Explore the latest news and trends  

Sign up for our weekly security newsletter


Be the first to receive important updates on security





Send

With Sufficient Anti-Spyware Laws Europe Not Under U.S.’ Influence

Legal experts in U.K. have said that U.S.' efforts to control expansion of spyware may not influence European ideas to deal with the problem.

A House of Representatives subcommittee in the U.S. has legislated a law in first week of May 2007 prohibiting spyware. If the full House passes the bill again, and the Senate passes it too, and the U.S. President signs it then Internet users will finally be safe from the spyware menace. This will be possible, as spyware developers will never have the courage to go against the law.

The earlier editions of the Internet spyware Prevention Act failed to get the majority of votes in the U.S. Senate. However, the bill is now an approved Act that imposes a five-year jail term for fraudsters guilty of distributing malicious software.

Kiran Sanford, head of IT at law company Mishcon de Reya says it is difficult to formulate laws against spyware because they are very tricky. This is especially the case for some criminals outside one's jurisdiction such as in Russia or Timbuktu. The law's arm is not long enough to apply there and bring him to justice. PCpro.co published this on May 3, 2007.

According to Sanford, U.K. has already enacted legislation that rules spyware as illegal. The recently updated 'Computer Misuse Act' does not allow anyone to meddle with or modify some other person's software program. That more or less covers spyware crimes. Another rule under the 'Privacy and Electronic Communications EC Directive' mandates to give users the opportunity to discard cookies. Then there is the Data Protection Act. Itpro.co published Sanford's comments in news on May 3, 2007.

Sanford doesn't find it necessary to make further anti-spyware law in Europe unlike the experience in the U.S. However she thinks if the U.S. bill becomes law, U.K. companies should note it for a comparison. It could represent as one of the good practices, she said.

Spyware was on the top of the agenda during the International Technology Law Conference in Chicago in the end week of April 2007, concluded Sanford.

Related article: What To Do If A Virus Attacks Your PC?

» SPAMfighter News - 5/10/2007

3 simple steps to update drivers on your Windows PCSlow PC? Optimize your Slow PC with SLOW-PCfighter!Email Cluttered with Spam? Free Spam Filter!

Dear Reader

We are happy to see you are reading our IT Security News.

We do believe, that the foundation for a good work environment starts with fast, secure and high performing computers. If you agree, then you should take a look at our Business Solutions to Spam Filter & Antivirus for even the latest version of Exchange Servers - your colleagues will appreciate it!

Go back to previous page
Next