Anti-Spyware Consortium Crumbles

The Consortium of Anti-Spyware Technology vendors (COAST) has lost its founding members, putting the group's future into question.

Webroot Software, Aluria Software and Computer Associates all have withdrawn from the consortium recently. Lavasoft, another initial member, withdrew from the group in December 2003.

Although each company has cited separate reasons for bowing out, common complaints have been disappointment over a lack of consensus and sluggishness over standards adoption.

Lack of Cohesion

COAST was formed in October 2003, as a forum for project collaboration focusing on spyware. The group's immediate goals were to boost consumer education, quantify the magnitude of the spyware problem and create an industry code of ethics.

But several members have been frustrated by the internal struggles to meet these goals.

“[We] believe the organization no longer has the ability to create a consensus for effective anti-spyware standards,” says Sam Curry, a vice president at Computer Associates, in a statement.

In its release announcing its withdrawal, Aluria expressed dissatisfaction with how slowly the group moved to address standards. The pace was not in keeping with Aluria's aim of developing an effective response system to spyware threats, the company has noted.

Fly in the Ointment

Disappointment over COAST's failure to meet its goals is the most frequently voiced reason that the founding companies have left, but some observers have wondered how much the recent of inclusion of 180solutions has damaged the group, according to news reports.

Search marketing company 180solutions recently was granted membership, despite the fact that it is an adware firm.

Richard Stiennon, vice president of threat research at Webroot, said that the company was uncomfortable with adware and spyware companies becoming members, news reports note.

Webroot abstained from the vote to include 180solutions. Members that did vote specified that the company had to agree to work with COAST to improve its practices.

' Samuel Fineman, Esq., Editor-in-Chief

The Consortium of Anti-Spyware Technology vendors (COAST) has lost its founding members, putting the group's future into question.

Webroot Software, Aluria Software and Computer Associates all have withdrawn from the consortium recently. Lavasoft, another initial member, withdrew from the group in December 2003.

Although each company has cited separate reasons for bowing out, common complaints have been disappointment over a lack of consensus and sluggishness over standards adoption.

Lack of Cohesion

COAST was formed in October 2003, as a forum for project collaboration focusing on spyware. The group's immediate goals were to boost consumer education, quantify the magnitude of the spyware problem and create an industry code of ethics.

But several members have been frustrated by the internal struggles to meet these goals.

“[We] believe the organization no longer has the ability to create a consensus for effective anti-spyware standards,” says Sam Curry, a vice president at Computer Associates, in a statement.

In its release announcing its withdrawal, Aluria expressed dissatisfaction with how slowly the group moved to address standards. The pace was not in keeping with Aluria's aim of developing an effective response system to spyware threats, the company has noted.

Fly in the Ointment

Disappointment over COAST's failure to meet its goals is the most frequently voiced reason that the founding companies have left, but some observers have wondered how much the recent of inclusion of 180solutions has damaged the group, according to news reports.

Search marketing company 180solutions recently was granted membership, despite the fact that it is an adware firm.

Richard Stiennon, vice president of threat research at Webroot, said that the company was uncomfortable with adware and spyware companies becoming members, news reports note.

Webroot abstained from the vote to include 180solutions. Members that did vote specified that the company had to agree to work with COAST to improve its practices.

' Samuel Fineman, Esq., Editor-in-Chief