Several sites have received the letters and now face steep legal fees in fighting this brazen and outrageous threat to consumer rights to share information and protect ourselves from being victimized by spyware. http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000491.html

What these spyware makers are saying is that their products are not spyware, although available studies and articles all show that the products are indeed spyware. http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/60608

But, wait. It gets stranger. Another spyware company, WhenU, actually struck a deal with Aluria to be delisted as spyware. Aluria develops anti-spyware technology used by AOL and several other ISP's affecting millions of users. Aluria actually agreed to remove WhenU from the definitions it uses for Spyware Eliminator. WhenU products are now declared "Spyware SAFE" and are left intact on the systems of users, although WhenU's products did not change! What's more, Ad-aware and Pest Patrol have also stopped listing WhenU's spyware. http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/58023, http://tinyurl.com/6b96j

Why is this happening? And, what effect will it have on users?

Apparently, spyware vendors, in anticipation of looming anti-spyware laws, are attempting a public image makeover that includes buying legitimacy from anti-spyware developers. http://tinyurl.com/4rj9o The spyware makers are being driven by money. And, antispyware makers who cooperate with them do so for the money, as well.

If we cannot learn who makes spyware from advocacy sites, and we cannot rely on antispyware makers to list them for removal, we computer users are the ultimate targets/victims for the sleazy programs that install and run on our computers without our knowledge and approval, that affect the performance of our computers and programs, and invade our homes and our privacy, without fear of litigation or removal.

Isn't this where computer users and user groups must band together and pressure antispyware companies to keep these perpetrators in their databases? Shouldn't we lend our support to antispyware vendors and tell them not to cave into these demands or we won't buy or use their products? Isn't this a good time to write to your legislator? NOW! Before you lose the right to protest and deny these companies access to your computer and private information.

Names and addresses of your elected state and federal officials are at http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/. Find contacts at antispyware companies by clicking on links at https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/soft6.htm.

There is no restriction against any non-profit group using this article as long as it is kept in context with proper credit given the author. The Editorial Committee of the Association of Personal Computer User Groups (APCUG), an international organization of which this group is a member, brings this article to you.

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