An illustration of Best Practices, taken from the StopBadware report
(WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — Non-profit security organization StopBadware (http://stopbadware.org) announced on Tuesday it has released “Best Practices for Web Hosting Providers: Responding to Malware Reports,” offering guidelines for hosting providers on addressing reports of malware on their networks.
The move follows StopBadware’s partnership in October with DNS solution provider Nominum, in which the companies launched its new SKYE Network Protection Services, giving providers a transparent method to have their sites reviewed.
StopBadware’s best practices set universal expectations for the role of web hosting providers of all sizes in managing badware.
Security researchers regularly detect websites containing malware on hosting providers’ networks and report them to providers.
Though some web hosting providers have regular procedures for responding to these complaints, the industry as a whole seems to lack a common universal procedure to address malware reports.
“When web hosting providers address reports of malware on their networks in a timely manner, they can greatly reduce the spread of badware,” says Maxim Weinstein, executive director of StopBadware. “StopBadware’s best practices aim to assist hosting providers by providing a clear, realistic framework that they can use to streamline response procedures and better protect users.”
Last November, StopBadware began increasing its focus on the role of hosting providers in strengthening the Internet ecosystem, forming an advisory working group to help develop best practices.
Hosting providers such as Verio, Go Daddy, SoftLayer, and Network Solutions have already voiced their support for the practices.
StopBadware has previously worked to create transparency, educational resources, and an appeals process for website owners whose sites have been blacklisted for badware content.
The organization will also release a full report on the state of badware this spring, and says it plans to develop additional best practices over the coming months.
StopBadware is also releasing additional materials to supplement the best practices, which will soon be available on its website.
This information is intended to help web hosting companies understand and adopt the practices.
The guidelines can now be downloaded for free from StopBadware’s website.
The non-profit organization works to stop viruses, spyware, and other badware with the support of Google, PayPal, Mozilla and Nominum.
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