FTC Closes Door on Spyware Operation

["Fergie" <fergdawg () netzero net>]

Via FTC.gov.

[snip]

An operation that placed spyware on consumers’ computers in violation
of federal laws will give up more than $2 million to settle Federal
Trade Commission charges.

Under a stipulated final judgment and order, the defendants are
permanently prohibited from interfering with a consumer’s computer use,
including but not limited to distributing software code that tracks
consumers’ Internet activity or collects other personal information,
changes their preferred homepage or other browser settings, inserts new
advertising toolbars or other frames onto their browsers, installs
dialer programs, inserts advertising hyperlinks into third-party Web
pages, or installs other advertising software code, file, or content on
consumers’ computers.

The defendants also are permanently prohibited from making misleading
representations regarding the performance, benefits, features, cost, or
nature or effect of any type of software code, file, or content,
including misrepresenting that the code is an Internet browser upgrade
or other computer security software, music, song, lyric, or cell phone
ring tone.

The order names Enternet Media Inc., Conspy & Co. Inc., Lida Rohbani,
Nima Hakimi, and Baback (Babak) Hakimi, all based in California, whose
software codes were “Search Miracle,” “Miracle Search,” “EM Toolbar,”
“EliteBar,” and “Elite Toolbar.”

[snip]

More:
http://ftc.gov/opa/2006/09/enternet.htm

- ferg


--
"Fergie", a.k.a. Paul Ferguson
 Engineering Architecture for the Internet
 fergdawg(at)netzero.net
 ferg's tech blog: http://fergdawg.blogspot.com/


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