Web Of Trust

[Helpmeh]

On a whole, I love Web Of Trust (commonly referred to as WOT). It warns me when I visit sites that have been rated too poorly, and I can read other users' comments on the sites. It shows up next to Google search results, and steers me away from unsavory sites. WOT, along with Firefox's Phishing and Malware protection, Comodo DNS, up-to-date antivirus software, and web-smarts (street smarts for the 21st Century) have kept my computer relatively safe over the years.

What I've noticed, is that a lot of times people only rate sites they feel are bad, to ensure that nobody unknowingly installs adware or junkware. That's great and all, but of WOT's algorithm to prevent fake ratings[1] can make it so these ratings have little-to-no effect. A prime example of this issue is the rating for Conduit.com, a site which adds (sometimes with no opt-out option, sometimes with users still opting out[2]) toolbars, junkware, and adware to users' computers (often through deceit[3]), and changing their homepage to a fake Google search (where they pump up affiliate sites in the results[4]). This site packages its software with legitimate programs like μTorrent and is known to be difficult to remove, staying on the user's computer after uninstalling the parent program, using the Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs option, and using professional software[5].

With all that in mind, one would think they would have a similar `Reputation` to Screensavers.com[6] (a common adware propagating website), but in all 4 rating categories (`Trustworthiness`, `Vendor reliability`, `Privacy`, and `Child safety`) Conduit.com scores above 85/100[7]. But wait, the people commenting tend to STRONGLY disagree with this rating.

Statistics[8]:
Spam - - 1
Annoying ads or popups - - 13
Phishing or other scams - - 13
Browser exploit - - 91
Spyware or adware - - 12
Ethical issues - - 1
Useless - - 4
Other - - 9

Annoying ads or popups, Phishing or other scams, BROWSER EXPLOIT, and SPYWARE OR ADWARE should be enough on their own to put the ratings for Conduit.com down and send red flags each time someone visits the site. Something is definitely wrong here, both on Conduit.com, and myWOT.com's `Scorecard` for it. Web Of Trust's `Scorecard FAQ`[9] says that "A site's reputation is computed from ratings, not comments. Leaving a comment is completely optional and meant to provide more information," but when comments completely go against the current ratings - and are only visible when people click through to the scorecard (which is never suggested unless the site receives poor ratings) - many users could install adware, malware, or other junkware, when they think they are installing legitimate software because WOT says the site is `Excellent`.

I still feel that Web Of Trust should be a recommended addon for all browsers, but it is not a replacement for any kind of security software, or web-smarts.

Surf safely, my friends.

Web Of Trust download: Click Here

[evilfantasy]

You have to keep in mind that the comments and ratings on scorecards are separate. Comments are just comments and have no bearing on the rating. Many, many more people usually rate websites then there are those who rate and comment so yes some sites that seem like they should have low ratings are actually pretty hard to change since obviously way more people rated positively.

I'm not surprised that Conduit has a green scorecard because it should. Conduit toolbars in malware removal forums are almost always left alone (users choice) because they are not malicious. Many people when installing something just click, click, click and don't bother to deny certain features so they call it malicious or whatever when it is actually just user error.

What I've noticed, is that a lot of times people only rate sites they feel are bad, to ensure that nobody unknowingly installs adware or junkware.

True. But there are those who rate good websites as well as bad ones. Just search for the word 'official' in the search box on the WOT Forums.

If you do ever run into a website that you know should be rated differently (either green, yellow or red) then just start a topic in the WOT Forums with your reason for disagreeing with the rating and others will join in and get to the bottom of it. 

[Helpmeh]

I'm just saying that 91 people commented saying it's a browser exploit; 26 that it's annoying, phishing, or a scam; 12 said that it's spyware, and 6 more for other negative sections. If 135 out of 144 total people are saying it's such a bad site (possibly more, including some of the "other" category), and that's only including people who not only have WOT, but are commenting, then MAYBE SOMETHING IS WRONG.

Maybe the site itself is totally OK, as long as you don't install their software. That seems to be the only logical explanation for why it has an excellent rating.

[evilfantasy]

I checked the profiles of the first 10 or so comments from the Conduit scorecard. They all had relatively low ratings activity. People with low activity have less "power" to influence a scorecard. That "power" level is reduced even more if they are rating in the opposite direction as those who have high activity scores. A high activity score means you have more "power" and can turn a scorecard from red to green or vice versa with just a few ratings from power users much easier than with even 100's of low level ratings.

[evilfantasy]

Its not always 100% accurate. Used along with some common since and it can be quite effective.