Saturday, February 27, 2021
  • Setup menu at Appearance » Menus and assign menu to Top Bar Navigation
Advertisement
  • AI Development
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Machine Learning
    • Neural Networks
    • Learn to Code
  • Data
    • Blockchain
    • Big Data
    • Data Science
  • IT Security
    • Internet Privacy
    • Internet Security
  • Marketing
    • Digital Marketing
    • Marketing Technology
  • Technology Companies
  • Crypto News
No Result
View All Result
NikolaNews
  • AI Development
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Machine Learning
    • Neural Networks
    • Learn to Code
  • Data
    • Blockchain
    • Big Data
    • Data Science
  • IT Security
    • Internet Privacy
    • Internet Security
  • Marketing
    • Digital Marketing
    • Marketing Technology
  • Technology Companies
  • Crypto News
No Result
View All Result
NikolaNews
No Result
View All Result
Home Internet Security

Google bans stalkerware ads | ZDNet

July 11, 2020
in Internet Security
Google bans stalkerware ads | ZDNet
585
SHARES
3.3k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Google announced plans this week to ban ads that promote stalkerware, spyware, and other forms of surveillance technology that can be used to track other persons without their specific consent.

The change was announced this week as part of an upcoming update to Google Ads policies, set to enter into effect next month, on August 11, 2020.

You might also like

Berlin resident jailed for threatening to bomb NHS hospital unless Bitcoin ransom was paid

Chrome will soon try HTTPS first when you type an incomplete URL

Go malware is now common, having been adopted by both APTs and e-crime groups

Examples of products and services that advertisers won’t be able to promote via Google Ads anymore include:

  • Spyware and technology used for intimate partner surveillance including but not limited to spyware/malware that can be used to monitor texts, phone calls, or browsing history;
  • GPS trackers specifically marketed to spy or track someone without their consent;
  • Promotion of surveillance equipment (cameras, audio recorders, dash cams, nanny cams) marketed with the express purpose of spying.

Google said that private investigation services or products designed for parents to track or monitor their underage children are not banned under this new policy and will still be allowed to be advertised on its platform.

Offenders who promote stalkerware will receive a seven-day warning, after which they’ll be banned if they don’t remove the offending ads.

Fight against stalkerware is picking up

Google’s crackdown against stalkerware ads comes after the antivirus industry has banded together to add detections for stalkerware products in their virus scanning engines.

After improving their products, antivirus companies, along with several domestic abuse frontline organizations, also founded the ‘Coalition Against Stalkerware’ in November 2019, as the first global initiative of its kind, set up to raise awareness of the growing threat of stalkerware.

For those unfamiliar with the terms, stalkerware is a form of malware that is part of the larger spyware class.

Stalkerware refers to spyware apps specifically designed for couples that abusive partners install on the devices of their loved ones without their knowledge or consent — hence why stalkerware is also sometimes referred to as spouseware.

Stalkerware use has skyrocketed over the last decade due to the proliferation of mobile smartphones, as it allows jealous partners to keep tabs on their partners at all time just by tracking their phone.

Furthermore, the easy availability of stalkerware products on official app stores has also increased the visibility of these products and opened their reach to millions of potential users.

While Google, Apple, antivirus makers, and the FTC have cracked down on some of these apps, they have not gone away for good, but are actually more popular than ever.

According to statistics gathered by antivirus vendor Kaspersky, the number of users who had stalkerware-like apps installed on their Android devices rose from 40,386 devices detected in 2018 to more than 67,500 in 2019.

The good news is that according to independent antivirus testing lab AV-Comparatives and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, detections rates for stalkerware applications on Android and Windows devices have slowly improved, as the issue is gaining more press coverage and security vendors are moving in to address their growing risk.

By limiting the visibility of stalkerware products on its advertising platform, Google has helped take some of the traffic these malicious apps are getting on their sites.

Credit: Zdnet

Previous Post

Contact Tracing Apps Use Machine Learning to Fight COVID-19 Outbreaks

Next Post

Why is Data Science, AI and ML key to Lead Digital Transformation?

Related Posts

Berlin resident jailed for threatening to bomb NHS hospital unless Bitcoin ransom was paid
Internet Security

Berlin resident jailed for threatening to bomb NHS hospital unless Bitcoin ransom was paid

February 27, 2021
Chrome will soon try HTTPS first when you type an incomplete URL
Internet Security

Chrome will soon try HTTPS first when you type an incomplete URL

February 27, 2021
Go malware is now common, having been adopted by both APTs and e-crime groups
Internet Security

Go malware is now common, having been adopted by both APTs and e-crime groups

February 27, 2021
Why your diversity and inclusion efforts should include neurodiverse workers
Internet Security

Why your diversity and inclusion efforts should include neurodiverse workers

February 26, 2021
Attorney-General urged to produce facts on US law enforcement access to COVIDSafe
Internet Security

Attorney-General urged to produce facts on US law enforcement access to COVIDSafe

February 26, 2021
Next Post
Why is Data Science, AI and ML key to Lead Digital Transformation?

Why is Data Science, AI and ML key to Lead Digital Transformation?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recommended

Plasticity in Deep Learning: Dynamic Adaptations for AI Self-Driving Cars

Plasticity in Deep Learning: Dynamic Adaptations for AI Self-Driving Cars

January 6, 2019
Microsoft, Google Use Artificial Intelligence to Fight Hackers

Microsoft, Google Use Artificial Intelligence to Fight Hackers

January 6, 2019

Categories

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data
  • Blockchain
  • Crypto News
  • Data Science
  • Digital Marketing
  • Internet Privacy
  • Internet Security
  • Learn to Code
  • Machine Learning
  • Marketing Technology
  • Neural Networks
  • Technology Companies

Don't miss it

Berlin resident jailed for threatening to bomb NHS hospital unless Bitcoin ransom was paid
Internet Security

Berlin resident jailed for threatening to bomb NHS hospital unless Bitcoin ransom was paid

February 27, 2021
The Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)
Data Science

The Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)

February 27, 2021
Healthcare leaders debunk 3 myths about machine learning
Machine Learning

Providence exec explains the differences, their healthcare applications

February 27, 2021
Future Tech: Artificial Intelligence and the Singularity | by Jason Sherman | Feb, 2021
Neural Networks

Future Tech: Artificial Intelligence and the Singularity | by Jason Sherman | Feb, 2021

February 27, 2021
Chrome will soon try HTTPS first when you type an incomplete URL
Internet Security

Chrome will soon try HTTPS first when you type an incomplete URL

February 27, 2021
Cisco Releases Security Patches for Critical Flaws Affecting its Products
Internet Privacy

Cisco Releases Security Patches for Critical Flaws Affecting its Products

February 27, 2021
NikolaNews

NikolaNews.com is an online News Portal which aims to share news about blockchain, AI, Big Data, and Data Privacy and more!

What’s New Here?

  • Berlin resident jailed for threatening to bomb NHS hospital unless Bitcoin ransom was paid February 27, 2021
  • The Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) February 27, 2021
  • Providence exec explains the differences, their healthcare applications February 27, 2021
  • Future Tech: Artificial Intelligence and the Singularity | by Jason Sherman | Feb, 2021 February 27, 2021

Subscribe to get more!

© 2019 NikolaNews.com - Global Tech Updates

No Result
View All Result
  • AI Development
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Machine Learning
    • Neural Networks
    • Learn to Code
  • Data
    • Blockchain
    • Big Data
    • Data Science
  • IT Security
    • Internet Privacy
    • Internet Security
  • Marketing
    • Digital Marketing
    • Marketing Technology
  • Technology Companies
  • Crypto News

© 2019 NikolaNews.com - Global Tech Updates