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Malware vendor challenges security classification

An alleged malware vendor has gone to court to challenge its classification as a spyware company, reports say.

Chicago-based 7Search.com has launched a legal bid against the classification, which is in place courtesy of anti-malware organisation McAfee, a court filing from late August shows.

According to McAfee's SiteAdvisor, "feedback from credible users suggests that downloads on this site may contain what some people would consider adware, spyware, or other potentially unwanted programs", hence an X rating.

However, in the court documents, 7Search.com denies the claims stating that there is no such software despite the fact that 7FaSSt Toolbar, a piece of hijackware has been linked to the website.

"McAfee continues to incorrectly and falsely advise the public that 7Search.com contains downloads that are adware, spyware, or other potentially unwanted programs, when it is aware that there is no software on that site at all," the company states.

According to 7Search.com, "since at least 2003 there have been no direct downloads" of the hijackware on its site.

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