200px|right The software watchdog group StopBadware.org, run by the Berkman Center for Internet Society of Harvard Law School and the Oxford Internet Institute , has opened a dialogue with AOL about concerns over the presence of badware, also known as malware , in the now-free AOL 9.0 software. Badware refers to software applications that try to download additional software with very little or no explanation. StopBadware.org decided to investigate after their users have sent in complaints regarding the operation of the software. According to the "open inquiry" on StopBadware.org, the preliminary tests conclude that AOL 9.0 installs software and Internet Explorer extensions without the consent of the user, requires users to take certain actions, and it doesn't completely uninstall itself. The page then warns readers not to use the AOL software unless they're prepared to handle the risks involved.
200px|right The software watchdog group StopBadware.org, run by the of and the , has opened a dialogue with AOL about concerns over the presence of badware, also known as , in the now-free AOL 9.0 software. Badware refers to software applications that try to download additional software with very little or no explanation. StopBadware.org decided to investigate after their users have sent in complaints regarding the operation of the software. According to the "open inquiry" on StopBadware.org, the preliminary tests conclude that AOL 9.0 installs software and extensions without the consent of the user, requires users to take certain actions, and it doesn't completely uninstall itself. The page then warns readers not to use the AOL software unless they're prepared to handle the risks involved.
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Berkman Center for Internet
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Society of Harvard Law School and the Oxford Internet Institute
of and the
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malware
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Internet Explorer