Malware research group spins off from Harvard

(AP) — A research organization that tries to warn computer users about programs that do sneaky things on their computers has spun off from Harvard University.

The StopBadware outfit says it will operate as a standalone nonprofit with funding from Google Inc., eBay Inc.'s PayPal and Mozilla, which makes the Firefox Web browser.

StopBadware issues what it calls "badware alerts" about corporations whose applications do what the organization deems unwanted and harmful things to users' computers.

The idea is to warn users before they access a site with such a program. The list also is meant to pressure companies to change their tactics.

The group says it decided to break off from Harvard because it had grown beyond its roots as a research project.