Unity: IronSource malware came from “bad actors who abused the platform”
Engine provider responds to backlash over merger, says IronSource desktop business was “spun off several years ago”
Unity has responded to criticism concerning its merger with IronSource, which has labelled a malware provider by various developers via social media.
As discussed in today's This Week In Business, the $4.4 billion deal has sparked complaints stemming from an incident where IronSource's first product was classified as malware.
InstallCore was an installation program for internet-based applications launched in 2010, but within a few years it has been blocked by software such as Malwarebytes and even Microsoft's Windows platform for installing unwanted programs.
The program was later discontinued, but developers have shared their frustration of Unity bringing a company associated with malware into the fold.
In a statement to GamesIndustry.biz, a Unity spokesperson assured that IronSource no longer delivers such a program.
"We are seeing developers talking negatively about IronSource's involvement in malware campaigns or being behind malware spreading, referencing old articles about a historical desktop activity that was deprecated and spun off several years ago," the company said.
"Like any large-scale desktop advertising platform, despite monitoring and enforcement, the desktop platform occasionally suffered from 'bad actors' who tried to abuse the platform.
"IronSource has long focused on developing products for mobile game and app developers and doesn't operate any desktop software distribution platforms today."
The merger was announced on Wednesday, and is expected to close in Q4 2022.