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Washington State Outlaws Spyware

Posted by timothy on from the good-luck-with-all-that dept.

An anonymous reader submits "Today, the Governor of Washington signs a a bill outlawing spyware (bill history) which imposes penalties of $100,000 per violation. Spyware is broadly defined. It includes everything from changing a browser's bookmarks or homepage settings, "Opening multiple, sequential, stand-alone advertisements in the owner or operator's internet browser", keystroke-logging, taking over control of the computer, modify its security settings, and even "Falsely representing that computer software has been disabled." But here is my favorite: "Prevent, through intentionally deceptive means, an owner or operator's reasonable efforts to block the installation or execution of, or to disable, computer software by causing the software that the owner or operator has properly removed or disabled automatically to reinstall or reactivate on the computer." Microsoft and Ebay both testified in support of the bill. On May 10th, a similar law banning Internet and email phishing was also passed."

12 of 318 comments (clear)

  1. If I'm not mistaken... by NoMoreNicksLeft · · Score: 5, Funny

    Washington state also outlawed killing sasquatch.

    1. Re:If I'm not mistaken... by geekoid · · Score: 4, Funny

      and not a single one has been killed since.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    2. Re:If I'm not mistaken... by plover · · Score: 5, Funny

      Oh, come on, the governor is going to sign ANYTHING Redmond wants signed. If Bill Gates wants Sasquatch dead, Sasquatch is gonna die. Make no mistake.

      --
      John
    3. Re:If I'm not mistaken... by Surt · · Score: 4, Funny

      That's not true, I killed one last week. Just wasn't in washington state, so i'm off the hook as far as the law is concerned. Sure, some people will argue 'it was just a hairy guy backpacking in the redwood forests!', but I had my hunting license.

      --
      "Who is the Journal of Quantum Physics going to believe?" --Stephen Hawking
    4. Re:If I'm not mistaken... by bladesjester · · Score: 3, Funny

      "Not every tech-head in Seattle submits to the deathstar "

      What does AT&T have to do with this?

      --
      Everything I need to know I learned by killing smart people and eating their brains.
  2. I see why you like that line by Seiruu · · Score: 1, Funny

    IE = Spyware

    Now they get to use their new search function to search for the contents of Bill's bank account.

  3. Re:Don't you hear it? by MightyMartian · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Sea," cried Canute, "I command you to come no further! Do not dare touch my feet!"

    --
    The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
  4. Washington State charges MS Windows by bosewicht · · Score: 1, Funny

    News Flash, Washington State has just charged Windows for intentionally building a OS that allows Spyware to propagate, the FBI may need to step in as this allows the Spyware to spread across State Lines.

    --
    There are 10 kinds of people in the world - those who understand binary and those who don't
  5. more jobs lost by kingjosh · · Score: 2, Funny

    So now they'll have to outsource spyware writers to third world countries? AND move the company's there?

  6. Re:Realplayer now illegal? hopefully by Rorschach1 · · Score: 4, Funny
    ...or any other peripheral your PC may have seen on a TV commercial

    This is exactly why I don't let my PC watch TV.

  7. HEY! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    > Sure, some people will argue 'it was just a hairy guy backpacking in the redwood forests!', but I had my hunting license.

    You bastard, you killed RMS!

  8. That does it. by Zillatron · · Score: 2, Funny
    I will now change my registration information information for the things that won't operate without registration to:
    • DOB: 1901-01-01
    • Gender: F
    • Income: Under $X,XXX
    • Children: 0.3
    • e-mail: not@today.con
    • Address: 123 Main, Anywheresville, WA 99999

    I'm just not worth your time to try marketing to me. Even on legit registration they get my area code followed by 555-1212. I'm listed. Look me up.

    --
    Hey!!! the parentheses are good for something