What is BonziBuddy?
{{complex|date=July 2023}} '''BonziBuddy''' (styled as BonziBUDDY) was a [[freeware]] [[computer program|program]] from BONZI Software. The [[software]] was available from 1999 to 2004. It is based on the [[Microsoft Agent|Microsoft Agent technology]]. The program is no longer available because it contained a lot of [[adware]], [[malware]], and [[spyware]]. Most [[antivirus software]] picked up the software as Adware. The user would right click on the character and a menu would come up with different things that the character could do. It could tell jokes, facts, sing songs, download files and keep people on schedule with a calendar. Most things required the [[purchase]] of add-ons which would add extra jokes, facts and songs. There were also game add-ons and a [[speech recognition]] add-on which was called the 'Talking Add-on Module'. The program itself was advertised as an Internet Companion. The official website stayed open until 2008 and then it was no longer working. BonziBUDDY can still be [[download]]ed by [[upload]]s from fans. ==Characters== For the first version, they used a [[green]] [[bird]] called Peedy that was created by [[Microsoft]]. In 2001, the [[company]] made their own [[fictional character|character.]] They called it Bonzi. The character was a purple [[gorilla]]. When the program launched, the gorilla would surf onto their screen on a yellow surf board. In later versions, they changed Bonzi's entrance from a surf board to a jungle vine. ==Virus issues== BonziBUDDY had a lot of [[spyware]]. It would bring out random advertisements, set the homepage to www.bonzi.com and slow down the computer.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pctools.com/mrc/infections/id/Spyware.BonziBuddy/ |title=Spyware.BonziBuddy - Threat Details and Removal Information |access-date=2010-08-22 |archive-date=2012-03-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331122036/http://www.pctools.com/mrc/infections/id/Spyware.BonziBuddy/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was also rated 6th at PCWorld's annoying spyware products.<re