shplink wrote:

> ---
> 1. What is alt.privacy.spyware?
> ---
>
> alt.privacy.spyware is an unmoderated newsgroup for the discussion of
> internet privacy and spyware issues.

False.

Charter:
This newsgroup is for discussing news and general information
concerning the software known as spyware that traces (often without
the users permission/knowledge) where people go on the internet and
then sends back the information to a central database for analysis.
Discussion can also include software that monitors
(knowingly/unknowingly) a user's use of a computer.

> 2. Who can post here?
> ---
>
> alt.privacy.spyware is open to anyone who wishes to post, provided they
> remain on-topic and observe established standards of netiquette. Please

False.

This is an unmoderated group, and as such anyone can post anything
at any time regardless of what you think.


> note that this is a *discussion* group. Unsolicited commercial posts,
> also known as spam, are not welcome and will be reported to the
> offender's ISP.

Feel free. <snicker>

> ---
> 3. What is spyware?
> ---
>
> Spyware refers to any software capable of collecting or reporting
> information that might compromise your privacy.

Spyware doesn't necessarily compromise your privacy. In fact most
of it does not.

> ---
> 4. Can you give me some more details on the types of spyware that exist?
> ---
>
> Spyware can be found in many forms, such as an application program,
> installation utility, ActiveX control, Browser Helper Object, "cookies",

So "cookies" are now spyware?

I suppose you were unaware that cookies can't contain anything that
a site doesn't already know, huh?

<rest saved for another day>