AOL 9.0, AOL's free client-software has received the Badware label from the StopBadware.org. As arguments to the labeling, the consumer protection website exemplified a variety of actions undertaken by AOL 9.0 cataloged as Badware behavior. The America Online piece of software was found to install additional applications without disclosure and forcing the user to implement software updates. Moreover, AOL 9.0 interferes with Internet Explorer integrating an AOL Toolbar and adding Icons to the default Toolbar of the browser and items to Favorites.

According to the tests performed by StopBadware.org, AOL 9.0 additionally installs a plethora of desktop icons collectively called AOL Deskbar which comes complete with an automated update task. On top of this, the AOL software present uninstall issues. "After uninstalling AOL and all of its bundled components using Add/Remove Programs, at least two AOL processes continue to run: AOLServiceHost.exe and AOLHostManager.exe. It is unacceptable for AOL processes to continue to run after AOL has been uninstalled by the user," concluded StopBadware.org.

"AOL reports that they are reviewing this report and that they are taking steps to address what's noted here. With regards to uninstallation, AOL says that a design flaw in the uninstaller mistakenly leaves executables running, even after a restart. The company says it is working on a fix, and in the meantime, that the executables do nothing even though they are running," StopBadware.org presented AOL's response.