CatSnak
RIP Splashy - We miss you
Premium
join:2001-05-06
Lakeside, CA | Go figure...
One item that really needs some legislation against it and they can't even define it properly!!
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damonlab
Premium
join:2001-05-02
Detroit, MI
clubs:  | Spyware defined....
Anything produced by doubleclick, gator, or cydoor. |
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Dagda1175
join:2001-06-17
Goleta, CA |  Careful, gator will sue you for saying that! |
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averagedude
join:2002-01-30
Mesa, AZ
 ·Cox HSI
| Know it when I see it
Didn't a famous person once say something to the effect of - I can't define it, but I know it when I see it.
Isn't this similar?
Are we not all held hostage by EULA? Example, we don't own what we just purchased - thus enforcing the ability to "spy" legally.
What about bundling something we want with something we don't want. Here are a couple of samples to fix first:
How about breaking each one out.
Change all legal text in to simple English.
No reporting back to a "server" with out expressed consent.
No automatic op-in. |
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TheXerox
join:2002-04-05
Iowa
| reply to CatSnak
Re: Go figure...
I certainly hope they find a way to define it and soon. I do tech support for an ISP and I get a couple of spyware calls every day. It's made worse by the ever changing tactics these morons who create the spyware use (ie: hacking the hosts file, editing the registry, re-installing the spyware as someone is uninstalling it, etc). IMO, this would be a law which is long overdue but one which will be welcomed by myaself and many other techs. |
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petecellar
join:2002-10-15
Philadelphia, PA
| reply to averagedude
Re: Know it when I see it
said by averagedude  :
Change all legal text in to simple English.
No reporting back to a "server" with out expressed consent.
No automatic op-in.
I like that criteria.
My sentiments exactly. |
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gruggni
Oxygen Gets You High
join:2003-07-28
Corpus Christi, TX
| what's inside the code?
Do you trust Microsoft enough not to slip in any tracking code into their outlook or office package software? Spyware can hide in major applications without the consumer knowing it.
The reality is, if some form of software is accused of being spyware, the only way to verify is to look at behavior or the actual code. Now let's say, a software package written by microsoft is accused of being spyware. How will the legal system go about viewing the code protected by other laws? Now is the time for the DMCA to shine before going nova. It's against the law to crack or reverse engineer licensed or patented software. So how will legislation be written to bypass the DMCA. How will the courts go about verifying software in the event of slander? I think the bad laws already written will finally be noticed, as bad.
Not to start a panic but this hidden-ware thing has been going on for years.
The infamous "Easter Eggs" hidden in software; the software we buy has hidden code for hidden uses.
Back-doors in pgp software so the NSA can sneak in. The USA sneaks things into certain technologies that are for the purpose of national security. Homing chips were put into computer processors sent to Iraq before the 1991 war.
Software written for the sole purpose of spying or collecting data without the user's consent is considered spyware.
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When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading. --Henny Youngman |
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Stewy85
Premium
join:2003-01-16
Sharon, WI
clubs:
| reply to damonlab
Re: Spyware defined....
I agree. |
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koveman
join:2002-01-23
Phoenix, AZ
| reply to petecellar
Re: Know it when I see it
All software should also be required to have a complete working uninstall routine. This should scrub the registry, install folder and any related files or cookies. Legitimate software companies should have no problem with that. I'm particularly miffed by what these programs do to the registry. Complete cleanup takes forever if done manually. The second I click uninstall I want that software to be dead. |
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jtudor
Xm 60's On 6 Freak
Premium,MVM
join:2002-12-07
Morganton, NC
| reply to Dagda1175
Re: Spyware defined....
said by Dagda1175 :
Careful, gator will sue you for saying that!
Let 'em sue Congress and see how far they get!!
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Best of luck
"Do, or Do not, there is no try!" Yoda |
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Mr_Stealth
Premium
join:2001-05-18
Lucasville, OH
clubs:
·RoadRunner Cable
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| reply to gruggni
Re: what's inside the code?
said by gruggni :
Do you trust Microsoft enough not to slip in any tracking code into their outlook or office package software? Spyware can hide in major applications without the consumer knowing it.
I have noticed that Windows Explorer has a tendency to "call home" to an IP that is owned by Microsoft. I have noticed it in my Zone Alarm logs (I have ZA set to block access to IPs outside of my LAN), sometime it does it random, but other times it happens when I am installing a program (this is with apps that have nothing to do with Microsoft).
--
Say goodbye to your privacy and security.
Say no to TCPA/TCG/NGSCB |
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flex5e
Volvo Fever
join:2003-06-24
UK
clubs:
| reply to averagedude
Re: Know it when I see it
said by averagedude :
Change all legal text in to simple English.
No reporting back to a "server" with out expressed consent.
No automatic op-in.
You're bang on the money there, but there is another major one...
Two buttons saying:
"Do you wish to install gator? YES or NO" |
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edbo245
Premium
join:2003-03-22
Wickliffe, OH
clubs: | reply to Dagda1175
Re: Spyware defined....
Careful, gator will sue you for saying that!
___________________________________________________________
Lol |
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Anti_Cyrix
Premium
join:2003-03-06
Sacramento, CA | reply to jtudor
I wonder whose shoulder Gator is going to cry on after congress defines them as spyware.
said by Martin Lawrence:
You wanna cry on somebodies shoulder? Go cry on SuperDick!
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Spore Cloud
I H8 Computers
join:2001-09-09
Burleson, TX
| A good definition.
Spyware is a program or program code that logs what a person does on a computer without the users consent and/or knowledge and has the primary purpose of directed advertisement and/or consumer research and/or zombification of the affected host.
A zombified computer awaits commands by its controller/s, the one/s that are/is responsible for the program or program code that affected the host computer and turned it to the zombie state.
Do they need a better definition than that? It works, well I think. |
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Affliction
@bc.ca | How's this sound:
Spyware: software that does anything that it is not advertised, in big, visible, non-fine-print text, to do. (Precision Time and Date Manager, anyone?)
Software that collects any information located on the user's computer without asking. |
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applelover
Premium
join:2002-04-15
Commerce City, CO
| reply to flex5e
Re: Know it when I see it
said by flex5e :
Two buttons saying:
"Do you wish to install gator? YES or NO"
Better yet.
Two buttons saying:
NO and HELL NO
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Keep it pithy, if you wish to opine. |
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Minvaren
Premium
join:2001-07-26
Houston, TX
clubs: | reply to koveman
quote:
I'm particularly miffed by what these programs do to the registry. Complete cleanup takes forever if done manually.
Ever tried to uninstall a Symantec product, or MS Office? Hoooo-boy. |
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Transmaster
Don't Blame Me I Voted For Bill and Opus
join:2001-06-20
Cheyenne, WY
·Qwest.net
| This is how it should be done.
Sorry this thread is about Spyware. However this spam filter is to good to delete.
I am running Spamnet (beta) with outlook express this is the best spam filter I have ever used. It goes by the premise people out there know what spam is. Every one who runs this software contributes to the data base. It works smoothly with Outlook Express. below is the link, give it a try and see what you think.
»www.cloudmark.com/products/spamnet/
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I love Irish Terriers, Low Brass, and the electric blue glow of an 866 mercury vapor rectifier tube at night. |
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Omega
Displaced Ohioan
Premium
join:2002-07-30
Cheyenne, WY
clubs: | reply to TheXerox
Re: Go figure...
I help my freinds out with their computers, and spyware is the #1 thing that screws their computers up.
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"The doctor's X-Rayed my head and found nothing" |
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