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.