New Anti-Spyware Bill

[diggingforgold]

http://news.com.com/2100-1028_3-5057094.html?tag=fd_top

Lawmakers are introducing a bill that would make spyware companies ask permission before collecting and/or sending personal information or Internet browsing statistics on their programs (spyware). It would also require them to make sure you are aware that the software you are using contains spyware (other than just fine print).

It's about time! First antispam laws, then no-call-list, and now new rules and regulations on spyware applications!

[IR1]

Finally my Tax dollars are going to something other than welfare.

[InThrees]

You know, I never understood how the MAJORITY of these programs couldn't be considered trojans.

- 99% of the people who have them installed don't know they are there.

- Those same people would be very mad if they knew there was a program collecting personal information and USING it.

- Removal of most of the programs is downright difficult, and some are nearly impossible to remove - especially the ones that replace winsock, etc.

Why is that even legal in the first place?

[diggingforgold]

I agree. It shouldn't be. It seems like an attack when you accidentally get one of these things infested on your computer. It's worse than AOL.

Then when you find out it's there and want it to stop, you have to go through hell just to remove it.

[OSUmaxx]

This is great news :) I hope this gets passed, though I agree that it should already be illegal.

[su root]

... and this will only cover programs created in the US....
spyware from other countries will be unaffected, I assume?

[Mr. $T$]

Glad to see this kind of nonsence being taken serously, it is about time that the goverment does somthing in the endusers favor insted of the software makers.

So screw you ad-flow, gater, bonzi buddy. You will not be missed :clap:

[nealric]

yeah, I must say spyware has become the #1 reason people have "slow computers".

Every time I go do some repairs for someone, I end up having to do spyware removal. On my familys computer, its a constant chore to remove the spyware they unwittingly download.

I say spyware is worse than viruses and spam!

[Jeff Bolton]

i can't imagine being one of the poor saps working for these companies.

"hey bill, i heard you got a new job."
"yeah man, its great"
"oh yeah, where at?"
"software company."
"that narrows it down. which one?"
*cough*"gator corp"*cough*
*man 1 kills man 2*

the next door neighbors hear a commotion and think nothing of it until three weeks later when they see the crime scene investigators putting a rotting corpse into a black truck and man 1 is on tv in an orange jumpsuit.

i mean, come on. how can you have any pride working for one of these companies? have you no shame? do us a favor and kill yourselves*.


*i don't condone suicide, but you know what i mean.

[Ben721]

Sorry to get off topic and all but if I had programming skills which I don't and some gator company offered me say a 6 figure job to do annoying but legal stuff, I'd do it.

I hate Spyware just as much as any of us, thank god for adaware. :)

[nealric]

So if I was a champion target shooter and some country named "North Korea" offered me a job as a sniper for 100k a year...

Comon man, its on the same moral plane!

[nealric]

Sorry

[nealric]

EDIT:

Sorry about the multi post
My net is quite fubared- Im not quite sure what happned.

[InThrees]

We heard you the first three times. ;)

And no, that is not even remotely the same moral plane of existence. While both may (*may!*) require someone to compromise some of their values, there's a big difference between writing annoying intrusive apps and taking a questionable job as a killer for hire, don't you think?

[Tismedt]

[loudspeaker voice]Mod please to aisle 3 antispyware for cleanup[loudspeaker voice]