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Doing Something About Spyware
7/13/2005
Spyware and Other Potentially Unwanted Technologies Technologies implemented in ways that impair users’ control over:
- Material changes that affect their user experience, privacy, or system security
- Use of their system resources, including what programs are installed on their computers
- Collection, use, and distribution of their personal or otherwise sensitive information
These are items that users will want to be informed about, and which the user, with appropriate authority from the owner of the system, should be able to easily remove or disable.
- from Spyware Definitions and Supporting Documents (PDF), p.2
A previous group, the Consortium of Anti-Spyware Technology Vendors fell apart after a year and a half of internal wrangling. The current group says its membership is broader and likely to stick together until they accomplish something good. I’d say that the definitional draft is definitely something good already.
In the section subtitled “Examples of Spyware and Potentially Unwanted Technologies” I definitely learned a few things--having not previously known about, for example, “screen scrapers,” “droneware,” “rootkits,” “trickers,” and quite a bit more. The document also includes a great glossary, a suggested process for vendor disputes, suggested best practices, and a section on anti-spyware safety tips.
It’s hard to believe that anyone would not benefit from downloading this document and giving it at least a once-over. It may even be useful in helping to educate our students as they arrive back on campus in a month or two.
ASC is asking interested parties to send comments by email or though this web form. Comments are due by August 12.
It’s my opinion that the folks in higher education who have to cope with the many things that older teenagers can do to their own and to their institution’s computers may have the greatest amount of expertise about what matters with regard to spyware than just about anyone else. So, in a sense, we have an obligation to look over this document and let the ASC know what we think. Especially if you look ahead and realize that this could definitely end up making our jobs easier!
Please do so. Like I said, you’ll enjoy having this document as a reference piece anyway, and your comments could make it a better substrate for what is expected to be some sort of action once it is agreed upon. What have you got to lose except a few moments? Either you’ll learn something, realize that you know it all and they’ve got it right, or you’ll have something useful to contribute. Again, the comments deadline is August 12, 2005.
About the author: Terry Calhoun is Director of Communications and Publications for the Society
for College and University Planning (SCUP). You can contact him through CT's IT Trends forum by clicking here. View more articles by Terry Calhoun.
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