Spyware is usually used by cybercriminals to steal from innocent
computer users.
IT security and control firm Sophos is reminding computer users
of the potential dangers of meeting up with online friends
following reports that a
26-year-old American man has been charged for possession of child
pornography.
Authorities in the US first became aware of Jason Bower's
illegal activities after an English woman planted spyware on her
15-year-old son's computer to track his internet activity. Sophos
experts note that spyware, normally used by financially-motivated
criminals in cyberattacks, may have prevented an underage teenager
from having sex with an adult in this case.
According to reports, Bower had been exchanging sexually
explicit pictures and videos with an underage boy in the UK, and
was arrested as he attempted to board a plane to England, where he
allegedly planned to meet and have sex with the teenager.
After planting keylogging software on the boy's computer, his
mother discovered the nature of Bower's relationship with her son,
and alerted police in the UK, who in turn informed Immigration and
Customs in the US. Bower, who will be sentenced in September, is
likely to serve a minimum of five years in prison.
"There are plenty of companies marketing spyware software as a
way for parents to keep an eye on children, but for those worried
as to what their kids are doing online the best advice may simply
be to ensure that the PC is in a place where other members of the
family are present," said Graham Cluley, senior
technology consultant at Sophos. "People need to think very
carefully about using spyware to monitor other internet users'
activity, as they could end up getting in trouble with the law
themselves."
Sophos recommends that all businesses protect their networks
with a consolidated solution that thwarts
virus, spyware and spam threats.
150ヶ国で 1億人以上のユーザーが、複雑な脅威やデータ漏えいの阻止に、ソフォス製品を使用しています。ソフォスは、管理・導入・使用が簡単で、総管理コストが業界で最も低い、セキュリティ対策とデータ保護のソリューションに専念しています。ソフォスでは、グローバルに展開する脅威解析センター、SophosLabs の支援を受けて、暗号化、エンドポイントセキュリティ、Web、電子メール、ネットワークアクセス コントロールなど、評価の高い製品を提供しています。20年以上にわたる経験を持つソフォスは、セキュリティおよびデータ保護の業界リーダーとして第一級のアナリスト団体から高い評価を受け、多くの受賞歴を誇ります。