The threat of spyware to the PC user is being addressed in California, with the introduction of a new law designed to protect the consumer from spyware.
The "Consumer Protection Against Spyware Act" was introduced in California on the 1st of January 2005, and it allows users to claim up to $1000 in damages if they believe a company has installed spyware on their computer.
The Act bans the installation of software that takes control of another computer, and also forces companies and web sites to make it clear to end users if their system installs some form of spyware on the users machine.
Washington is another state which is currently looking to introduce some form of anti-spyware legislation, but California certainly seem to be leading the way when it comes to protecting home users from the ever present threat of spyware. We just hope that other states and countries follow suit and look to address this growing problem urgently.