The FTC: Protecting Computer Security, Enhancing Consumer Privacy
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has taken action to help protect the privacy and security of many personal computers. The FTC has preliminarily accepted a consent order against Advertising.com (subject to final approval after a 30 day comment period) following complaints that the company engaged in deceptive practices.

Essentially, Advertising.com was distributing spyware that was disguised as an anti-spyware product. As Search Engine Journal explains, "the company offered free security software without disclosing the information that it also came with adware. ... Basically Advertising.com was distributing Anti-Virus/Anti-Spyware software which was actually SPYWARE to inexperienced computer users."

Spyware, according to Indiana University's Knowledge Base is a term for "any data collection program that secretly gathers information about you and relays it to advertisers and other interested parties. Adware usually displays banners or unwanted pop-up windows, but often includes spyware as well."

The Commission's proposed consent order "contains provisions designed to prevent..." the company "from engaging in similar acts and practices in the future." The FTC goes on to explain that "the problem here was not the security software that Advertising.com disseminated with its adware. Instead, it was the respondents' practice of downloading software onto users' computers, without adequate notice and consent, that generated repeated pop-up ads as the computer users surfed the web."

Other companies that try to deceive or exploit the relative inexperience of some computer users should be aware that the FTC is not only aware of such practices but also will take legal action against the offending parties.