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MIT Startup Tests Top Million Sites for Spyware

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the ads-burning-need-spybot dept.

torrentami writes "An MIT startup called SiteAdvisor has downloaded over 100,000 programs from the top million Web sites and tested them for adware and spyware using an automated system they've built. They've got a blog entry where they dissect 5 of the worst adware bundles they found. There is some amazingly invasive stuff in there."

5 of 243 comments (clear)

  1. What about the rest? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I hope they have a "submit site" function for people to test random sites....

    1. Re:What about the rest? by TheSpoom · · Score: 4, Interesting

      That is a really good idea. Better yet, have a browser component that tells users, on the fly, what previous attempts at scanning the site have revealed (as they would have to be cached in order to have any sort of performance server-side). If a user notices that a site now offers spyware downloads, they could request that it get reexamined, and popular sites would get automatically reexamined often. This could be done using a cheap subscription model.

      Has someone done this? It seems so obvious now that I've thought about it.

      --
      It's better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it.
      - E. Debs
  2. No reason to be vulnerable to spyware. by CyricZ · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Have you tried the recent Kubuntu releases? If not, give it a try. It is by far one of the most easiest systems to install these days. Even easier to keep up to date, as well.

    I was recently asked to set up some computer systems at a seniors home. Now, many of these people have never used a PC. So we were able to acquire several used PCs for almost no cost, and I installed Kubuntu on their systems. We got them set up so that they could check their email, browse the WWW, use various instant messengers to chat with relatives, and even play games (bridge and backgammon were big favourites).

    Now, why did I go with Kubuntu? Mainly because it is free, and it is quality software that is quite easy to use. But more importantly, I wanted these systems to always be available to these people. I know that they might visit malicious sites. I wouldn't want that resulting in their systems being compromised just because of that.

    You may deny it, but the fact of the matter is that Linux systems won't get infected with spyware at this time. Sure, that may change in the future, but I'm doubtful about that. The basic (yet significant) differences in code quality and architecture are enough to leave Linux (and other non-Microsoft) systems far more secure and usable, even in the fact of malicious software.

    --
    Cyric Zndovzny at your service.
    1. Re:No reason to be vulnerable to spyware. by CyricZ · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I advised them not to buy software from WalMart, or even to download it for themselves. I asked them to contact me, and I'd come over and find something that worked for them. I know I could find software that I know I could trust, or at least have access to the source code to inspect and build myself if I felt there could be security problems. Then again, Kubuntu includes all the software they seem to need.

      I haven't heard anything from them regarding cameras and other devices which did not work. I did, however, hear of one grandson bringing over his camera and taking pictures of the seniors so they could email them to their relatives. One of the grandparents who had some PC experience as a secretary told me that she was really surprised how easy it was to get the camera to work. All they did was plug it in, and the storage device on the camera was automatically mounted. They could copy over the files without problem. The kid was reportedly stunned that the seniors could use the system so effectively.

      Insult inexperienced users all you want. Frankly, I think that a well-designed system can easily avoid the problems caused by unwitting users. Indeed, any quality software system would be designed in such a way as to completely minimize the harm that an inexperienced user could do. Linux and much open source software appears to do this quite well, and as such spyware just isn't a problem when dealing with Linux systems.

      --
      Cyric Zndovzny at your service.
  3. Exokernel Guys by putko · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The technical guys in the company are from MIT's exokernel project.

    They worked on delivering high throughput for video with their superior OS technology. It interoperated with Windows, allowing them to make money.

    This project looks surprisingly un-technical and uncomplicated in comparison, given how competent and accomplished they are.

    Here's an exokernel link:
    http://pdos.csail.mit.edu/exo.html

    --
    http://www.thebricktestament.com/the_law/when_to_s tone_your_children/dt21_18a.html