Google are starting to crack down on spyware, malware and deceptive adware:

“Users will be warned before they enter sites that distribute “badware” — malicious software that feeds the user’s information to marketers who then send targeted ads — that can cause their computers to slow down or crash….Prominent technology companies are backing StopBadware, including Google, Lenovo and Sun Microsystems. The U.S. Consumer Reports WebWatch is an unpaid advisor…”

Nice move.

In other Google news, Google pay Murdoch $900 million (!):

“Murdoch’s News Corp. unveiled a deal with Google in which the Net giant will pay $900 million to take over the search engine for the social networking site MySpace, which is part of News Corp.’s Fox Interactive Media”.