Stop Spyware Badware problem
Q: What makes you different from all the other anti-spyware efforts?
Obviously, lots of other people and companies are working in this space.
That is a good thing. We feel we’re different for a number of reasons. Unlike many of the companies working in the space, our roots are in organizations (.orgs and .edus) with independent traditions, so we won’t be afraid to call out badware creators of any size.
We’re not going to hand down solutions from on high – we want to work with both experts and the broader internet community to define and understand the problem. We’ll work with that same community to create solutions that will protect the internet in the long term.
Finally, since part of our goal is to become a central clearinghouse for data, we view ourselves as a complement to the best other efforts in the field. We believe that our unique take will act as a complement, as we all share data to better attack the same end goal.
Q: I’m not tech-savvy. What can I do to help?
You can help us by telling those you know – family, friends, coworkers, and acquaintances – about the problem and directing them to this site.
If you have stories about your experiences with badware, please share them with us by using this form. Ask others to contribute their experiences and stories.
We will also be releasing reports about the worst badware offenders. Information in these reports could be helpful to you before you decide to download a program or visit a website. Please join our report mailing list and we will keep you informed of our progress.
Q: I’m a techie and already know how to remove spyware from my computer. Why should I care? Why should I get involved?
We know many of the most technically savvy readers of this FAQ have probably already ’solved’ the badware problem for themselves by installing anti-spyware software, or even by switching operating systems.
Unfortunately, the problem of badware threatens far more than our individual security and privacy.
We believe that if badware and similar problems continue their explosive growth, governments and software manufacturers will be tempted to start making decisions about what you can and can’t run on your computer.
If that happens, we’ll all be impacted.
You can help, even if you have successfully protected yourself against spyware, by urging co-workers, friends and family to report their problems, and by working with us to help plan strategy.
