October 2004
S M T W T F S
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31  

About

I am The Cyberwolfe and these are my ramblings. All original content is protected under a Creative Commons license - always ask first.
Creative Commons License

Archive for October 5th, 2004

The House sticks it to ’em!

Posted in Geekery on October 5th, 2004

Yahoo! News reports on this almost slam-dunk for computer users across America. The House of Representatives voted 399 to 1 to impose fines on the bastards who write and distribute spyware.

Wouldn’t you know it was a Texan Republican who voted against it.

The most egregious behaviors ascribed to the category of such software – secretly recording a person’s computer keystrokes or mouse clicks – are already illegal under U.S. wiretap and consumer protection laws.

The House proposal, known as the “Spy Act,” adds civil penalties over what has emerged as an extraordinary frustration for Internet users, whose infected computers often turn sluggish and perform unexpectedly.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Mary Bono (news, bio, voting record), R-Calif., provides guidelines for technology companies that distribute software capable of most types of electronic monitoring. It requires that consumers explicitly choose to install such software and agree to the information being collected.

Not surprisingly, an investigation revealed over 60 different varieties of spyware installed on the panel’s own computers. This bill adds civil fines to the toolbox authorities have for fighting cybercrime.

Law enforcement agancies operating under a wiretap order are, of course, exempt.

BOFH: How do you deal with authority? | The Register

Posted in Humor on October 5th, 2004

BOFH: How do you deal with authority? | The Register

Too priceless. Go take the test now. I said Now!