Even though security technology is improving, spyware legislation is still needed from the U.S. Congress because many consumers don't use all
the tech tools available to them, antispyware groups said Thursday.
Antispyware groups including the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) and StopBadware.org called on Congress to pass
antispyware legislation during the last days of the 2006 session. Although some studies show a small decrease in the amount
of spyware on PCs, the use of spyware that logs keystrokes seems to be going up, said Ari Schwartz, deputy director of the
CDT.
"The issue is everyone's still making money doing this," Schwartz said during an antispyware discussion in Washington, D.C.
Spyware distributors identified by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or the CDT can pull in tens of millions of dollars
in revenue annually, he added.
Antispyware technology can work, but 81% of home PC users don't use all three common security tools -- antispyware software,
antivirus software and firewalls -- according to a survey published in December by AOL and the National Cyber Security Alliance
(NCSA).
"We still think consumers are not protected," said Ron Teixeira, the NCSA's executive director. "If they don't take these
three core measures, it doesn't matter what we do."
The House of Representatives passed two antispyware bills in May 2005, but the full Senate has yet to act on similar legislation
introduced there. Paul Cancienne, a legislative assistant for Rep. Mary Bono (R.-Calif.), said his boss is optimistic that
the Senate can still pass legislation and the two chambers can iron out their differences before Congress adjourns in October.
The IDG News Service is a Network World affiliate.
