Clean Software Alliance Announces Invesitgative Report on Practices by AppEsteem
25 Julio 2024 - 1:39PM
In a bombshell revelation, The Clean Software Alliance (CSA), has
unveiled shocking unethical practices and conflicts of interest at
the heart of AppEsteem Corporation, a major player in the
certification industry. This explosive report threatens to upend
the credibility of the entire anti-malware market credibility.
The CSA’s 18-month rigorous investigation, driven by escalating
concerns from its members, uncovered severe conflicts of interest,
ethical breaches, and a disturbing lack of transparency within
AppEsteem. These findings could shake the very foundations of trust
in the anti-malware software industry.
CSA Findings:
- Conflict of Interest: Dennis Batchelder,
Co-Founder and President of AppEsteem, simultaneously serves as the
President/CEO of the Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organization
(AMTSO). This dual role creates a glaring conflict of interest,
potentially coercing anti-malware companies to comply with
AppEsteem’s lists, thus compromising the integrity of the software
testing process.
- Lack of Industry Input: AppEsteem's
certification standards are set without sufficient consultation
from the software industry. This raises significant concerns about
fairness and transparency. AppEsteem's claimed industry
participation through "Clean Apps" (not associated with the Clean
Software Alliance) reveals financial and corporate ties that
further question the legitimacy of their standards.
- Non-Consensus Requirements: AppEsteem imposes
certification requirements that deviate from established
industry norms and lack broad consensus among anti-malware
companies.
- Inconsistent Application of Criteria:
AppEsteem's inconsistent application of certification criteria has
led to certified apps violating their own standards. Reports of
increased re-certification fees following delisting amplify
concerns over impartiality.
The report scrutinizes AppEsteem's certification process,
particularly its treatment of paying software applications versus
other software. The introduction of the 'deceptor' program in
2017 and AppEsteem's role within AMTSO are examined critically. The
report also questions the lack of industry input and the emergence
of non-consensus-based requirements.
Since its inception in 2016, AppEsteem has become a pivotal
player in the software certifications and classification domain,
working with hundreds of companies worldwide. Its standards
potentially impact many software products and, by extension,
thousands of users globally. AppEsteem's vast influence makes any
alleged unethical practices a significant issue, not just for the
immediate parties involved, but for the entire software
ecosystem.
"The integrity of anti-malware testing standards is
non-negotiable; it forms the bedrock of trust and credibility in
our industry," said Eddy Willems, COO of CSA Software. "Any
compromise here threatens not just the process, but the very
foundation of our industry's commitment to ethical standards."
The report chronicles AppEsteem's initial promise to clean up
the software monetization industry through certification services.
However, CSA’s findings paint a starkly different picture.
"Ironically, Clean Apps is funded by the fees paid to AppEsteem,
illustrating the effort invested by AppEsteem in creating a facade
of legitimacy," said Itay Milrad, former CTO of IronSource and a
CSA member.
"Protecting users from malicious software is an important role
not to be taken lightly. Consistent and transparent standards are
needed to maintain the integrity of the system," said Michael
Levit, Founder and CEO of Tempest and a CSA member. "Any hint of
pay-to-play or pay not to be a 'deceptor', regardless of the actual
integrity of their products, would compromise the system and the
trust of users that are theoretically being protected. There's an
urgent need for more transparency and openness in the evaluation
processes to ensure users are receiving the most reliable and
secure software options."
The CSA urgently calls for:
- Addressing conflicts of interest arising from Dennis
Batchelder's dual roles.
- Revising certification criteria.
- Clearly distinguishing violation severities.
- Fostering open communication with stakeholders.
- Implementing third-party oversight to restore integrity to the
software certification process.
The CSA’s findings demand immediate action to safeguard the
anti-malware industry’s credibility and protect users worldwide
from compromised software standards.
About CSA:The Clean Software Alliance (CSA) is
a non-profit organization founded in 2015. Its mission is to foster
a self-regulatory environment for the software industry. The CSA
achieves this by defining and upholding best practices in software
development, distribution, and monetization.
The CSA fosters an environment where software producers adhere
to agreed-upon ethical guidelines. Its diverse membership, from
anti-malware vendors and software distributors to major platforms,
works collaboratively to develop guidelines, policies, and
technologies that balance industry needs with consumer
protection.
The press release, the report supported by evidence like
screenshots, along with other very useful materials can be found
here.
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