According to an article by Ryan Naraine in eWeek, “Web search powerhouse Google has joined with Sun Microsystems to fund a new anti-spyware coalition that is on tap to launch on Jan. 24…”. It will be operated by the Berkman Center at Harvard and the Oxford Internet Institute at Oxford University.
Apparently, the site is going to be an information clearinghouse and help center for consumers. In an article in the Christian Science Monitor, the group’s co-director was quoted as saying “the coalition will act like a “neighborhood watch” for the Internet, relying on citizens to report problems.”
The new site, “StopBadware.org” will be up tomorrow. The domain is owned by Google.
Very surprisingly, Harvard Ph.D candidate and antispyware superstar Ben Edelman is unfortunately not involved.
Update: Eric Howes, our director of malware research, has signed on to be part of the working group. We’ll see how this plays out.
Alex Eckelberry