Update: See Spywareinfo.com.

Spyware

Your PC Is Watching, a feature story in the July 14, 2001 Washington Post's July 14 feature story (no longer available at the Post web site at no charge) exposes "spyware," the increasingly common software that, once installed on your local computer, sends information about you and your habits back to its owner.

Significance: It's hard to say it better than the conclusion of this article did:

Christopher Kelley, an analyst with Forrester Research, believes that the "sneakiness" with which some corporations are acting has exacerbated privacy concerns and damaged the industry's credibility--something that they may come to regret as an increasing number of angry citizens create technological tools that could topple the companies' entire business plans. Added Montreal computer consultant Gilles Lalonde: "Right now it's now a free-for-all. Anything goes. This is the kind of environment that permits these kinds of intrusive behaviors, allows them to flourish.

Rob Brand's Internet for Real People site has some other valuable insights:

Sadly, my sense is spyware will become a permanent fixture on the Internet landscape. There is an overall 'dumbing down' attitude permeating many corners of the Web. Without constant vigilance, we experience an onslaught of forces that attempt to steal our privacy and bulldoze hardware security walls.

I think Brand has hit on a key contributor to the problem: the average Internet user today is much less sophisticated than just a few years ago. This leads to not understanding the problems, which leads to tolerating them.

It is not easy to protect yourself against the spyware threat. Steve Gibson's OptOut program helps against some of these leeches. Internet Tools for Lawyers will have an article on self-protection techniques in the near future.