The could be some good new laws coming that will prevent some of the nasty spyware stuff we've all come to know and hate over the last several years.
The "SPY ACT" would require a user's permission before a program could be downloaded, and the sender would need to clearly state the software's purpose. It also prohibits hijacking of home pages, keystroke logging, and sending ads that cannot be closed by shutting down the computer.
"The overwhelming bipartisan passage of this bill denotes the seriousness of the threat spyware poses to our personal information. These provisions will protect American consumers from unwelcome tracking or hijacking of their Internet activities, and [will] bring to a halt an intrusive practice which affects every PC user in the country."
More here.