House approves spyware legislation

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Well... If you must know...

>>You obviously don't spend 20-30 hours a week removing this crap from employee's computers, or re-imaging them because the exploit (and these ARE exploits) install in ways that make removal too difficult or impossible.

You obviously also don't know that Spyware is now the #1 cause for calls to corporate help desks (and other help desks around the world) and that the existance of this crap is generating it's own brand of FUD-ridden deceptive sales pitching for removal tools, some of which themselves INSTALL Spyware instead of actually removing it.

If you did, your position would change.<<

Not quite 20-30 hours a week, but I've put in my share time of cleaning up systems... Made a nice chunk of change consulting with those unfortunate souls who aren't savvy enough to clean up the mess themselves... Been there, done that, got the t-shirt and wore it out.

There are just TWO tiny little problems with any anti-spyware law enacted by the US Government.

1.) The internet is a GLOBAL entity. Sure, we enact legislation X that bans spyware, inflicts heavy fines for anyone writing, distributing or hosting spyware, includes some jail time and possibly involves some torture such as removal of the bugger's fingers with a rusty hacksaw. It all sounds wonderful. But how the heck do you enforce this law when the perp who wrote the bugger is living in say, a country with NO extradition treaty with the US?

This law is nothing more than a "Feel Good" law. It makes the House and Senate look like they're on the ball, doing something about the problem and gives everyone the "warm fuzzies" thinking that justice will be done should they get infected - when in reality, the law is quite probably worth less than the reams of paper it was printed, collated and distributed (to the members of Congress) on.

Sure... If someone living in the US were to be stupid enough to write a particularly nasty piece of spyware, distribute it, piss off enough people to be reported AND not cover his tracks ten ways till next Tuesday, then yes, the bugger would and should get what's coming to him/her/it...

The lone gunman who voted "no" has the right idea, even if it's for not quite the right reasons.

2.) Enforcement... In this era - with terrorists out there who trying their damnedest to destroy our way of life - all because we do things they find offensive to their medieval sensibilities - who exactly is going to do anything about enforcing this law? Local cops? Doubt it. They've got enough on their plates dealing with murder, rape, robberies, and the usual plethora of crime. A new division of Homeland Security, perhaps? Maybe, but they've got their hands full tracking down and neutralizing the REAL bad guys. How seriously is anyone going to take spyware? I'd say that this is going to be one of those things with a very, VERY low priority...

Either way, we're back to square one...

Posted by: Wolfie2K3   Posted on: 10/07/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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