Google Wants You to Report Malware

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.'"

Comments

I think it's about malware in use not distribution

[Anonymous Coward]

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.

That's not the point, you dolts!

[Wog]

'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.

Re:Not affect how skilled hackers get malware

[wizardforce]

it isn't the noobs that worry me, it's when people like you think that malware only affects the noobs and not the servers they will later attack. storm botnet ring a bell? preventing the noobs from inadvertantly joining spam botnets is in our best interests.

Re:Not affect how skilled hackers get malware

[darkpixel2k]

As a public company they can drop any search results they disagree with...

I could give a shit about the windows malware that's out there. I don't run Windows and a good portion of my client base either doesn't run windows or doesn't have access to the net. But what I really wish google would fucking drop from their index is experts-exchange and tech-republic.

The last damn thing I want any of my search results to return is "Hey--here's the answer you're looking for. The solution is to...[PAY US FOR A FUCKING SUBSCRIPTION PLEASE]"