As we all know, pernicious spyware is growing exponentially. Very few are still unaware of this problem because almost everyone’s computer – your father’s or mother’s or brother’s or daughter’s — has become infected by unwanted applications that are noticed when they slow or even cripple your machine. These programs not only monitor a person’s Internet usage, but can steal your Social Security and credit card numbers and even use your own webcam to keep an eye on you and your family.
To my mind, invading a personal computer and planting spyware is not much different than breaking and entering a person’s house. This bill encourages regulators to slam the window closed on the spies, cheats and thieves who sneak into people’s computers.