House OKs tougher spyware penalties

MSNBC.com ^ | May 23, 2005 | Reuters

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

WASHINGTON - The House Monday voted to establish new penalties for purveyors of Internet "spyware" that disables users' computers and secretly monitors their activities.
By overwhelming majorities, the House passed two bills that stiffen jail sentences and establish multimillion-dollar fines for those who use secret surveillance programs to steal credit-card numbers, sell software or commit other crimes.

Spyware has emerged as a major headache for computer users over the last several years.

It can sap computing power, crash machines and bury users under a blizzard of unwanted ads. Scam artists use spyware to capture passwords, account numbers and other sensitive data.
Spyware can end up on users' computers through a virus or when they download games or other free programs off the Internet.

"Consumers have a right to know and have a right to decide who has access to their highly personal information that spyware can collect," said California Republican Rep. Mary Bono, who sponsored one of the bills.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Did a search and didn't see it posted. Looked interesting enough to post.

[MizSterious]

Is this even going to be enforceable? Or just another law on paper only? So many of these companies are off-shore.

[ShadowAce]

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

More big government nonsense to address a problem that has easily been remedied by the private sector.

Besides, most spyware and adware originates overseas. Good luck in trying to hunt down these scumbags.

[zeugma]

Much of this spyware is installed on Windows computers by international crime rings. This law may hit a few domestic unethical organizations, but the majority of offenders are not affected.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Besides, most spyware and adware originates overseas. Good luck in trying to hunt down these scumbags.

Exactly. At best, this legislation is 'feel good' tactics. At worst, it's more of the same from the Nanny state.

[KoRn]

As with everything I expect the Congress will do more harm than good. They will likely pass some worthless legislation that will do next to nothing to stop spyware, but have a big glorious title.

At the same time the bill will be loaded with lots of wicked little details that could screw over all of us Internet power users.

Beware!

[AJMaXx]

I have found spyware on computers right out of the box from the manufacturer. Who are they going to go after then, the company who built it? This stuff is just too crazy. I hate spyware, SPAM, virus'......Leave my computer alone...LOL

[Bush2000]

Much of this spyware is installed on Windows computers by international crime rings.

Proof?

[zeugma]

SANS has had many articles about this.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

So many of these companies are off-shore.

That's true, and no congressional law is going to stop them from installing their pestware.

[Hardastarboard]

Any penalties for spyware that don't involve severe genital mutilation are insufficient.

[jb6]

add me add me add me

[jb6]

It gives you grounds for extradiction of the scum.

[jb6]

And most of the countries from where these companies come from are recipients of our aid. Nothing like a good reason to cut the aid.

[ShadowAce]

You have been added
You have been added
You have been added

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Nothing like a good reason to cut the aid.

That would be an excellent idea, money is the only thing that gets their attention.

[supercat]

More big government nonsense to address a problem that has easily been remedied by the private sector.

My "dream" solution to spam/spyware would be to simply provide that if someone who perpetrates spam/spywhere is a victim of some crime, the state will simply say "Gee, that's too bad". The private sector could take things from there.