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March 07, 2005

FTC Report on Spyware

The FTC has released a report entitled “Monitoring Software on Your PC: Spyware, Adware, and Other Software” as a follow up to its April 2004 workshop. I need to read through it, but it looks like a typical FTC response: “there’s a technology problem, consumers are screwed, so we should fix it through a combination of technology, education and enforcement.” To wit, the introduction concludes:

“The incidence of spyware can be decreased if the private sector and the government act, separately and in concert.
• Technological solutions – firewalls, anti-spyware software, and improved browsers and operating systems – can provide significant protection to consumers from the risks related to spyware.
• Industry should: (1) develop standards for defining spyware and disclosing information about it to consumers; (2) expand efforts to educate consumers about spyware risks; and (3) assist law enforcement efforts.
• Government should: (1) increase criminal and civil prosecution under existing laws of those who distribute spyware; (2) increase efforts to educate consumers about the risks of spyware; and (3) encourage technological solutions.”

Posted by Eric at March 7, 2005 06:05 PM | Adware/Spyware