Spyware Removal

This week the FTC took action over consumer retail giants Kmart and Sears which are both owned by the same firm after they failed to reveal the scope their tracking software’s data collection.

The tracking software was first available at sears.com. Named as “My SHC Community”, this software would get downloaded and installed on the user’s PC as “research software” in exchange for $10. The program collects user details and data related to the user’s surfing habits. Additionally, the software also collected non-web related information about the computer itself.

It is alleged that the software also collected sensitive information such as bank records. All the activities of the software are mentioned in a 54-page long license agreement. However, the agreement violates FTC rules which mandate “unavoidable” disclosure “prior to…and separate from” other licensing agreements.

As a part of the settlement, Sears will destroy all the data that was collected using the software and provide help to the users in uninstalling the software.

Some e-mails circulating on the Internet appearing to be from the Homeland Security Department’s intelligence division are fake and contain malware. Caution should be exercised while opening such emails.

The e-mails have their origin from IP addresses located in Russia and Latvia. The Homeland Security Department’s counter-intelligence division has released a three-page alert about these fake emails.

These emails were sent to various officials belonging to the Defense Department and other bodies. The emails contain spyware designed to steal personal information from the officials. Counter-intelligence officials do not fully know the exact motives behind the creators of these emails.

The emails contain links that point to spyware that steals banking passwords.

SOURCE: The Associated Press.