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Thread ID: 46209	2004-06-16 11:17:00	What is the point of Spyware?	Winston001 (3612)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
245205	2004-06-16 11:17:00	I would have thought that the best application for spyware would be to copy the keystrokes for secure connections such as banking and credit card numbers. Does this happen - or is it all aimed at advertising to people to enhance their....... shall we say, self-image?	Winston001 (3612)
245206	2004-06-16 11:22:00	Its money,pure and simple,for every pop up or site they force you to visit through redirection they get paid,even if its 1 tenth of a cent,they can make a huge amount by infecting a few million users with each variation of there hacks. Imsure those behind Coolwebsearch are multi-millinares by now. The other less malicios type often just track everything you do,then sell the info,or use it for the pop-up programs installed on your comp	metla (154)
245207	2004-06-16 11:23:00	A keystroke logger is considered a Trojan and normally requires an individualized concentrated effort.	metla (154)
245208	2004-06-16 11:30:00	>best application for spyware would be to copy the keystrokes for secure connection thats called a trojen/virus and you can end up in jail for makeing/useing it. spyware on the other hand is actually legit. kinda like spam, no law (untill recently) against it but everyone hates it (except those who make money from it). some of the methods used to infect you with spyware are OS exploits and those methods is what is picked up by antivirus companies.	tweak'e (174)
245209	2004-06-17 02:15:00	If I use a false pretence to enter your house, I am committing a criminal offence . The spyware perpetrators are getting you to load and run a piece of software with a promise that it does something that you wish . If they cause the software to perform an action that you do not wish (like sending information about you to someone else, without your explicit permission) then surely they are committing a trespass . The trouble with trespass that some financial damage is needed, unless "wilful trespass" is involved, and for that I think you have to give notice (secs 4 & 5 of Trespass Act) . They might argue that by loading the software you have agreed to anything they put in their conditions of use . (Which of course you have read :D) . Spyware loaded without notice, or consent, is not excusable, of course . Various software manufacturers have run into trouble with trying to enforce contracts (or conditions of use) that you can only read after opening an envelope which they say you agree to by opening the envelope . . . ;-) In other legal scraps, contract conditions hidden in very small type have been ruled out . Quick test: How many dollars do Microsoft say is the maximum liability they have if their free CD of Windows Security updates ruins yopur computer, your business, or your life? You did read and click [I Agree]when you installed the updates?	Graham L (2)
245210	2004-06-17 02:49:00	Keep in mind that few items of spyware ask permission before installing themselves,and those that do don't give any indication of their real purpose.	metla (154)
245211	2004-06-17 05:05:00	I suppose I hadn't given any real thought to the legality of spyware. I assumed some or all of it is illegal - just as the use that P2P programs are put to. ie. copying music. But maybe the programs themselves aren't illegal anymore than the brick used to break a window is illegal. I've just cleaned two machines for friends and found plenty of spyware. Most people are still quite unaware. What about these applications that use your machine for processing information for a remote server? Sort of like the SETI project but without the computer owners permission. Anyone know anything? Yeah, yeah, I know ...Google............. :D	Winston001 (3612)
245212	2004-06-17 06:17:00	>What about these applications that use your machine for processing information for a remote server? Sort of like the SETI project but without the computer owners permission. Anyone know anything? i have heard of similer sort of thing. basicly a trojen so they can store data on your pc instead of theirs and/or route through your pc to hack someone esle so if it gets traced back you get blamed not them.	tweak'e (174)
245213	2004-06-17 07:16:00	And lets not forget the fxp that was the rage a little while back, where those distributing warez were exploiting peoples ftp servers all over the world and then giving out the address to everyman and his dog. Bet a lot of companies received bills meaner then a junkyard dog from their isp’s.	metla (154)
245214	2004-06-17 07:23:00	> What about these applications that use your machine > for processing information for a remote server? Sort > of like the SETI project but without the computer > owners permission. Anyone know anything? Yeah I believe there are a couple of those around, but unlikely to be of much value to the people using them. The people that want those kind of things are places like SETI, or the Stanford Folding project etc which are valid charities. I did remember reading somewhere that one of the browser toolbars (may have been the Google toolbar) were planning to operate in a distributed processing style thing.	whiskeytangofoxtrot (438)
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