February 23, 2005

Google's Blogger and Unwanted Software

An eWeek article: Spyware Snags Blogger Users, reports on a new study by Harvard researcher, Benjamin Edelman that says that "dozens" of blogs hosted by Google's Blogger/Blogspot trick visitors and install spyware and adware onto visitors' computers.

The offending blogs typically prompt visitors to accept downloads through misleading pop-up windows, said Ben Edelman, a vocal spyware critic and Harvard University researcher. While a user typically must accept the download before the software installs, the prompts often attempt to trick users by disguising the download as a necessary Windows or Internet Explorer upgrade.

You can read the complete study: How Google's Blogspot Helps Spread Unwanted Software, here.

Posted by Gary Price at February 23, 2005 4:13 PM

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