Microsoft Helps Write Oklahoma's Anti-Spyware Law

groovy.ambuj writes "The Inquirer reports that Microsoft has developed Oklahoma's 'Computer Spyware protection Act'. The law will supposedly protect people from unwarranted hackers or virus attacks and can fine individuals up to $1M who are found guilty of breaking into a computer without the owners knowledge. At the same time, it also allows some of the better known capable companies to 'look' into your computer for possible virus/spyware and fix the problem without informing you. And, while these friends are doing their job, they can also take the moment to do other things. "

Comments

Be afraid...

[IamGarageGuy 2]

be very afraid

So Linux and OS X will be defined as spyware?

[fdrebin]

Wouldn't suprise me none...

/F

Big Brother, nothing we can do?

[Komarechka]

When then pen it into law that companies can look inside of out machine to "fix" problems, does that mean it is illegal to prevent them from doing so?

Re:Big Brother, nothing we can do?

[TomTraynor]

Unless it is written into the law that you cannot prevent them from going in then it is allowed. Hopefully someone will get the lawmakers a clue bat and let them know that a third party has complete access to all of the lawmakers private and confidential information on their computers. The third party won't even need to be security cleared, that third party can grab anything and do anything without letting the person know.

Just great.

[Rob T Firefly]

In other news, Charles Manson has produced a flawless plan for the public to avoid being murdered by crazed serial killers, relying heavily on letting him murder you before any "really bad people" can.

obligatory...

[revery]

Clippy: It looks like you are writing a state law, do you mind if I insert Microsoft-friendly boilerplate?

[User clicks no.]

Clippy: Congratulations, your document has been modified and submitted for sponsorship and ultimately passage by Microsoft-owned employees... err shills... err statesmen... Thank you for using Microsoft Word. (Also, we'll keep that private folder between you and me, ok? It'd be a shame for the attorney general to see that...) Have a nice day! You poor little sheep... HA HA HA HA HA!

Will Tuttle have any input?

[Snap E Tom]

Heh. Because if they do, I'll bet Apache and CentOS gets listed as spyware.

clause for defective OS liability?

[potus98]

Perhaps the Act should be expanded to include liability for companies that offer operating systems with poorly designed security that permit (some of) such problems in the first place. Sure, users are responsable when they flip their car off the road, but auto-makers are still liable when they manufacture a vehicle with inherintly weak suspension arms.

Who mod'ed that "troll"?

[khasim]

From TFA:

Now because Microsoft knows that it sometimes need to get information from their users for upgrades, it has put in a clause to allow software companies to do this. Basically the Vole law demands that a software company licence agreement tells you the sort of data they are taking.

The problem is that if you agree, you give the company you bought upgradable software the freedom to come onto your computer for "detection or prevention of the unauthorized use of or fraudulent or other illegal activities in connection with a network, service, or computer software, including scanning for and removing computer software prescribed under this act."

In other words if you install Vista, Microsoft can come in, snoop around your computer see if you are doing anything illegal and delete it.

That certainly sounds like people should be opposed to this "law".

Re:Who mod'ed that "troll"?

[gurumeditationerror]

That's scarey, not only will Microsoft be able to snoop inside my computer and install stuff, but those who always hack Microsoft programs will be able to do the same.

Simple solution: Don't use Microsoft software.

Plus how will Microsoft know whats good for my computer.

Knowing what is good for your computer is not so much the concern but MS deciding what's good for your computer is.
Again: Don't use Microsoft software.

I'm running a certain version of Adobe Premiere on my Win2K machine. It runs fine as long as I keep it on SP2. If I upgrade the service pack, I unleash a whole new set of bugs that cause Premiere to act the fool. What if Microsoft decides it's about time I upgraded to SP4 and they screw up my stuff?

Simple solution: Don't use Microsoft software.

Re:Uhhhhh.... (more rights erosion)

[Intron]

Next thing you know, websites will be trying to prevent you from copying and pasting quotes into /. articles using hokey javascript.

Re:This is the problem damnit

[Like2Byte]

What kind of dumbass do you need to be to see this is a positive thing?

Hrm, I'll bite. http://www.tuttle-ok.gov/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SE C=%7BCC5DEFB6-1B2A-4783-A5F8-A92275C95081%7D

The FULL article by Ben Fenwick is here.

[enforcer999]

http://www.altweeklies.com/gyrobase/AltWeeklies/St ory?oid=oid%3A160151

=oO=

[qeveren]

Section 6 of the act says such a prohibition "shall not apply" to "telecommunications carrier, cable operator, computer hardware or software provider or provider of information service."

So... the law doesn't even apply to spyware, since companies that produce spyware are technically "software providers or providers of information service", no?

Big Brother is watching.......and Big uncle-in-law

[Drinkgreen]

For those of you unaware, Oklahomans are allowed to look at "special" pornography. "Special", meaning no penetration or ejaculation in our magazines, skin-a-max, or anything. Its hard as hell to find a total nude strip club in this state. Neighboring states already know this, such as Texas. When you travel south from Oklahoma, into Texas, the first thing you see (even before the "Welcome To Texas" sign) is a little building with a giant XXX sign. We Oklahoman's know when we've left the state, because all the porno shops appear.

I'm glad about this spyware law, but I think its just more about getting to see what's on user's computers , legally. The Anti-Spyware law is just a front. Oklahoma has been wanting to be able to monitor people for a long time. Which I understand on one hand, but also kind of sucks. I mean, our porn sucks anyway, but now we have to worry about someone watching us visit "non-Oklahoma" approved sites.

Intent of a law != Content of the law

[Kadin2048]

What you just said is exactly true, however it's not the complete extent of what's allowed. There's nothing in the bill that limits what Microsoft (or Norton, or whomever) can detect and delete from your computer, provided that it's illegal. The excuse is to allow them to delete spyware, but it just as easily allows them to do you the "service" of removing any unlicensed software you have on your computer.

The intent of a law and what it actually allows are often totally separate things.