Washington State Outlaws Spyware
Washington State has signed into law a bill outlawing spyware and setting a maximum fine of $100,000 per violation. While the cases resulting from this bill may be difficult to prosecute it is still a very good idea to get laws on the books. If we can’t block the spyware companies perhaps we can litigate them out of business. Of course this will do nothing to help with spyware originating outside of the US, but it is a start.
via Pundix
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At first thought I would think other countries would enforce the laws (when dealing with people of that country), but that I remember how people steal music, movies, and other such things and are safe because their servers are in some backward 3rd world country.
Is this “a start”?
Or are we headed down a path where the government’s solution is worse than the problem (DMCA) and doesn’t even solve the problem (DMCA).
How do you define *spyware* in a way that’s clear enough for lawyers and judges? The term is vague enough for us IT people… How do you outlaw something that’s so vague?
Miguel Lopes
My definitions. Yours may differ or be more inclusive.
Spyware is any computer code or program put onto my computer without my knowledge or permission that collects and sends information to another computer without my knowledge or permission. Generally this information may be private.
Malware is any computer code or program put onto my computer without my knowledge or permission, or that acts in a manner different then intended or advised, that may cause harm to any file, software, or hardware on or attached my computer, or act in any manner that I would not approve of and without my permission and or knowledge.
Included types of malware are Viruses, Trojan Horses, Spyware, Hijackers, Adware, and unnecessary cookies that expire in an unduly long time.
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How can we protect ourselves from offshore servers? Simple. Cut those countries off from the international networks. Forbid financial institutions from sending any money to these countries. Once they are isolated then maybe they will enact and enforce laws to prevent fraud, phishing, identity theft, spamming, etc.
For those countries unable to fight the computer underworld, then allow Interpol to help. There are currently many international agencies able to crack down, let us support them. The World Wide Web is international in scope so the fix will also need to be international in scope too.