Free Web Site Lists Programs With Spyware

[lurkey]

Free Web Site Lists Programs With Spyware

Google, Sun Microsystems, Lenovo Group Underwriting Site

POSTED: 12:46 pm EST January 25, 2006
UPDATED: 1:28 pm EST January 25, 2006

NEW YORK -- Researchers from Harvard and Oxford universities are launching a corporate-backed Web site -- free to consumers -- that seeks to become a clearinghouse for Internet users on spyware and other malicious software.

Google, Sun Microsystems and Chinese computer maker Lenovo Group are underwriting the site.

The idea is for it to identify purveyors of spyware programs by name and provide information to help consumers decide whether a program is safe to download.

Consumer Reports WebWatch is serving as an unpaid adviser.

It's unclear at this point how it will differ from resources already available through the Web sites of anti-spyware vendors and private individuals.

The new effort became available Wednesday at http://www.StopBadware.org.



BTW: Consumer Reports WebWatch -- It looks like it is affiliated with the non-profit foundation, Consumers Union that produces Consumer Reports magazine.