FTC: Rent-to-own laptops spied on folks’ intimate moments

The FTC claims that up to 7 rental companies as well as a software firm agreed to cease the usage of spyware which actually obtained unauthorized, recorded confidential and personal information, ranging from logged computer keystrokes to something closer to home – captured webcam images of children, individuals in partially undressed poses, as well as the goings-on behind bedroom doors.

The rent-to-own companies actually used software that was provided by now-defunct software firm DesignerWare LLC in order to assist in the tracking and recovering of rented computers. The FTC claimed that these companies had breached more than just customers’ trust, as they went beyond searching for stolen computers, touting that “an agreement to rent a computer doesn’t give a company license to access consumers’ private emails.”

Perhaps it would be prudent to just make sure that the webcam on your laptop remains taped over as you can never quite tell who might be watching.

Edwin Kee
Categories: Computers
Tags: Laptops