Press Release

For Immediate Release

January 12, 2006

Anti-Spyware Coalition Announces Speakers for First-Ever Public Meeting; Finalizes Risk Modeling Document

WASHINGTON, DC -- January 12, 2006 -- The Anti-Spyware Coalition today unveiled the final agenda for its first Public Workshop here, and also released the final working report of a risk model description that helps provide transparency in how anti-spyware companies evaluate software applications.

An assemblage of leading spyware experts from the public and private sector are set to convene February 9 for the Anti-Spyware Coalition’s first-ever public workshop subtitled “Defining the Problem, Creating Solutions.”  Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras will keynote the packed one-day event, which includes federal regulators, top state technology and law enforcement officials as well as representatives from public interest groups and the nation’s largest Internet companies.

A complete list of confirmed speakers is now available along with the final agenda at http://www.antispywarecoalition.org/events/feb2006agenda.htm .

“The people who have agreed to participate in this event are at the forefront of the battle against spyware,” said Ari Schwartz, deputy director of the Center for Democracy and Technology, which is coordinating the ASC event.  “That so many of the nation’s top experts are traveling from around the country to participate in this workshop underscores the importance of the coalition’s efforts.”

The final draft of the ASC’s “risk-modeling description” details the objective criteria anti-spyware developers use to determine whether a specific piece of software should be identified as spyware.  The ASC released a draft of the risk modeling description in October, throwing it open for public comment.

The final document released today reflects valuable input culled from more than 100 comments. The risk-modeling description and a summary of public comments are available online at http://www.antispywarecoalition.org/documents .

“This document clarifies the specific, objective behaviors that make certain programs dangerous,” Schwartz said.  “By demystifying the process of identifying and flagging spyware, the risk-modeling description gives consumers a clearer understanding of how anti-spyware software protects them. It should also begin to aid software developers in making safer, more consumer-friendly software.”

About the Anti-Spyware Coalition: The ASC is a group dedicated to building a consensus about definitions and best practices in the debate surrounding spyware and other potentially unwanted technologies. Composed of anti-spyware software companies, academics, and consumer groups, the ASC seeks to bring together a diverse array of perspective on the problem of controlling spyware and other potentially unwanted technologies.