The U.S. government has sued a New Hampshire man in its first attempt to crack down on Internet "spyware" that seizes control of a user's computer without permission. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission on Thursday asked a federal court to shut down an operation that it said disables users' computers in an attempt to bully them into buying anti-spyware products. Internet users unwittingly download the software when they visit Web sites that contain certain banner ads, the FTC said.

The software exploits a hole in Microsoft Corp.'s Internet Explorer Web browser to work its way onto computers without users' knowledge, according to the lawsuit. A Washington consumer group, the Center for Democracy and Technology, had demonstrated the software to Reuters before it filed a complaint with the FTC in February. The software hijacks Web browsers, causes CD-ROM trays to mysteriously slide open and slows down computers or causes them to cease working altogether.

Take a look at:

hxxp://www.passthison.com/

Its harmless now guys. :)

Credit: NeoWin

Good, hope they sue the pant's off them. This is as close to virus writing that you can get and the perpetrators need to be dealt with harshly, 15 years and a hefty fine still wouldnt be enough.

Gee DoG - you are getting soft in your old age but what you propose sound like a plan.

This is an issue that has been very slow for our government to address. They have spent all their time worring about SPAM while spyware has become worse than viruses. :angry: