The Google-sponsored StopBadware. org, a consumer protection initiative, recently gave an alert warning against the free version of AOL’s software utilized in the AOL online service acting as ‘badware.’ StopBadware.org, spearheaded by Oxford University and Harvard Law School, cautions users of the software it thinks of pernicious or deceiving.
John Palfrey, co-director of StopBadware.org, said in a statement,
Clearly, AOL does not belong in the same category as the malicious badware providers we have previously identified, but the free version of AOL 9.0 that we tested, in our view, does not live up to the company’s rich legacy.’ “We currently recommend that users do not install the version of AOL software that we tested, unless the user is comfortable with the level of risk we identify or until the application is updated.
Though no results of comprising a user’s security or data theft was found, however, the application is unable to reveal that it deploys extra applications, put in a toolbar to Internet Explorer. The application also does not entirely uninstall when a user attempts to quarantine it and updates without the informed consent of the users. The status of the inquiry is marked as “open”.
AOL’s spokesperson Andrew Weinstein said,
No company has done more to fight malware than AOL,” “We’re reviewing the suggestions made in the report, and we are taking steps to address them, as they mostly involve minor UI issues.
AOL allegedly is chalking out to bring about a change in its software in a new release in the forthcoming month. The internet supplier before this month divulged a free version of its online services with the intention of escalating its advertising revenues. The badware tag could be most dangerous. Google lately started alerting its users regarding websites that are considered listed ‘ black lists’ when they turn up in search results.
Read
