A recent report released by Pew Internet and American Life Project indicated that spyware and the threat of unwanted programs being secretly loaded onto computers are becoming serious threats online. Nearly half of adult online Americans have stopped visiting specific Web sites that they fear might infect them with such unwanted programs, and a quarter have ceased to use file-sharing software, which often comes bundled with adware. Also, 43 percent of Internet users say they've been hit with spyware, adware or both, with broadband users generally at greater risk and 68% of home internet users have experienced at least one computer problem in the past year that are consistent with problems caused by spyware or viruses.
Another report prepared for WebWatch by Princeton Survey Research Associates International (PSRAI) found that concerns about identity theft is substantial, and is changing consumer behavior in major ways. 30 percent Internet users said they have reduced their overall use of the Internet; 53% said they have stopped giving out personal information on the Internet; 25% said they have stopped buying things online and 29% of those who shop online say they have cut back on how often they buy on the Internet.
This goes to show that online threat are real and it is starting to affect the confidence of users towards the usage of the Internet and is also affecting the potential growth expected from this technology.
Because of this, a new coalition made up of public interest groups, trade associations and the most prominent anti-spyware companies and their distributors convened to bolster defense against online threats, by building on the great strides the technology industry has already made to combat the spyware problem. The Anti-Spyware Coalition recently published two documents for public comment and also updated a separate document that attempts to craft uniform definitions for "spyware" and "adware" in hopes of giving computer users more control over their machines.
The Anti-Spyware Coalition (ASC) is a group dedicated to building a consensus about definitions and best practices in the debate surrounding spyware and other potentially unwanted technologies. The ASC seeks to bring together a diverse array of perspective on the problem of controlling spyware and other potentially unwanted technologies. It draws on the combined expertise of its members to help consumers better defend their computers against unwanted technologies, improve communication about what constitutes spyware and how anti-spyware companies combat it, and offer proposals for strengthening anti-spyware technology globally.
The released documents represents the first phase of the group's objectives and will serve as the cornerstone of the ASC's ongoing efforts. Coalition members felt it's vital to establish common definitions of spyware and other potentially unwanted technologies so that vendors, software developers and consumers could better communicate about what sorts of technologies raise concerns, and how anti-spyware programs identify potentially unwanted programs.
The documents which will evolve as new problems are identified includes:
1. A simple and formal definition of "Spyware and Other Potentially Unwanted Technologies", a term the coalition uses to define the panoply of technologies that may impinge a user's computing experience, privacy, or security.
2. A comprehensive Glossary that offers clear definitions for terms commonly used in discussions about spyware and other potentially unwanted technologies.
3. A set of common industry guidelines for the Vendor Dispute Resolution Process. This document outlines the steps that anti-spyware companies should take in responding to complaints from software publishers who allege that their software has been improperly flagged as "spyware."
The updated definitions document, reflecting nearly 400 comments received from the public, still flags as potential threats - an umbrella definition that includes spyware, adware and other categories such as "hijackers" and "cookies" - programs that: impair users' control over their systems, including privacy and security; impair the use of system resources, including what programs are installed on their computers; and/or collect, use and distribute personal or otherwise sensitive information.
The coalition also outlined their next project, called Risk Modeling, as a prelude to planned development of industry best practices. Next week, we will give you some safety tips that the group provided to help you protect your PCs from online threats.
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