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For each person you switch using this tool, it says Google will give you $1.
Google for "Kill Bill's Browser"
Is this some kind of scam, why will Google/Firefox do this? Or is this some kind of stupid joke?
Apparently, it's not a hoax...
Holmes, and his partners -- [...] all of Worcester, Mass. -- are taking advantage of a new Google affiliate program called Adsense Referrals. The new plan, which debuted to virtually no fanfare Tuesday, pays Web site operators $1 for each user they refer who downloads and runs a copy of Firefox.
"Kill Bill's Browser" Site Aims To Cash In On Google's Bounty [informationweek.com]
Google Adsense Referrals Program [google.com]
The topic has been discussed at length at a well known "news for geeks" site that rhymes with "flashpot".
Why is Google doing this?
Easy - they can afford a few million $ for prominent ads all over the www... and they want all those new Firefox users to install the bar.
Why?
Because then Google sees everything you do. They record and analyse everything you view and click. There are rumours going around that the Googlebar has an influence on ranking and sandbox behaviour...
For US publishers only, and it is not just for downloading Firefox but for downloading Firefox with the Google Toolbar for Firefox.
From the Google link I supplied above:
What is Google AdSense referrals?Referrals is a feature of AdSense that allows website publishers to increase their revenue while increasing their users' awareness of useful products and services. By adding a referral button to a site, publishers can direct users to products like AdSense and Firefox with Google Toolbar. When a referral connects a user to AdSense or Firefox, Google pays the publisher. Now publishers can introduce their visitors to services that will help them monetize their websites or improve their web browsing experience, and earn more revenue.
In order to use referrals, you need to be an AdSense publisher.
I can understand the confusion regarding whether this is a hoax or not, as the "Kill Bill" folks don't do a very good job at making this seem legitimate: "To sign up, click here" & "...click this button..." - no link, no buttons; talk of suicidal webmasters; mentioning that self-gratification on the Internet pays off; unneccesary use of foul language; reckless statements like "Firefox stops spyware from taking over your computer"... In short, these are not the folks I'd be turning to for promotion.
Did I miss it, or do the "Kill Bill" & "Destroyer" sites not even link to Firefox? (Or, for that matter, offer a "refferal" link?)
I noted this on the "Destroyer" site:
Caveat: the only catch is it's Firefox + Google Toolbar and you only get $1 for users in "certain locations" (presumably rich countries). A deal-breaker? We didn't think so.
For US publishers only
Ha! They'd be dumb to do it in Germany since Firefox is gaining here like a landslide anyways...
