FTC Examines Spyware Problem

April 19, 2004 - Privacy News

The Federal Trade Commission held a workshop today (April 19th) designed to explore the issues surrounding the distribution and effects of software that gathers information from a user's computer without their knowledge, and which may send that information back to another entity. Usually the often surreptitiously installed programs report back on a user's browsing habits for advertising purposes, but experts fear that criminals may use such software to access social security and credit card numbers.

More information is available at <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A22514-2004Apr18.html>.

Last updated April 19, 2004