First Suit Filed Against Internet "spyware"

[war59312]

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

[DoG]

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.

[richardc2000]

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

[KingCobra]

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.