Post by jojo on Sept 26, 2012 21:58:50 GMT
Rented computers from seven different companies secretly took photographs of their users, US authorities have said.
The companies used software made by US company Designerware which could track key strokes and other personal data.
The software, called PC Rental Agent, captured people engaging in "intimate acts", including sex.
......................
Webcam pictures of children, partially undressed individuals, and intimate activities at home were also found.
In the FTC's formal complaint document, it said the software had captured "couples engaged in sexual activities".
Graham Cluley, from UK-based computer security firm Sophos, said the case highlighted the need for people to be especially cautious on machines they do not own.
"Whenever you're using someone else's computer, whether it's borrowed or rented, you can't always know all of the software on it and what it might be doing," he told the BBC.
"If you are entering an agreement to rent a computer, read the small print, and maybe think twice about doing anything too personal on them."
Designerware could not be reached for comment.
The companies used software made by US company Designerware which could track key strokes and other personal data.
The software, called PC Rental Agent, captured people engaging in "intimate acts", including sex.
......................
Webcam pictures of children, partially undressed individuals, and intimate activities at home were also found.
In the FTC's formal complaint document, it said the software had captured "couples engaged in sexual activities".
Graham Cluley, from UK-based computer security firm Sophos, said the case highlighted the need for people to be especially cautious on machines they do not own.
"Whenever you're using someone else's computer, whether it's borrowed or rented, you can't always know all of the software on it and what it might be doing," he told the BBC.
"If you are entering an agreement to rent a computer, read the small print, and maybe think twice about doing anything too personal on them."
Designerware could not be reached for comment.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19726954
I don't want to alarm anyone but it does demonstrate how important it is to at least, cover a web cam that you might not be familiar with.
The rental market isn't very big here, as far as I know, but many of us might use public computers or computers in hotels and such.
Personally, I like to disconnect my web cam whenever I'm not using it.
