StopBadware.org
I always welcome any progress in the fight against viruses, spyware, malware and other problems. Recently, a new group has formed to help in the battle. What makes them different from the rest of the efforts?
There are other groups attempting to combat various problems of what is normally called "spyware". But this term is used loosely and they have come up with a new word that encompasses them all: badware. I don't think we really need yet another word, what was wrong with malware?
The fight against badware has typically been fought by anti-spyware and anti-virus companies, and on the non-commercial side, by groups such as Castle Cops. A lot of helpful information can also be found with other commercial entities, such as web sites belonging to your Internet Service Provider and your bank and credit card companies. StopBadware.org is a community effort that transcends all of the groups and should eventually be a powerful force in the fight against badware. There is another fairly new group called the Anti-Spyware Coalition that is also aiming to develop standards in helping fight the cause.
Until now, private anti-spyware companies were close-lipped about their research into spyware to maintain market share, unlike anti-virus companies who regularly share information about viruses. Recently, anti-spyware intelligence is starting to become shared, at least with some participants. This is the key to successfully combating the problem of badware. No matter what antivirus program you use, it is almost certain that it will detect, clean or quarantine every virus. Yet currently no such confidence can be placed on any one anti-badware product. We as consumers should be demanding that anti-badware companies share their intelligence and fight them on a united front.
There are other groups attempting to combat various problems of what is normally called "spyware". But this term is used loosely and they have come up with a new word that encompasses them all: badware. I don't think we really need yet another word, what was wrong with malware?
The fight against badware has typically been fought by anti-spyware and anti-virus companies, and on the non-commercial side, by groups such as Castle Cops. A lot of helpful information can also be found with other commercial entities, such as web sites belonging to your Internet Service Provider and your bank and credit card companies. StopBadware.org is a community effort that transcends all of the groups and should eventually be a powerful force in the fight against badware. There is another fairly new group called the Anti-Spyware Coalition that is also aiming to develop standards in helping fight the cause.
Until now, private anti-spyware companies were close-lipped about their research into spyware to maintain market share, unlike anti-virus companies who regularly share information about viruses. Recently, anti-spyware intelligence is starting to become shared, at least with some participants. This is the key to successfully combating the problem of badware. No matter what antivirus program you use, it is almost certain that it will detect, clean or quarantine every virus. Yet currently no such confidence can be placed on any one anti-badware product. We as consumers should be demanding that anti-badware companies share their intelligence and fight them on a united front.
posted by Peter at
10:24 AM
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