The United States House of Representatives recently passed the
Securely Protect Yourself Against Cyber Trespass Act, or the SPY
Act. The act requires any company that may be installing spyware
in your computer to first make the user aware of its presence.
Failing to give PC users the knowledge that spyware is being
installed will cost the violator up to $3 million in fines.
Unfortunately for internet users the Act will not do very much
against protecting internet privacy. Much of spyware works by
piggy backing its way in with the approved download of other
programs. In the license agreement spyware makes itself known,
following the stipulations of the Spy Act, but most users do not
read through an entire user agreement, they simply click \"I
agree.\" Because of this spyware will be able to remain a
prevalent internet threat.
It should also be noted that most spyware threats originate
outside of the United States, making it difficult to stop them
if the Act is breached. The Spy Act will most likely have as
little of an impact at the Spam Act to control junk email did.
For advertisers spyware is a lucrative business, especially
because the average computer is infected with nearly 30 spyware
applications. Most likely the spyware epidemic will not be
controlled until international regulations are set up and
enforced. Until then users should download, install and
regularly use some sort of anti-spyware software.
