http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1278978,curpg-2.cms

New guidelines to beat spyware [ Friday, October 28, 2005 11:15:59 pmAP ]

NEW YORK: A coalition of anti-spyware vendors and consumer groups published guidelines on Thursday to help consumers assess products designed to combat unwanted programs that sneak onto computers.

The Anti-Spyware Coalition released the guidelines for public comment and also updated a separate document that attempted to craft uniform definitions for "spyware" and "adware" in hopes of giving computer users more control over their machines.

According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, Internet users have become more cautious online because of worries about spyware and adware, which can bombard users with pop-up ads and drain processing power to the point of rendering computers unusable.

Nearly half of adult online Americans have stopped visiting specific websites that they fear might infect them with such unwanted programs, and a quarter have ... ceased to use file-sharing software, which often comes bundled with adware.

In addition, 43% of Internet users say theyhhh’ve been hit with spyware, adware or both, with broadband users generally at greater risk. The new guidelines from the coalition assign risk levels to various practices common with spyware and adware.

High-risk practices include installation without a user’s permission or knowledge, interference with competing programs, interception of e-mail and instant-messaging conversations and the display of ads without identifying the program that generated them.

Changing a browser’s home page or search engine setting is deemed a medium risk, while using cookies to collect information is considered a low risk. ENDS