Harvard University’s Berkman Center and the Oxford Internet Institute have launched StopBadware, a ‘Neighborhood Watch’ against spyware and other malicious software programs. The project is being supported by Google, Lenovo and Sun Microsystems.


Harvard University’s Berkman Center and the Oxford Internet Institute have launched StopBadware, a ‘Neighborhood Watch’ against spyware and other malicious software programs.

The project is being supported prominent high-tech companies, including Google, Lenovo and Sun Microsystems.

Consumer Reports WebWatch, will act as special consumer adviser.

John Palfrey, co-director of StopBadware.org and Executive Director of the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School, said: “Intruders are now in your house without your permission. They entered through your computer to bombard you with sneaky pop-ups and install tracking software to spy on your every move and steal your most personal information, such as credit card or Social Security numbers, in order to sell that data to a stranger. StopBadware.org will shine a much needed light on the unethical activities of these companies”. [source]

Google Blog has announced the initiative as, “This project is led by Harvard’s Berkman Center and the Oxford Internet Institute to independently evaluate downloadable applications, publish objective information for consumers, and provide an easy web-based way for users to describe problems they’ve encountered”. [source]

To check to see if programs you want to download are badware and alert others to malicious programs you have encountered click here.

 

 

 

Sharing is caring