StopBadware.org, a consumer protection initiative backed by Google, Sun Microsystems and others. I don’t know how many of you had noticed it, usually if you have safe search on in Google, and you were about to enter in a bad site like spy ware, fishing, virus loaded than it shows you a warning screen and also software survey. Surprisingly Monday Central time that warning punches a “Badware” tag on AOL v 9.0, AOL’s free client-software. I was completely shocked; does that mean AOL producing Badware? No way, can’t be happening. So what’s the story?

Some reasons the report (you will find it here) mention for the decision are AOL’s inclusion of bundled software applications and nondisclosure of additional installed components. Following were the exact word:

“In our preliminary findings, we find that AOL 9.0 (free version) is currently badware because it installs additional software without telling the user, it forces the user to take certain actions, it adds various components to Internet Explorer and the taskbar without disclosure, it may automatically update without the user’s consent, and it fails to uninstall completely.

We currently recommend that users do not install the version of AOL software that we tested, unless the user is comfortable with the level of risk we identify or until the application is updated consistent with the recommendations in this report. ”

It is one of several efforts to battle spyware and famous to be very neutral so far. StopBadware.org is run by Harvard Law School’s Berkman Center for Internet & Society and Oxford University’s Oxford Internet Institute.

Their recommendation to AOL:

• Disclose during installation all of the additional software that will be installed and seek the user’s consent to their installation.
• Do not force users to take actions by presenting dialogue boxes that cannot be closed.
• Disclose to the user during installation that additional components will be added to Internet Explorer — namely, the AOL toolbar, new items in Favorites, and additional icons in the default toolbar.
• Disclose during installation that AOL Deskbar will be added to the user’s taskbar.
• Tell users during installation about any software that will automatically update and ask them for their consent.
• Do not leave AOL processes running after uninstallation.

RESPONSE FROM AOL:

AOL reports that they are reviewing this report and that they are taking steps to address what’s noted here. With regards to uninstallation, AOL says that a design flaw in the uninstaller mistakenly leaves executables running, even after a restart. The company says it is working on a fix, and in the meantime, that the executables do nothing even though they are running.

August 27th, 2006

So it’s really getting creepier for general user, where AOL is accused to produce Badware, it will be very hard to trust companies from now on, doesn’t matter what status they are.

Credit: Stopbadware.org