CNET's John Borland writes: "As Congress takes a more serious look at legislation to restrain spyware, a growing number of online companies are lining up to give consumers their own anti-spyware tools. The latest is security software company PestPatrol, which [yesterday] launched a new anti-spyware resource center, drawing together how-to articles, a large searchable database of spyware, adware and related 'pests,' and other information on the issue. The site focuses more heavily on spyware information than do similar sites at antivirus companies such as Symantec. But like those rivals, it aims to show the breadth of its creators' familiarity with the ever-evolving world of digital annoyances and, ultimately, persuade people to buy its software..."
That description is rather too cynical, we think. The Center for Pest Research responds to the need for more public understanding of malware that does not fit into the traditional categories of viruses and worms: keystroke loggers, trojans, pop-up ads, hijackers, etc. CPR offers descriptions of newly discovered pests, a pest encyclopedia, trends in pest proliferation, recommended countermeasures, in-depth research reports and white-papers, etc. The founders of the sponsoring company were early leaders of the National Computer Security Association (now called Truesecure), and PestPatrol was the first commercially available anti-spyware program, released in 2001. A most useful service.