StopBadware.org and Consumer Reports WebWatch have unveiled BadwareBusters.org, a new online community for people looking for help removing viruses, spyware and other badware from their computers. We’re launching as an open beta, and encourage your participation to help make the site a valuable, vibrant resource.

Our experience in this arena demonstrated a pressing need for a central location where people without prior knowledge of badware and its consequences can go to ask questions and find answers. BadwareBusters.org hopes to fill that need by harnessing the wisdom of the crowd to build a dedicated community of active participants.

We invite all members of the community to contribute to an ongoing dialogue about badware—how to identify it, how to protect against it, and how to remove it. The site uses an algorithm-based reputation and rating system to help people identify the most useful content and most helpful participants.

We hope to build a community encompassing everyone from novices to experts, and encourage your involvement and feedback. Visit BadwareBusters.org.

Posted by Jorgen Wouters at 11:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Children under 12 spend billions of dollars on goods and services each year, which is why The Federal Trade Commission recently launched a new Web site designed to teach children how to be savvy consumers.

Set in a shopping mall, the site, www.ftc.gov/YouAreHere features animated guides who help visitors navigate a virtual mall and interact with shopkeepers and other consumers. Children can participate in various activities, such as uncovering suspicious advertising claims and guessing the retail price of various candies based on their supply, demand, and production costs. One game illustrates the principles of target marketing as players match the features of various cell phones with certain audiences.

“FTC.gov/YouAreHere links the important work of the FTC to the lives of children,” said FTC Chairman William Kovacic in a press release. “It teaches kids how to be more savvy consumers by demonstrating the benefits of competition, how advertising can influence buying decisions, and the rules and regulations that many business people deal with. It’s a great tool for parents and teachers who are trying to help kids understand their role in the marketplace.”

Posted by Jorgen Wouters at 03:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)