Google Aims to Block Malicious Sites

Google officially launched a feature Friday that will alert users of its search engine when they visit a site suspected of distributing badware. The service is a partnership between Google and StopBadware.org, an organization aimed at stopping the spread of malicious software.

Before accessing the offending page, a page will list what issues StopBadware had uncovered in its own investigation of the page. Additionally, the page will offer the owners of the page suggestions on how to have the page removed from the organizations list.

The group is continuing its research, so not all pages will include detailed information just yet, it said. "But as we finish researching sites, we'll replace the general page with one of our individual website reports," of which it provided an example.

"Hopefully this next step will bring us that much closer to fulfilling our mission of providing people with reliable, objective information about downloadable applications in order to help them make better choices," it continued.

StopBadware.org was formed in January and is led by the Berkman Center at Harvard and the Oxford Internet Institute. The group also has the support of several technology companies, including Google, Sun and Lenovo.

Google had not responded to requests for comment as of press time.