Photos: Coming to grips with adware

Backers of the Trusted Download Program chat at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., before the announcement on Nov. 16, 2005, of the effort designed to help consumers deal with spyware. From left to right: Doug Leeds, vice president at Yahoo; FTC commissioner Jon Leibowitz; Congresswoman Mary Bono; Fran Maier, executive director of Truste; Jules Polonetsky, vice president, America Online.

Fran Maier of online watchdog Truste introduces the media to the Trusted Download Program, backed by America Online, Yahoo, CNET Networks, Verizon and Computer Associates. (CNET Networks is the parent company of CNET News.com.)

Congresswoman Mary Bono expresses her support for the initiative. Under the program, Truste will certify applications downloaded to desktops as friendly and noninvasive.

Doug Leeds, a vice president at Yahoo, talks about the Trusted Download Program. The Web giant developed the effort in tandem with Truste.