US reps passes new spyware bill
The US House of Representatives has passed the first major cyber security bill since the Democrats took over in January.Representative Zoe Lofren (D) of California says that as many as 90% of US computers have some sort of spyware. It “is one of the biggest threats to consumers on the Internet,” she was quoted as saying in an AP story. Under the proposed law, accessing a computer unauthorized will be a criminal offense and punishable by up to five years in prison. Maliciously obtaining or sending out someone’s personal information would also be against the law, with a prison sentence of up to two years.
In addition, the bill proposes $10 million in resources for the Justice Department to fight and prevent phishing, pharming, and other forms of identity theft. The legislative document goes into nauseating detail about what is and is not spyware, so that legitimate companies won’t be affected. Republican representative from Virginia Bob Goodlatte said it is designed to punish “the truly bad actors.” Republican-led House sessions before have passed similar bills, but they have never cleared the Senate, which is required before it appears on the president’s desk. This will be the first time this kind of bill has gone to a Democratic-controlled Senate with a House of Representatives seal of approval. Dark times for all hackers and spyware makers? I don’t think so, majority of spammers and other internet criminals are from Russia, Ukraine and similar countries, and they don’t have a bit of understanding for US law.
Source: TGDaily
Comments(7)
It wont stop anything, I say this will just make spyware and spammers put more shit on the web.
Wouldn’t this apply to the RIAA and MPAA spying on home computers?
God bless the Democrats. May the NeoCons and far right Republicans choke on their own hypocritical filth.
Hilary for President. Bush / Cheney to the gallows!!!!!
My feelings for people who make spyware?
Death by firing squad!
.. okay okay, i guess a few year in prison aint too bad.
10 Million… wow… Some houses are worth less than that! Really taking it seriously then.
so with this law, would myspace administration have to do 2 years in prison for each of those 7000 people they just handed over to the federal district gestapo?
one gov hand is subverting the electronic information privacy act and the other gov hand seems to be supporting digital privacy…
hopefully both hands will meet in the middle and choke out all this legislative fear mongering.
give these cyber peeping tom bastards a good stretch it’s like breaking into your house without u knowing taking a list of what you buy then the next time and every time you go out getting set upon by a bunch of guy’s badgering you to buy the kinda stuff they know u like ass holes,not the best analagy but u catch my drift.HARD TIME I TELLS YA HARD FUCKING TIME HAHA!