For immediate release:
April 17, 2008

Contact:
Ari Schwartz
(202) 637-9800

Anti-Spyware Coalition Releases Anti-Spyware Product Testing Document

Washington, D.C. -- The Anti-Spyware Coalition (ASC), an alliance of technology companies and public interest groups, has released a document aimed at aiding users and reviewers in their understanding of anti-spyware product testing. ASC's newest document encourages testers and reviewers to clearly define the goals and methodologies and provide greater transparency in testing.

"Public education is a large part of the ASC's mission, and improving the general understanding of anti-spyware product testing will help consumers make informed choices about their software," Ari Schwartz, Vice President of the Center for Democracy and Technology and leader of the ASC said, "In addition, public education makes it easier to interpret reviews and testing results."

The Testing Document is the ASC's sixth published working report, it follows others aimed at achieving industry standards for definitions, risk and consent modeling, and best practices for authors of potentially unwanted technologies. Each report is reviewed and revised on a regular basis in order to reflect changes in technology and the marketplace.

About the Anti-Spyware Coalition: The Anti-Spyware Coalition (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.