Anti-spyware groups target bogus music search site

Two anti-spyware watchdogs are urging federal regulators in the US to take action against a music search website they say is a front for malicious software.

FastMP3Search.com.ar, registered in Argentina, advertises itself as a search service for music files but instead tricks people into loading a host of malicious applications onto their PC and opens computers up to further cyber attacks, according to the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) and StopBadware.org.

John Palfrey, co-director of the StopBadware coalition, said: "In the past year, we've come across dozens of malicious programs available on hundreds of websites, and without question, the FastMP3Search.com.ar plug-in tops our list of the worst actors."

The CDT and StopBadware said they will file a joint complaint against the website with the US Federal Trade Commission today. StopBadware.org is an initiative, backed by Google, Lenovo and Sun Microsystems, that aims to create a blacklist of malicious software. The CDT is a watchdog group that runs the Anti-Spyware Coalition.

The music search site asks people to install a plug-in to be able to download MP3 files. This plug-in is actually a cocktail of malicious software that contains adware, Trojan horses and disables the Microsoft Windows firewall, according to the CDT and StopBadware.

Palfrey said: "They've combined so many bad things in a single bundle. It's a parade of horribles."

In tests of FastMP3Search.com.ar, StopBadware was unable to download any MP3 files from the site, the group said.

So far, the consumer protection group has not succeeded in tracking down the owner or operator of FastMP3Search.com.ar. However, it is hoping the FTC can determine who is behind the site and where they are located, a representative for StopBadware said.

The representative said: "The FTC has had success in working with other governments to help crack down on malicious websites and applications." The CDT and StopBadware are asking the agency to end the website's practices.

Joris Evers writes for CNET News.com