A bill to outlaw certain forms of spyware is making its way through the House of Representatives. But if you think it will actually prevent spyware from getting on your computer, you have a lot to learn about government.
Spyware, in case you aren’t familiar, is malicious software that gets on your computer, usually through deceptive means, that then sends private personal information about you over the Internet to someone else. Spyware will be used to harvest your e-mail address book to deliver spam to all of your friends, to put unwanted ads, viruses and even pornography on your computer, and possibly even steal your identity. It’s generally nasty stuff.
And if you’ve ever had the stuff on your computer, dealt with the slowdowns, the maddening pop-ups that won’t go away, the pornography and gambling and prescription drug ads, you know how much of a pain spyware can be.
Congress, though, seems to think that they can just make the spyware problem go away by writing some words down on paper. Like they did with the spam problem a few years back. And if you believe that, I have some Viagra to sell you.
“As technology advances, it is imperative that the government remain aware and ahead of potentially damaging uses of that technology. Protecting Internet users from dangerous programs that steal consumers’ identities, invade their software or just plain harass them is a top priority,” Rep. John D. Dingell (D-Mich.), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce said in a prepared statement. . . .
The Spy Act would require companies to be more forthcoming with the terms of their spyware. It would require software distributors and advertisers to clearly notify and require consent from consumers of the programs and applications they download from the Internet.
Offenders could be fined up to $3 million for each unfair or deceptive spyware act or practice and up to $1 million for each violation regarding the collection of personal information without notice and consent. — Consumer Affairs
Like the threat of massive fines stopped the spammers. They just moved offshore. And spam is worse than ever.
The best way to deal with spyware, like computer viruses, is through prevention. Simple safe computing practices will almost always help keep your computer clean and free of malicious software and malicious people. Though it isn’t always enough, and that’s where anti-spyware software comes in. It operates as an adjunct to anti-virus software, and you should have both. For Windows XP and Windows Vista, the free Windows Defender will give you basic protection. If you need anti-virus and firewall software as well, like most people do, you can use Zone Labs’ ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite. This is what I personally use whenever I have to use Windows. I even paid for it.
(My Linux computers, of course, run no anti-virus or anti-spyware software; they’re completely irrelevant.)
Over two years ago, almost at the very beginning of this site, I wrote in more detail about securing your Windows computer. Most of the information is still relevant and useful today.
Homeland Stupidity receives a commission for purchases of Zone Labs products sold through this site. I would recommend them even without being paid to do so.
Except where otherwise noted, content on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works license.
Video published by this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Sampling+ license.
Bad Behavior has blocked 4509 access attempts in the last 7 days.
Facebook
Digg
del.icio.us
reddit.com
Newsvine
Johan
Apr 21, 2007
So, preventing spyware is like preventing HIV, you have to use protection. Outlawing spyware would do pretty much the same as outlawing HIV… exactly nothing.
Ray
Apr 21, 2007
Maybe we should make it a crime to run a computer on the internet without “protection”. Come to think of it maybe this is like HIV. After all it might be a good idea to make it a crime to know you have HIV and have unprotected sex.
Matthew
Apr 22, 2007
I agree that this will do nothing to stop all of the drug ads that you get. It probably won’t stop the pornography either. But I’m not sure it will be completely useless. It will require large coporations *cough* Microsoft *cough* to be more forthcoming about the shit that they put on your computer. It might also make companies like Google tell you upfront that they keep track of all of your search requests. So while I’m sure that 99% of spyware is from off-shore companies, there have been spyware and adware scandals involving big U.S. companies and this law will help prosecute those we catch, even if the companies decide that it’s still worth the risk.
Aidan
Apr 22, 2007
Unlike STDs in general, and HIV in particular, abstinence is an option for computing infections – you could abstain from using the most dangerous software (MS mail programs coupled with MS browsers) and instead use almost anything else (the ‘monoculture’ argument) ; you could abstain from using the most poorly-defended systems (probably Win9x, followed by WinME, with a toss-up between the XPs and Win2Ks for the next level). Or you could abstain from using computing altogether. Nothing like STDs at all, where abstineince really is a matter more important than life and death.
nick
Apr 26, 2007
unfortunately, the only defense against spam/spyware/etc. is a bit of moral fiber and common sense. would you really have a pressing need to verify your paypal information due to a random email, even though you haven’t used paypal in so many months? why would somebody bother making a flash animation or a screen saver or a word document to send it to you for free, when they could probably communicate the intended information via simple text of the email? do you really think your friend/complete stranger who obtained a video of britney spears naked would want to give it to you for free? i’d keep it in my private stash, or try to sell it to a few folks. it’s like that chick who bought a designer wedding dress on ebay for $2000 via western union. mind you, that’s very cheap for a designer wedding dress. then the person she bought it from sent an email saying “sorry, there’s no dress, you’ve been conned. thank you for your money and have a nice day.”
and how are we to learn common sense if we are not exposed to the con artists, occasionally fooled, and allowed to make the very mistakes we may learn from?
Q
Apr 27, 2007
I’m sure the last 500 pages of that bill which won’t actually be read by anyone, will have some new bullshit about how the new gestapo can now force recruit kids who get too much detention in school. no child left alive–I mean, behind.