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Google Wants You to Report Malware

Posted by Zonk on from the there's-a-propaganda-poster-in-this dept.

darthcamaro writes "As part of its ongoing effort to keep a clean index Google is soliciting the help of web browsers to let them know when we find malware in the index. Celebrated Google hacker Johnny Long thinks it's a good idea, though he told the site Internet News that he doesn't think it'll stop real hackers. From the article: 'Most in search of malware for offensive use know the good stuff — it ain't distributed through public Web ... It's distributed through dark Web servers, peer-to-peer networks, IRC channels, torrents and the like. Google's efforts will not affect how skilled hackers get access to malware.'"

3 of 135 comments (clear)

  1. I think it's about malware in use not distribution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Obviously hackers don't look for their tools on Google. But if regular people get to websites through Google's index, Google does not want them to get infected by web-borne malware.

  2. That's not the point, you dolts! by Wog · · Score: 5, Informative

    'Most in search of malware for offensive use know the good stuff -- it ain't distributed through public Web ... It's distributed through dark Web servers, peer-to-peer networks, IRC channels, torrents and the like. Google's efforts will not affect how skilled hackers get access to malware.'

    I imagine the idea is that people who are making (ahem) innocent searches will not be so prone to stumble across a malicious page with the latest unpatched IE/Firefox/Whatever exploit.

  3. The article author and submitter aren't too bright by sirwired · · Score: 4, Informative

    The point of this is not to keep hackers from finding malware, it is to keep Google search users from getting infected through poisoned search results.

    Duh.

    SirWired