Justice Department to Expand Spyware Enforcement

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department is ramping up its efforts to control spyware and other Internet fraud by adding two more Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property (CHIP) units at U.S. Attorney’s offices in Sacramento and Orlando.

"The [Justice] Department is prepared to build the strongest, most aggressive legal assault against intellectual property crime in our nation’s history,” Attorney General John Ashcroft said in a release.

While government officials plan more prosecutions, a study announced Monday found that surfers are not nearly as safe online as they believe, according to a nationwide inspection by a consortium of companies, including America Online, Cisco Systems, Microsoft, eBay and Dell, as well as the Homeland Security Department and the Federal Trade Commission.

In the study, researchers found most consumers have no firewall protection, outdated antivirus software and dozens of spyware programs secretly running on their computers.

One Internet user had more than 1,000 spyware programs running on his sluggish computer when researchers examined it.

The study found that 77 percent of 326 adults in 12 states assured researchers in a telephone poll they were safe from online threats. Nearly as many people felt confident they were already protected specifically from viruses and hackers.

But when experts visited those same homes to examine computers, they found two-thirds of adults using antivirus software that was not updated in at least seven days.

Two-thirds of the computer users also were not using any type of protective firewall program, and spyware was found on the computers of 80 percent of those in the study.

Wendy Avino, a Lansdowne, Va., surfer who was surveyed, complained she was misled believing her commercial antivirus and firewall programs would protect her from all varieties of online threats.

"We don't go in funny chat rooms, I don't open funny mail," Avino said. "If it says 'hot girls,' I delete it. We do everything in the right way, so how does stuff get in there?"

Researchers found 14 spyware programs on her borrowed laptop and noticed that her $50 antivirus software was not properly configured to scan her computer at least monthly for possible infections.

The Justice Department’s announcement brings the number of CHIP units nationwide to 15.

The CHIP divisions focus on prosecuting copyright and trademark violations, theft of trade secrets, computer intrusions, theft of computer and high-tech components, and Internet fraud.

CHIP units were opened in 2001 in areas where intellectual property offenses and computer crime were the most prevalent, including Los Angeles, New York, Boston, Chicago, Miami and Seattle.

The government is also looking into opening CHIP units in Washington, Pittsburgh and Nashville, Tenn.

There are currently 60 prosecutors assigned to the 13 existing CHIP units, and the Justice Department has dedicated more than 250 federal prosecutors around the country to prosecuting computer crime and intellectual property theft.

The Justice Department also said it is expanding the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section of the department’s criminal division, which was recently involved in Operation Fastlink, an international effort to combat online theft.

The CHIP division was recently involved in Operation Digital Gridlock, which targeted IP theft over peer-to-peer networks and resulted in the seizure of more than 40 terabytes of material.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

FSC Publish Analysis of Federal Trade Commission Event Promoting AV

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published an analysis of a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) event held this week that promoted age verification among other forms of speech regulation.

GirlsDoPorn Owner Michael Pratt Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking

Michael Pratt, former owner of the rogue website GirlsDoPorn, pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California on Thursday to sex trafficking and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking charges, according to a report by City News Service.

Master Nico Relaunches Site Through YourPaysitePartner

Master Nico has relaunched his official website through YourPaysitePartner (YPP).

Federal Judge Grants Partial Halt of Florida AV Law

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Tallahassee Division, has granted a preliminary injunction against HB 3, the state's age verification law, as a lawsuit filed by two online trade associations challenging the law makes its way through the courts.

Aylo Releases Statement on Suspending Access to Pornhub in France

Technology and media company Aylo, which operates adult sites including Pornhub, YouPorn, and Redtube, has released a public statement regarding its decision to block access to its sites in France.

Pineapple Support to Host Wellness Sessions at Bucharest Summit

Pineapple Support is hosting free group and one-on-one therapy sessions at Bucharest Summit, June 3-5.

Pornhub Blocks Access in France in Response to SREN Law

Pornhub parent company Aylo has opted to block access to its sites in France rather than comply with age verification requirements under the country’s Security and Regulation of the Digital Space (SREN) law.

ASACP Highlights Study on Parental Controls

The Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection (ASACP) is highlighting the results of a study on the underutilization of parental controls.

Sydney Screams Launches New Site Through Grooby's Blue.xxx

Sydney Screams has launched her new membership site, SydneyScreams.xxx, through Grooby's website management company Blue.xxx.

Mistress Mystii Is LoyalFans' 'Featured Creator' for June

LoyalFans has named Mistress Mystii as its Featured Creator for June.

Show More