Reports Archive

Over time, certain in-depth reports have been moved to archive status due to the applications lack of availability or a change in the features of the application that would cause it to no longer deserve a badware designation. Archived reports can be found on this current page (see below and right). To see the current set of in-depth reports click here.

Our assessments of a website or application's badness are based on our guidelines, available here. According to our guidelines, badware is software that engages in potentially objectionable behaviors without adequately informing the user and seeking their consent. Badware also includes software that does not uninstall easily and completely, or that causes irreversible harm to a user's computer. Bad websites, in turn, are basically those sites that host or distribute badware. Both bad websites and badware are designated by a .

Applications that have behaviors that users may find objectionable, but that clearly inform users of those behaviors during installation, are marked by indicating caution. Websites that used to host or distribute badware also fall into this category -- while they are not bad websites, users should be aware that they used to engage in bad behaviors.

Last of all, the open inquiry symbol represents applications considered badware, but whose producers are working with us to improve their application in order to conform with our guidelines.