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U.S. To Impose Spyware Control Laws

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the every-click-you-make dept.

ArbiterOne writes "BBC has the story: A bill has been introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives to control the proliferation of spyware and malware. The proposed bill would force programs to inform the user before installing programs, and require that spyware be easily removed. A study by EarthLink found that the average user has 28 spyware programs on their computer!"

2 of 402 comments (clear)

  1. Bloody obvious by hattig · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It is a shame that things like this need to be made law.

    I expect that spyware already falls under the Computer Misuse Act 1990 in the UK regarding modification of a computer system without the user/owner being aware.

    As far as I am aware, these bits of software are viruses and should be treated as such. Including the writers of said spyware.

  2. a lot of spyware already 'informs you'... by seibed · · Score: 5, Interesting

    a lot of spyware already 'informs you'... its just that the average public just clicks right through all of the legal stuff anyway.