NEW YORK (AP) – An organization that monitors Web site privacy and e-mail practices for businesses has certified eight computer programs as consumer-friendly and non-invasive.
The list includes Save 4.0 from WhenU.com, a company that previously drew criticisms for its software distribution methods but has more recently pledged changes.
TRUSTe’s Trusted Download Program is designed to help companies like Time Warner Inc.’s AOL, Microsoft Corp. and Yahoo Inc. make decisions about where to advertise and with whom to partner.
Yahoo, which has been accused in the past of benefiting from adware companies with questionable installation practices, has said the certifications could prove useful in determining whether to make Yahoo’s search results available to other companies as a component of their toolbars and other software products.
Independent technicians hired by TRUSTe review software used for advertising or tracking user behavior. Certified adware and other software must obtain consent before downloading, be easy to uninstall and cannot modify computer settings to cause damage or harm.
In unveiling the initial list of eight programs Thursday, TRUSTe said all applicants had made changes to software behavior or disclosure to receive certification. The organization said it turned down a number of applicants and is reviewing another dozen, although it did not name them.
Besides Save 4.0, the certified programs are CamFrog Video Chat 3.81 from Camshare LLC, Coupon Bar 5.0 and Coupon Printer 5.0 from Coupons Inc., Crawler Toolbar 4.2 from Crawler LLC, Illumio 1.2.73 from Tacit Software Inc., MostFun 1.0 from NeoEdge, and Vomba 1.2.0.0 from Vomba Network Inc.
Older versions of the software are not necessarily compliant.
TRUSTe said it would continue monitoring the programs certified.
“The Trusted Download Program represents another important step toward making downloadable software more transparent,” Ari Schwartz, deputy director of Center for Democracy and Technology, said in a statement. “By assuring compliance with consumer protection standards, the Trusted Download Program will help companies make more informed decision about potential partners in this growing industry.”
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