One Step Ahead

The Australian Government has promised to review the laws concerning "spyware" (a term used to describe software that installs itself on a computer without the user's full knowledge, and then transmits information back to the spyware author). IT Minister Helen Coonan has committed to reviewing these laws as part of a broader review of electronic security, with the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts (DCITA).

So far all we've got is a general notice of intent. It will be interesting to see whether this translates into genuine action, leading eventually to strong international laws banning spyware. I doubt it, though. If anything does happen, we're likely to end up with watered-down or ineffectual laws, as happened with the Anti-Spam law last year.

In the meantime, DCITA has released an on-line guide to e-security for small business, which is a good start. You can also protect yourself further with The Common Sense Guide to PC Security.