Spyware removal software, installing more spyware?
25/12/2004 19:29 | Categories: Privacy | 0 Comments
That the Internet is a jungle, we all knew that... But how about this now? Spyware cures may cause more harm than good.Apparently there was a piece of software called SpyBan which advertised as a tool to remove unwanted spyware software from one's computer. Instead, what it was really doing was removing the competitor's spyware software and installing its own... I can't believe that. I mean, couldn't that be made illegal? Isn't my computer my own private property? If somebody installed a hidden camera in my place without my consent and monitored what I do at every moment, wouldn't be that considered illegal? If so, why are all these companies that monitor people's browser usage left untouched, without punishment?
Two comments: if all software was open, this wouldn't happen. And second, I might not have as many games as PC-Windows users have (both before in Linux and now in OS X) but the feeling of security that I have is priceless (well, perhaps not in the case of OS X
) Linux is more than ever a serious alternative to Windows and if I would really consider it for things like web browsing, email and text processing. It does all that (and more!) in a even better way.