbar-service/ |title=After Buying Wibiya For $45M, Conduit Discontinues Product As It Shifts Away From Toolbars |date=October 7, 2013 |author=Ingrid Lunden |publisher=''[[TechCrunch]]''}}</ref> In late 2013 Conduit was valued at $1.5 billion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.haaretz.com/business/.premium-1.547316 |title=$800 million company formed by Perion-Conduit merger |date=September 16, 2013 |author=Orr Hirschauge and Inbal Orpaz |publisher=''[[Haaretz]]'' |accessdate=February 12, 2014}}</ref> In 2015 Conduit raised $27 million in capital.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2015/02/12/startup-conductor-lands-27m-to-help-brands-emerge-in-web-searches/ |publisher=Wall Street Journal |accessdate=March 16, 2015 |date=February 12, 2015 |title=Startup Conductor Lands $27M to Help Brands Emerge in Web Searches |author=Yuliya Chernova}}</ref>


⚫
During this time Conduit moved away from the toolbar part of its business in order to focus on its mobile and browser engagement offerings. Ingrid Lunden of [[TechCrunch]] wrote that by spinning off the Client Connect business, the "split divided the company in two, with one part focusing on its mobile and engagement business and run by Shilo, and the other, Client Connect, merging with Perion". Lunden said further that, "Less than a month after browser-toolbar and mobile startup Conduit merged its Client Connect division with Perion, the company is making another change to its business. Conduit has announced that it will be discontinuing Wibiya, the social browser toolbar service that it acquired in 2011 for $45 million, as it shifts further away from its toolbar business."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://techcrunch.com/2013/10/07/after-buying-wibiya-for-45m-conduit-is-discontinuing-the-website-social-toolbar-service/ |title=After Buying Wibiya For $45M, Conduit Discontinues Product As It Shifts Away From Toolbars |date=October 7, 2013 |author=Ingrid Lunden |publisher=''[[TechCrunch]]''}}</ref> In late 2013 Conduit was valued at $1.5 billion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.haaretz.com/business/.premium-1.547316 |title=$800 million company formed by Perion-Conduit merger |date=September 16, 2013 |author=Orr Hirschauge and Inbal Orpaz |publisher=''[[Haaretz]]'' |accessdate=February 12, 2014}}</ref>
==Technology==
==Technology==


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}}</ref>


===Mobile===
Although Conduit’s focus was initially on connecting publishers with end users via the browser, the company has since introduced a cross-platform mobile development kit that allows users to create native and web mobile applications for all major smartphone platforms and iPad in February 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://mobilized.allthingsd.com/20110207/exclusive-web-app-publisher-conduit-expands-into-mobile/?mod=ATD_rss|title=Exclusive: Web App Publisher Conduit Expands Into Mobile|date=February 7, 2011|accessdate=December 19, 2011|work=[[All Things Digital]] | first=Ina | last=Fried}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cmswire.com/cms/mobile/conduit-mobile-platform-now-supports-ipad-app-creation-social-features-011485.php/|title=Conduit Mobile Platform Now Supports iPad App Creation, Social Features|date=June 3, 2011|accessdate=December 19, 2011|work=[[CMSWire]] | first=Guy | last=Grimland}}</ref> As of December 2011, Conduit Mobile has added several new features to the product that are targeted towards musicians, including SoundCloud integration.<ref name="musically.com"/> At first Conduit's partners provide their apps and use of the app-creation platform to users for free, but requires a percentage of the advertising revenue generated from apps created with its software.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/223452 |title=There's an App Maker for That |author=John Pullen |publisher=''[[Entrepreneur Magazine]]'' |date=May 10, 2012 |accessdate=March 13, 2013}}</ref> The company now provides its platform with a paid subscription model. These apps and specialty toolbars include player-branded products, featuring particular players from leagues including the NFL, Warner Brothers, and major league soccer in Europe.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.fastcompany.com/1810530/hashtag-hail-mary-social-media-blitzes-super-bowl |title=Hashtag Hail Mary: Social Media Blitzes The Super Bowl |author=Neal Ungerleider |date=January 23, 2012 |accessdate=March 13, 2013 |publisher=''[[FastCompany]]''}}</ref> Conduit has also developed the service QuickLaunch, which allows companies to design custom lock-screens for mobile devices. The screen allows users to customize their device’s lock screen, providing one-click access to calls, content, or featured websites.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://mashable.com/2012/03/27/phone-lock-screen-app-offers-prime-opportunity-for-advertisers/ |title=Phone Lock-Screen App Offers Prime Opportunity for Branding [VIDEO] |author=Kate Freeman |date=March 27, 2012 |accessdate=April 9, 2013 |publisher=Mashable}}</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 23:57, 19 August 2015

Conduit Ltd.
Company typePrivate
Industry
Founded2005
Founder
  • Ronen Shilo
  • Dror Erez
  • Gaby Bilcyzk
HeadquartersNew York City, United States; Ness Ziona, Israel[1]
Area served
Worldwide
Revenue$200m (2013)[2]
Number of employees
400+ (2011)[3]
Websitewww.conduit.com

The Conduit toolbar was an online platform that allows web publishers to create custom toolbars, web apps, and mobile apps at no cost.[4][5] It was used to develop browser hijacker toolbars.[6][7][8][9]. Conduit has approximately 260,000 registered publishers who have collectively created content downloaded by more than 250 million end users.[10][11][12] Web apps and pieces of content developed through Conduit's platform can be distributed and exchanged online via the Conduit App Marketplace.[13][14] Currently, 60 million users consume apps from the marketplace on a daily basis.[15]

Conduit's toolbars have been described in online forums and news outlets as malware[16][17] and are difficult to remove.[18][19] It has both browser hijacking and rootkit capabilities. The company began to shift away from this part of its business in late 2013 when it spun off its toolbar division into Perion Network through a reverse merger.[20]

Company

History

In 2010 Conduit then-president Adam Boyden was featured in Forbes magazine online, in which he discussed the link between successful social gaming and marketing principles.[21] In 2010 there were more than 100 million toolbars being powered by Conduit that were used at least once a month, which put Conduit at #29 on Google’s list of top 1,000 sites on the Internet that year.[22] In May 2011, Conduit completed the $45 million acquisition of Israeli startup Wibiya, an engagement platform that enables publishers to integrate a variety of web applications on their site via the Wibiya Bar product.[23]

During this time Conduit moved away from the toolbar part of its business in order to focus on its mobile and browser engagement offerings. Ingrid Lunden of TechCrunch wrote that by spinning off the Client Connect business, the "split divided the company in two, with one part focusing on its mobile and engagement business and run by Shilo, and the other, Client Connect, merging with Perion". Lunden said further that, "Less than a month after browser-toolbar and mobile startup Conduit merged its Client Connect division with Perion, the company is making another change to its business. Conduit has announced that it will be discontinuing Wibiya, the social browser toolbar service that it acquired in 2011 for $45 million, as it shifts further away from its toolbar business."[24] In late 2013 Conduit was valued at $1.5 billion.[25]

Technology

Browser

Until 2013, one of Conduit's main businesses revolved around downloadable toolbars. Conduit allowed publishers to create and distribute their own toolbars for web browsers.[22] Typically the toolbars were installed with another software product on which the toolbar is a piggyback program,[26][27] with users given the option to not install the toolbar. Browsers that initially supported the toolbars included Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Safari. Google Chrome was added as a supported browser in 2011.

Examples of toolbars have included a Zynga-designed toolbar that helps Farmville enthusiasts keep up-to-date with the status of their game, another is a toolbar from eBay that provides auction updates. The content is customized to the individual toolbar rather than generalized for all users. The toolbar can also be used for general information distribution as well, which has been used by companies to engage in marketing campaigns.[22] Other companies that have developed Conduit toolbars include Major League Baseball, Greenpeace, and Lufthansa.[28] Some of the companies and brands that have used Conduit's platform are Major League Baseball, Time Warner Cable, Fox News, Zynga,[29] Chelsea Football Club, Groupon, Travelocity, µTorrent, and The Weather Channel.[12][15][30] The toolbars have been described in online forums and news outlets as a browser hijack[26][27][31][32][33][34] and are difficult to remove.[35] It is said that most of Conduit's revenue comes from paid referrals from its search engine.[36]

Conduit toolbars are automatically downloaded alongside the download of free software, in order to help sites that provide software for free with a form of monetization. Conduit toolbars have rootkit capabilities that hook the toolbar deep into operating systems and can perform browser hijacking. Many conduit removal tools are also considered to be malware themselves. While not a virus, the program is referred to as a "potentially unwanted program" by some in the computer industry.[31]


References

  1. ^ "Locations". Retrieved January 28, 2014.
  2. ^ Hoffman, Tzahi (3 April 2011). "ConduIT in talks to buy toolbar developer Wibiya". Globes.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Quittner was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Wonham, Linc (February 24, 2011). "Conduit's Web App Network Goes Mobile". Website Magazine. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
  5. ^ Fried, Ina (February 7, 2011). "Exclusive: Web App Publisher Conduit Expands Into Mobile". All Things Digital. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
  6. ^ Pilici, Stelian (January 21, 2013). "Remove Conduit Toolbar and search.conduit.com (Uninstall Guide)". Malware tips. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  7. ^ Honorof, Marshall (February 11, 2014). "How to Remove Conduit Search Adware". Tom's Guide. Retrieved September 11, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ Tung, Liam (September 9, 2014). "Malicious 'Kyle and Stan' ad network uses Amazon, YouTube to target Windows and Mac users". ZDNet. Retrieved September 11, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ Virgillito, Dan (September 11, 2014). "Kyle and Stan Malvertising Infects Thousands of Computers". VPN Creative. Retrieved September 11, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ "Conduit Mobile Enters The Music App Creation Wars". Music Ally. November 14, 2011. Retrieved December 19, 2011.
  11. ^ Nakano, Chelsi (July 16, 2010). "Conduit Network Boosts Browser-Based Apps in a Big Way". CMS Wire. Retrieved May 16, 2011.
  12. ^ a b Dunaway, Gavin (May 13, 2011). "Big Names Grace Conduit's App Platform". ADOTAS. Retrieved May 16, 2011.
  13. ^ Knight, Kristina (May 4, 2010). "Conduit's App Marketplace pushes past 100 million users". BizReport. Retrieved May 16, 2011.
  14. ^ Hardawar, Devindra (June 4, 2010). "Conduit announces Google Chrome support for its massive app platform". VentureBeat. Retrieved May 16, 2011.
  15. ^ a b Wauters, Robin (July 13, 2010). "Conduit Reports Big Numbers: 250,000 App Publishers, 170 Million Users". TechCrunch. Retrieved May 16, 2011.
  16. ^ "How do I uninstall Search Protect by Conduit from my computer?". Norton. 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-07-11.
  17. ^ "PUP.Optional.Conduit removal instructions". Malware Removal Guides. 2013-08-07. Retrieved 2013-10-12.
  18. ^ Griffith, Erin (September 14, 2012). "Conduit Turns Toolbar Riches Into Massive Dividend". PandoDaily. Retrieved 2014-07-14.
  19. ^ ', Kapersky Labs support pages, December 19, 2013.
  20. ^ Feldman, Yaniv (July 10, 2013). "Israeli toolbar giant Conduit expected to split and acquire Perion". Geektime.
  21. ^ "Discussion of the Week: Adam Boyden". Forbes. August 27, 2010. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  22. ^ a b c Jon Fortt (June 3, 2010). "Browser toolbars are back". CNN. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  23. ^ Gannes, Liz (May 23, 2011). "Conduit Buys Wibiya for $45M". All Things Digital. Retrieved December 19, 2011.
  24. ^ Ingrid Lunden (October 7, 2013). "After Buying Wibiya For $45M, Conduit Discontinues Product As It Shifts Away From Toolbars". TechCrunch. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  25. ^ Orr Hirschauge and Inbal Orpaz (September 16, 2013). "$800 million company formed by Perion-Conduit merger". Haaretz. Retrieved February 12, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  26. ^ a b "How to Remove Conduit Search Toolbar and search.conduit.com redirect?". Anvisoft. 2013-06-07. Archived from the original on 2 July 2013. Retrieved 2013-08-13. Search.conduit.com always disguises itself as Google Official search, when you open your hijacked web browser
  27. ^ a b Govind, Rajesh (19 February 2013). "How to uninstall Conduit Toolbar and change the IE10 homepage from "search.conduit.com" to the original one". Microsoft Community. Microsoft. Retrieved 18 August 2013. This toolbar might have got installed on your computer with some other programs and that might have changed your homepage without your knowledge.
  28. ^ Steve Strauss (June 28, 2009). "To get ahead in this e-world: Create and market content". USA Today. Retrieved March 13, 2013. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  29. ^ Wauters, Robin (April 2, 2011). "Conduit Acquires Web Application Platform Wibiya For $45 Million: Sources". TechCrunch. Retrieved May 16, 2011.
  30. ^ "Israeli Startup Wibiya Will Be Acquired By Conduit For Whopping 45$ Million". Technology Noise. April 3, 2011. Retrieved May 16, 2011.
  31. ^ a b Keenan, Thomas P. (August 1, 2014). Technocreep: The Surrender of Privacy and the Capitalization of Intimacy. Greystone Books. ISBN 9781771641227. [malwaretips.com says] ... it does exhibit plenty of malicious traits, such as rootkit capabilities ... browser hijacking, and in general just interfering with the user experience. The industry refers to it as a 'PUP'.
  32. ^ Nobels, Ethan C. (2010-12-15). "So long, uTorrent". First Arkansas News. Archived from the original on 29 September 2012. Retrieved 2013-04-30. ... directs searches through Conduit and sends results favoring some of the company's marketing partners.
  33. ^ "Uninstalling Toolbars, 'Free Trials'". U-T San Diego. 26 October 2013. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  34. ^ Payal Dhar (21 October 2013). "A browser hijack is no joyride". Financial Chronicle. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  35. ^ Kessler, Topher (7 January 2011). "How to remove the Conduit 'Community Toolbar' in OS X". CNET. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2013. A number of people have installed this plug-in but then have run into roadblocks when trying to uninstall it
  36. ^ Orpaz, Inbal; Hirschauge, Orr (23 August 2013). "Game over in Download Valley?". Haaretz Daily Newspaper. Most of [Conduit's] revenue stream comes from referring its toolbar users to search engines. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
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