Identity theft, spyware and the law
Timothy R. Loibl · 2005
Identity theft has become a huge problem in today's society. With the advent of the computer age, came the need for information on demand. This information on demand not only made it easier for authorized users to get information, but also for unauthorized users. One-way identity thieves gain access to personal information is through the use of spyware programs. According to M. Rasch [9], spyware is "a 'deceptive' practice of the unauthorized installation of programs that monitor a consumer's activities without their consent." The government, at both the state and federal levels, has started to pass legislation regarding the use of spyware. The federal government has yet to pass a bill, but there are many different anti-spyware bills being debated in both the House and the Senate. There are seven states that have passed anti-spyware laws, and there are currently seven other states that are working toward passing anti-spyware laws of their own. The Federal Trade Commission is constantly educating the general public about the threats associated with spyware, and how to combat it. The government is currently headed in the right direction, but there is still a lot that needs to be done to help combat the problem of identity theft and spyware.