U.S. House Passes Anti-Spyware Legislation

Consumers regularly report to ConsumerAffairs.com about them becoming victims of spyware. spyware is malicious software that accumulates data and passes it to companies and advertisers who use that to flood consumers with pop-up ads and sometimes even steal their identities.

The Energy and Commerce Committee's panel on commerce, trade and consumer protection orally approved an anti-spyware bill. The panel is thinking of holding a hearing in May on computer data theft at retailer TJX Cos. Inc. This company recently had suffered a theft of its consumers' database of 45 million credit and debit cards.

The bill moving through the House will make the damaging forms of spyware prohibitory under law. By a voice vote the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection passed the spy act.

Advertisers who install spyware on consumers' PCs to monitor their online activities will have to obey the new law. According to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee's approval of the bill, software distributors and advertisers will have to clearly inform and acquire consent from users before implanting spyware programs onto their PCs. Imediaconnection published this in news on April 20, 2007.

The new law would serve to protect consumers from damaging spyware that usually digs out personal information from the computers of unwary users. PCmag published this in news on April 20, 2007. Those who would violate the law shall face a fine up to $3 million for every deceptive act.

It is of top importance to safeguard Internet users from harmful programs that steal consumers' identities, illegally enter their software or just harass them, said Democrat John Dingell of Michigan, chairman of the full committee. Extremetech published this on April 20, 2007. spyware gets installed on computers when users visit certain websites. That results in several intrusions and forceful advertisements.

Many online advertisers often consider spyware a nefarious practice. Author of "Fishing from a Barrel", Rob Graham alerted that people tend to confuse spyware with adware. Legitimate advertisers can fall in the trap of legal quarrel over spyware where similarities exist. The poisonous spyware programs can drown legitimate adware campaigns, writes Graham.

Related article: U.S. Businesses Lose $712 Per Worker Due to Spam

» SPAMfighter News - 4/30/2007