Thousands Tell Stories of Badware

In just a few weeks since its launch, more than a quarter of a million Internet users have visited Stopbadware.org, a new "Neighborhood Watch" initiative against spyware and other malicious software programs. There's also a really cool new ad on the site (which we encourage you to send to your friends) and a toll-free number to report your story (877-nobadware).

Sponsored by Harvard University's Berkman Center and the Oxford Internet Institute, Stopbadware.org is the largest consumer protection initiative combating spyware. The initiative empowers consumers to fight back against badware. It is supported by high-tech companies, including Google, Lenovo and Sun Microsystems. Consumer Reports WebWatch serves as an unpaid special consumer adviser.

Since the launch of stopbadware.org on Jan. 25:

-- 279,339 computer users have visited the site, averaging roughly 14,000 visits per day.

-- Nearly 1,000 have shared their experiences with badware.

-- Nearly 5,000 have joined the site's active community group.

Read more below:

In coming weeks, StopBadware.org's researchers will compile the information and publish the first report, which will publish stories of those victimized by badware and publicize companies that are profiting through unethical marketing practices.

And, in an effort to spotlight companies that make millions by tricking Internet users, StopBadware.org unveiled a new 60-second advertisement which can be viewed on the site . Users can also learn about the problem and tell their stories to researchers through a new toll- free number (877-no-badware or 877-662-2392).

"We are thrilled with the results thus far of stopbadware.org," said John Palfrey, co-director of StopBadware.org and Executive Director of the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School. "Our goal with this initiative is to get users to tell their stories and create powerful data on the worst purveyors of badware and I am happy to say that we are well on our way.”

"The problem of bad code is a fundamental one," said Jonathan Zittrain, co-director of StopBadware.org and professor of Internet governance and regulation at Oxford University. "Automatic anti-badware programs from private vendors can help, but a comprehensive solution will include participation and contribution from the public at large, whether through their own stories, or through devotion of their PC's cycles and data to create an overall weather map of the Internet's health."

Whether spyware, incessant pop-ups or other obtrusive programs, badware today plagues millions of people by turning their computers into machines to spy on them and steal their data. Unlike viruses and worms, badware becomes embedded in a computer by downloading games or software or just by visiting certain Web sites.

According to a recent Pew Internet & American Life Project, roughly 59 million American adults today have badware on their computers. Problems related to badware forced home computer users to spend roughly $3.5 billion in 2003 and 2004 to replace or repair their hardware, according to Consumer Reports.

According to a recent study from Webroot Software, badware today is a $2 billion-a-year industry. Specifically, it's an industry made up of hyper-aggressive, unethical marketing supported by business relationships tying legitimate advertisers to online marketers, small application vendors, Web site operators and shady online groups.

About Stopbadware.org:

-- Internet users can visit StopBadware.org to check whether programs they want to download are infected with badware and alert others to programs they have encountered that include malicious software such as spyware, incessant pop-up ads or other obtrusive programs.

-- StopBadware.org will publish short user friendly reports on downloads they have identified as badware, as well as more detailed academic studies on the problem of badware.

-- StopBadware.org will publicize the names of companies that make up the most insidious purveyors of badware and shed light on how they make money through unethical marketing practices. For example, advertisements will spotlight the worst purveyors of badware.

-- StopBadware.org will seek the horror stories from Internet users who have been adversely affected by badware. It will publish these stories to raise awareness of badware's harmful affects.

StopBadware.org is directed and advised by some of the most respected experts in the technology arena, including Palfrey, Zittrain of Oxford's Internet University and such Internet pioneers as Vint Cerf, Esther Dyson and others.

Consumer Reports WebWatch's unpaid advisory role will be to assist with program design, development of guidelines to improve consumer notice and disclosures regarding spyware, and outreach to consumer organizations and consumers. Consumer Reports WebWatch is supported by grants from The Pew Charitable Trusts and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

Participation by Consumer Reports WebWatch, the Berkman Center for Internet & Society and the Oxford Internet Institute are not subject to oversight by StopBadware.org's corporate sponsors. The Oxford Internet Institute (OII) is a department in the Social Sciences Division of the University of Oxford. Founded in 2001, it is one of the first multi-disciplinary research centers at a major university that is focused on the societal implications of the Internet.

Comments

[p90x workout]

Cheap affordable P90x workout schedule on sale today! Have a look! To develop the most scientific and practical for an organic whole , the state advocates body-building project of several medical professor and expert of kinematics design the workout schedule is suitable for various ages p90x workout more than kinds of products , not only hundreds of adults but also kids can be used p90x schedule. Come to try new felling.
http://www.ip90x.com
http://www.p90xnutrition.org
http://www.p90x-review.org
http://www.p90x-p90x.org

[Air Jordan 1]

The Air Jordan outlet offers different kinds of Jordan Shoes.such as Air Jordan 1,Air Jordan 13.I believe it can satisfy your desire.The Cheap Air Jordan receives the general customers loved and have a pivotal status. It's sale at the Air Jordan online store.
http://www.jordanshoes113.com

[Amri]

The new look is interesting.I nectiod that the Search link in the menu is not active. Do you intend to add functionality for this in the future?One thing that might be a little confusing to new users is the Browse / Search in the menu. Perhaps, if you keep Search, Browse might be renamed to something like Topics?There is a How to Use link in both the menu and the footer. This may have been an intended feature, though.Would you consider having a button leading to the RSS feed on the homepage?

[Andres]

IMHO, there will be always one-off's. The aim here shulod be to minimize these one-off's as we cannot bring them to zero.* It's hard to know which units to count.You missed IpAddresses. Most of times, badware sites (actual C C and not sites which are hacked and hosting malware) are rarely deployed in a shared hosting environment. The next best option is to consider base domain-names because some new malware can generate dynamic urls and subdomains for targeted attacks, which will skew data.* What's the denominator? Something like this Hosting Provider Rating = ( active_malicious_ipaddresses * active_malicious_base_domains ) / total_active_ipaddresses_with_providerIMHO, negligence will be the outcome of this equation, therefore cannot be used as denominator.* How do you count a URL or domain name over time if its IP address changes?Example of this is fast-flux domains. IMO, if a domain-name was bad on Ip-1 then the probability of it being bad on Ip-2 is higher than it not being malicious. Therefore, just because the Ipaddress changed, I wouldn't consider domain to be new or clean, but I queue that domain for reassessment (while keeping the old status).* How do you count a URL that resolves to more than one IP address? Do you double count it?No. If a domain resolves to 3 Ipaddresses, then i will count it as 1 but flag all 3 Ipaddresses as suspicious queue them for assessment.

[BypeShew]

get cheap authentic louis vuitton outlet online IfAUqRnN [URL=http://www.louis--vuitton--online--shop.org/ - lv outlet store online[/URL - for more detail UysJGbTz http://www.louis--vuitton--online--shop.org/

[lulmomig]

get vuitton online shop OaKYIqhC [URL=http://www.louis--vuitton--online--shop.org/ - louis vuitton bags online[/URL - at my estore drgRqtBR http://www.louis--vuitton--online--shop.org/

[aneta]

very nice put up, i certainly love this web site, carry on it

[Bernadine Georgelis]

Hi, I do think this is a great website. I stumbledupon it ;) I may revisit once again since i have bookmarked it. Money and freedom is the greatest way to change, may you be rich and continue to guide others.

[Chelsea Jacques]

That is a very good tip particularly to those fresh to the blogosphere. Simple but very precise info… Thanks for sharing this one. A must read article!

[Candi Karlovich]

This is a topic that is close to my heart... Take care! Exactly where are your contact details though?

[Larissa Mcferrin]

That is a good tip particularly to those new to the blogosphere. Short but very accurate information… Thanks for sharing this one. A must read article!

[Jan Kanar]

I like this website very much so much great info.

[Jackie Haske]

Having read this I believed it was extremely informative. I appreciate you finding the time and effort to put this short article together. I once again find myself spending a significant amount of time both reading and leaving comments. But so what, it was still worthwhile!

[pożyczka od ręki]

You have remarked very interesting points ! ps nice website . "O human race born to fly upward, wherefore at a little wind dost thou fall." by Dante Alighieri.

[Tawanna Darron]

Hey there! I just would like to offer you a big thumbs up for the excellent info you've got right here on this post. I'll be returning to your website for more soon.

[Mitsue Maontesano]

I really like it when people get together and share thoughts. Great blog, keep it up!