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Naming and Shaming Toxic Web Apps

Posted by Soulskill on from the running-this-requires-access-to-your-neural-patterns dept.

itwbennett writes "Stanford Law School has released a wiki called WhatApp?, where users can rate all manner of web apps, browsers, mobile platforms, mobile apps, and social network apps on their security, privacy, and openness. Currently, the wiki 'lists some 200+ apps, but most of them have not been reviewed yet. So they need a lot of help,' writes blogger Dan Tynan. 'To review an app you select it from the list, then fill out a 9-question form rating its privacy, security, and openness, ranging from 5 (very private, secure, and open) to 1 (a steaming pile of vulnerabilities and violations).'"

6 of 52 comments (clear)

  1. Wait by malkir · · Score: 3, Funny

    So all I have to do is download some shitty app and rate it, potentially exposing myself to the spyware/malware/security vulnerabilities were looking to avoid? Where do I sign up?

  2. Web of Trust by commodore64_love · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This rate-the-app project sounds similar to WOT. It sounds like a good idea to me, since Web of Trust has helped me avoid a lot of spybots and other crap. http://www.mywot.com/

    --
    "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
  3. Hrm.. by Dread+Pirate+Skippy · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The people who are downloading these 'toxic' apps in the first place simply aren't going to visit this site before doing so. Folks who are already aware of the risks won't need a site like this to illustrate them...so who is this for?

    1. Re:Hrm.. by selven · · Score: 2, Insightful

      These are WEB apps, not downloadable ones (technically, the client gets downloaded into your browser cache, but that's usually the extent of it). It's about the ongoing security risk and harm that the apps are causing, and if you've been using Rockbox (to use their hall of shame example) for a year and you stop because of the website, they've still done you a service.

    2. Re:Hrm.. by WrongSizeGlass · · Score: 2, Funny

      Please explain.

      Sure. I'll use a car analogy:

      Salesman: Well I can't _give_ you the car, but I _can_ let you have this little number for practically nothing: only $38,000.
      [bullets hit the car]
      Homer: [suspicious] Hey, what are all these holes?
      Salesman: [quickly] These are speed holes. They make the car go faster.
      Homer: Oh, yeah. Speed holes!
      [bullets riddle the car and smash the windshield]
      Salesman: You want my advice? I think you should buy this car.

      Any questions?

  4. WhatApp by $RANDOMLUSER · · Score: 3, Funny

    So near and yet so far.

    They could have used WhatsAppDoc.

    --
    No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill