Press Releases
Press Releases
StopBadware releases best practices for web hosting providers
Organization aims to reduce spread of malware by engaging hosting industry
Cambridge, Mass., March 15, 2011—StopBadware announced today the release of its Best Practices for Web Hosting Providers: Responding to Malware Reports, a set of high-level guidelines for hosting providers to follow upon receiving reports of malware on their networks. StopBadware’s best practices set universal expectations for the role of web hosting providers of all sizes in managing badware.
Malicious actors frequently create seemingly legitimate websites that contain or link to malware, or compromise established websites to infect those sites’ users. Security researchers regularly identify these sites on hosting providers’ networks and report them to providers. While some web hosting companies have regular procedures for responding to such abuse complaints, there’s a lack of consensus across the industry about the steps hosting providers should take once a malware report is received. This lack of common standards is compounded by the innate complexity of hosting environments. “When web hosting providers address reports of malware on their networks in a timely manner, they can greatly reduce the spread of badware,” said Maxim Weinstein, executive director of StopBadware. “StopBadware’s best practices aim to assist hosting providers by providing a clear, realistic framework that they can use to streamline response procedures and better protect users.”
StopBadware announced in November of 2010 that it was increasing its focus on the role of web hosting providers in strengthening the Internet ecosystem. The same month, the organization assembled an advisory working group to assist in the development of the Practices. “Our web host working group has been an exceptional resource for us these past few months,” said Weinstein. “Discussing this topic with security researchers, privacy advocates, and members of hosting companies in real time was invaluable, and as a result we at StopBadware have a lot of confidence in the final document and its potential for effective implementation.”
Several industry-leading hosting providers, including Verio, GoDaddy.com, SoftLayer, and Network Solutions, have already voiced their support for the Practices. “StopBadware’s best practices for hosting providers align with our own philosophy on how to effectively manage malware reports,” said Paul Kincaid-Smith, Solution Architect at Verio and member of StopBadware’s web hosting working group. “These best practices are a great framework for hosting providers who are committed to protecting their customers.”
StopBadware has previously worked to create transparency, educational resources, and an appeals process for website owners whose sites have been blacklisted for badware content. A report on the state of badware is expected this spring, and the organization has plans to develop additional best practices over the coming months.
StopBadware is also releasing additional materials to accompany the best practices; these additional materials are available on StopBadware’s website and are intended to help web hosting companies understand and adopt the Practices. To learn more about StopBadware’s best practices or to download a copy, visit http://www.stopbadware.org/web-hosting-best-practices.
About StopBadware
StopBadware provides tools and information that assist industry and policymakers in meeting their responsibility to protect users from badware, and that help users protect themselves. It began as a project of the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University before spinning off as a stand-alone nonprofit organization in 2010. Corporate partners include Google, PayPal, Mozilla, Nominum and Verizon. StopBadware is based in Cambridge, Mass. For more information, visit www.stopbadware.org.
Verizon Teams Up With Nonprofit Organization StopBadware to Strengthen Protection for Internet Users
Three-Year Agreement to Help Small Businesses, Smartphone Users and Others in Internet Ecosystem Defend Against Online Security Threats
Cambridge, Mass. and New York, March 4, 2011—Verizon is teaming up with nonprofit organization StopBadware to help protect Internet users from security threats like computer and mobile spyware, viruses and other malware. During the next three years, the organizations will work together on issues ranging from educating small businesses about badware to developing approaches to help smartphone phone users protect their handsets.
Badware is software that disregards—often for criminal gain—a user’s choice about how the user’s computer or network connection will be used. Some types of badware, also known as malware, can include viruses, Trojans, and spyware.
Small businesses, which typically have limited IT resources to handle security threats and online issues, should immediately benefit from the Verizon-StopBadware partnership.
“As a global leader providing secure communications services, we are committed to giving our customers the best experience possible,” said Jean McManus, executive director of Verizon’s Corporate Technology Organization. “Our commitment extends beyond securing our own network to helping ward off security threats for Internet users. Our corporate technology security experts will team with StopBadware to develop and distribute educational materials about security threats and building a safer Internet.”
Verizon is aggressively broadening its focus on protecting computer and network-based malware and extending it into the mobile world. The company’s relationship with StopBadware will bolster this initiative.
“The Internet is a complex ecosystem, and it’s up to all of us to help make it more resistant and resilient to threats like badware,” said Maxim Weinstein, executive director of StopBadware. “We look forward to drawing on Verizon’s expertise to help make the Internet safer for everyone.”
StopBadware has previously worked to develop transparency, educational resources and an appeals process for websites blacklisted for having badware content. The organization also will soon release a set of best practices to help web hosting providers address reports of badware on their networks. In addition, the organization plans to release later this month a report on the state of badware.
Verizon joins industry leaders Google, Mozilla, PayPal and Nominum in supporting StopBadware, which last year spun off from Harvard University’s Berkman Center for Internet & Society.
Verizon is engaged in Internet safety on multiple fronts, providing customers with an industry-leading slate of online cybersecurity tools and education programs to empower educators, parents and children. The company has expanded its lineup of parental control tools available for free to Verizon Online and Verizon Wireless customers on the Verizon Parental Controls Center, www.verizon.net/parentalcontrol.
About StopBadware
StopBadware provides tools and information that assist industry and policymakers in meeting their responsibility to protect users from badware, and that help users protect themselves. It began as a project of the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University before spinning off as a stand-alone nonprofit organization in 2010. Corporate partners include Google, PayPal, Mozilla, Nominum and Verizon. StopBadware is based in Cambridge, Mass. For more information, visit www.stopbadware.org.
About Verizon
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America’s most reliable wireless network, serving 94.1 million customers nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America’s most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 194,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of $106.6 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.
StopBadware Turns Focus to Web Hosting Providers
Organization will develop best practices for how providers respond to malware reports
Cambridge, Mass., November 16, 2010—StopBadware, a non-profit anti-malware organization, announced today that it will increase its focus on the role of web hosting providers in protecting users from badware. Its first project will be the development of a set of best practices for how hosting providers should respond to reports of malware on their networks.
Security researchers routinely report to hosting providers the presence of malicious or compromised sites on those providers’ networks. If these sites are removed or cleaned up quickly, they have less time to spread malware to Internet users. However, with complex environments that often involve multiple layers of hosting providers, resellers, and website operators, there is no consensus on what role providers are expected to play after they learn of a malware site. “We see a lot of frustration—on the part of both security researchers and hosting providers—about the lack of consistency,” said Maxim Weinstein, StopBadware’s executive director. “That’s why we’re working to create a common set of practices that every provider can follow.”
To ensure that this set of practices is sensible and complete, StopBadware has assembled an advisory working group to assist in the development of its best practices document. The group draws from top hosting providers, security companies, and policy organizations, and includes individuals with a broad range of perspectives. “We have established policies to properly deal with badware, but we see some of our peers struggling to find a common reference point which has resulted in a lot of irregularity with how badware is dealt with,” said Sam Fleitman, Chief Operating Officer of Softlayer Technologies. “We’re excited to be a part of this project. We believe it will provide a helpful framework for implementing practical ways to respond to malware reports and to better protect our customers.”
StopBadware has long focused on badware websites, their owners, and the companies—like Google and Mozilla—that warn users away from these sites. Early on, they recognized that hosting providers play a key role, as well. “When we released our first report showing the concentration of badware sites on a small number of providers, it drew attention and led to prompt action,” said Weinstein. “While we continue to report data, we wanted to take the next step and highlight the potential good that can be done by hosting providers that commit themselves to protecting users.”
Information about the working group is available at http://www.stopbadware.org/web-hosting-best-practices. The final best practices document will be publicly available in early spring of 2011.
About StopBadware
StopBadware is a non-profit organization that works with its network of individuals and partner organizations—including Google, PayPal, Mozilla, and Nominum—to fight back against viruses, spyware, and other badware. The organization began as a project of the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University before spinning off as a standalone organization in 2010. It is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
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